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Don’t let me stand in the way of your weekend – party on!

But before you go…an interview!

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Tonight, I have had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with Canadian photographer, social media blogger & trainer, French instructor and author Cendrine Marrouat about her latest book release. We also chat more about her other volumes of emotional poetry, insightful quotes and stunning photography, along with finding out about her passions and inspirations.

Thanks for reading and have a good one, enjoy yourselves 🙂

 

Hi there Cendrine, thank you for spending some time with us today to share with us some insight into your inspirational writing and skills as a photographer.

Hello, David. Thank you very much for having me today.

Let’s start with your latest book release “Life’s Little Things: The Quotes”. This is an inspirational volume that mixes images and quotes. Can you tell us more about the themes that we will find in this book and what imagery you have decided to pair with the quotations to enhance the experience for the reader?

Last year, I asked visitors of my photography blog to select the images that would appear in the book. I then wrote the words, based on my personal experience, that would accompany them. It was a fun, albeit challenging, experiment.

The themes in Life’s Little Things: The Quotes are universal — the human condition and our never-ending connection to nature. There is too much negativity in the world today. We need to find ourselves again. And I would like this book to be part of the solution.

You also have other collections that have combined poetry, prose and photography. Can you tell us a bit more about them, their themes and where we can find them?

I love experimenting with mixed media. It is not something I have seen many indie authors do.

I noticed early on that poetry and photography work really well together. So, I used this idea in my first photography collection. When the Mind Travels: A Poetic Journey into Photography is a meditation on the world through images that I took in Canada, Syria, the United States, and France. I use different poetic forms to drive the messages home.

Life’s Little Things. Les petites choses de la vie, my second photography book, is a bilingual collection (English and French) with minimal text. Readers are free to imagine their own stories.

My first five books are poetry collections. The last one, titled Five Years And Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry draws a parallel between poetry and the four major stages of life: birth, teenage years, adulthood, and elevation. This last stage represents man’s understanding and realization of the ultimate fulfillment in life.

How do you find being a photographer influences your creative writing side? Do you also feel that your creative writing side in turn influences how you see the world and the way you take your photography?

Writing influences the way I take photos. However, it does not impact the way I see the world. When I look around me, words do not form in my mind; I mostly hear music. Silence, in particular, can be deafening. That is probably the reason why a majority of people cannot stand it.

I approach photography and poetry in a similar fashion. It’s not about the tools. It’s about the moment when my eyes catch a silent, but fleeting story unfolding.

Actually, I believe that poetry, theatre and photography are the most powerful art forms of all.

Since you are a nature photographer, what would you choose as your own personal mascot or spirit animal when it comes to you and your style of writing?

I have never been asked this question before. So, thank you!

My personal mascot would be the night sky. I am awed by it, like a child. My soul feels at home.

What do you find the most difficult thing about writing? And what do you find the easiest?

I am a very slow writer who is also plagued by regular writer’s block. It is hard to be consistent that way. As such, I have to work in spurts.

What I find the easiest is the sharing of my words. My goal is to help others. As such, I do not take harsh criticism personally. I know from experience that people react to the vibe behind the message; they do not target me directly. Instead, I use the feedback to improve the work.

Who are some of the authors, poets and historical figures that inspire you?

My favorite author is Khalil Gibran. The historical figure who has inspired many of my poems is Jesus Christ. I am not religious, I just strongly believe in the concept of Universal Love.

What sort of research do you do to write your books?

For my poetry and photography books, I do not do any research. The world around me is my muse.

I will do research for other types of books. For the two plays I wrote, I had to educate myself on the specific rules around playwriting, as well as the importance of names and movement. As far as my social media ebooks are concerned, I scoured the internet to find the best resources, references and tools for my readers.

Why do you write? What inspired you to become a writer?

Writing is just part of me and my DNA. I don’t recall a time when not doing it…

What keeps you motivated during creative slumps? How do you deal with Writers Block?

As I mentioned earlier, writer’s block is a regular visitor. Now that I think of it, it deserves a restraining order! lol

More seriously, the way you deal with it is simple. You accept it for what it is, you embrace it.

It is like everything else in life. If you see something as a problem and try to fight it, it will fight you back.

You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Perfection is not a prerequisite for success. Work hard and success will be waiting for you.

How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

I enjoy life’s simple pleasures — photography, nature, reading, music, doing crosswords, etc.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

My current project is the promotion of Life’s Little Things: The Quotes. It’s a full-time job, so it will take me a few months until I am able to focus on something else.

I am also thinking of adding a third book to my Life’s Little Things series. This time, I want to mix photography and haiku, my favorite poetic form.

Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

Use your common sense. Writing a book is very easy; marketing it is another story. Never stop practicing and challenging yourself. That is how you get better and become more self-confident.

Always be you in your writing. Readers are not looking for perfection. They want to feel empowered. They crave emotions.

When you write, leave the mark of your soul on paper. And please, share it with others.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for spending time with us, we look forward to checking out your books and all of your gorgeous photos 🙂

Bio:-

Cendrine Marrouat is a photographer, social media blogger and trainer, French instructor, and author living in Canada. She is the founder of two blogs:

– Social Media Slant helps photographers figure out the basics of social media.

– Cendrine Marrouat Photography displays her photographic work.

In 2015, Cendrine was recognized a Top 100 Business Blogger by BuzzHUMM. Social Media Slant also made Fit Small Business’ Best Small Business Blogs of 2015 & 2016 lists.

Cendrine has authored two social media books and has self-published five collections of poetry, along with a spoken word CD. She is also the author of three photography books.

You can connect with Cendrine via the following Social Media channels:-

Instagram:- ​@cendrinemedia (Instagram)
LinkedIn:- ​Cendrine Marrouat (LinkedIn)
Twitter:- ​@cendrinemedia (Twitter)
YouTube:- Cendrine Marrouat (YouTube)

You can buy her books here:-

Cendrine Marrouat’s Books

If you too would like to be interviewed on my blog at TooFullToWrite and you have a book or a series of books that you would like us to chat about then fill out the Contact Me form here with your details and we can arrange a future interview slot.