poetry later this month.

Denise DeMoura's book of poetry, "Heart-Beat of Healing'', was recently published by SpareTime Editions, which is part of Fredericton-based Broken Jaw Press, and launched on June 12 in Halifax.

Ms DeMoura, who was born and raised in Bermuda, will be returning to the Island to launch the book on her home turf during the week of June 26.

Ms DeMoura attended Mount Allison University at age 17, but was stricken with chronic fatigue syndrome and her health deteriorated as a result.

"Much of my life has been about merely surviving, but that hasn't been enough for me,'' she said.

"I want to live as fully as possible -- to laugh and play and weep and rage at the world.

"Poetry is a way to do all of these things. `Heart-Beat of Healing' is a poetic expression of my healing journey -- an expression of the raging, the waiting, the laughing at myself, the challenges and the small victories,'' she added.

Poet and teacher Ron Lightbourne said Ms Demoura's poetry was "unflinching'', "honest'' and "courageous''.