Welcome to My Website
I feel alive when I am writing.
I write about incest, family secrets, betrayal, grief, and loss. About recovery, healing, and relationships.
I write about piecing fragments of my life, of me, back together. Fitting the bits and pieces into a linear storyline doesn’t work. Connecting content with its form is thrilling, as is the satisfying victory once all the arranging and rearranging of fragments finally fit into one cohesive snapshot.
I write about piecing fragments of my life, of me, back together. Fitting the bits and pieces into a linear storyline doesn’t work. Connecting content with its form is thrilling, as is the satisfying victory once all the arranging and rearranging of fragments finally fit into one cohesive snapshot.
My Writing Objectives
To shatter the silence and silence the gaslighters.
To shine an unfiltered light on the ugly truths that hide behind closed doors.
To provide insights into the far-reaching, devastating consequences of child abuse.
To advocate for survivors of all ages.
To heal.
Me on a tricycle, circa 1966.
My Beliefs
I believe silence is a lie that protects the perpetrator and enables him/her to continue abusing.
I believe silence devalues, shames, judges, and retraumatizes the one harmed.
I believe every child is precious and deserves to be heard, believed, and protected.
I believe we are all wounded. No one comes out of childhood unscathed–we all experience some level of pain, fear, betrayal, etc. As children, our home and caregivers are our world, we don’t have the capacity to measure and compare trauma. Shit just hurts. Don’t compare wounds, just do the work to heal them, one step at a time.
I believe some childhood traumas are so horrific, they cause the mind to split, create compartments to pack away memories, or pieces of those memories, too terrifying to face. I celebrate these heroes in my head and heart that held the pain, the heroes that blocked the really bad stuff, the heroes that made it possible for me to survive. I honour them with love and compassion, giving them a platform through my pen.
Every child is precious and deserves to be heard, believed, and protected.
Comments on My Writing from Readers and Peers:
Shirley deftly utilizes creative nonfiction to illuminate the lasting impact of sexual abuse and ongoing betrayal with unflinching honesty. —Kimberly Peterson
Poignant. Shirley bravely taps into her deepest wound to share her experience with the world so that others may understand. Her courage inspires others to face their own wounds, knowing they can move on. —Yolande House
For readers wanting to read stories with heart, stories that dig deep and do not shy away from discussing difficult themes such as childhood sexual abuse, grief, and loss, look no farther than Shirley Harshenin. Her writing deeply resonates and will linger long after a first reading. —Rowan McCandless
Evocative and compelling personal narratives that explore identity, belonging, and relationships by delving, unflinchingly, into sometimes painful, sometimes unspeakable truths. —Nicole Breit
I invite you to read my stories and decide for yourself. My published work can be found here, much of it is available to read online. Thank you!
Angels in the Sky.
My Values
Integrity
Courage
Empathy
Openness
Humour
Awareness
