Hey there everyone.

For all you poetry fans out there that enjoy the haiku format, I have a special treat for you tonight!

We have a returning guest who has a new book release and I’m very excited to share the details with you.

Please welcome author and photographer Cendrine Marrouat, as she joins us to discuss the inspirations for her fantastic new haiku collection.

First though, here are the links to the original interviews that cover all of her other books, along with insights into her creation processes.

Photographer Interview – Cendrine Marrouat – “When the Mind Travels: A Poetic Journey into Photography”, “Life’s Little Things. Les petites choses de la vie” & “Life’s Little Things: The Quotes”

Author Interview – Poet & Photographer Cendrine Marrouat chats about her latest book release “Life’s Little Things: The Quotes”

And now, here are the details on her latest book and thank you everyone for reading, have fun my friends 🙂

 

Hi there Cendrine, thank you for joining us again, this time round to chat about your new poetry book release.

Hello, David! Thank you as well for having me on the blog once again. I really appreciate it!

Let’s start first with your latest book release “Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1)”. Please tell us more about the types of haiku poems we will find in there, in particular the themes that your poems explore.

Haiku freeze moments or scenes in time. They are perfect to describe the beauty that lies in simplicity.  

My collection explores nature and what human beings have chosen to surround themselves with. All the little things we take for granted and that actually make life so interesting.  

Why is your latest book called “Walks”, what is the relevance to the poems and collection itself?

Movement is part of us. No matter where we are headed, even if it is just going to our car or our kitchen, we have to walk.

Many of us walk without thinking; they will miss many things that could have brightened their day. But those who walk with intent never take anything for granted.

That is why I chose the title “Walks”.

When it comes to haiku poetry, what is your opinion as to the method and techniques of writing them, in order to produce a truly authentic haiku experience?

For a while I struggled to write traditional haiku that followed the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. But, as I studied the form, I realized that the issue came from the fact that the recommended pattern is a “mistranslation” of what happens in Japanese.

Japanese poets do not count in syllables but in “onji”, which stand for “phonetic sounds or units.” According to William J. Higginson, in his excellent book titled The Haiku Handbook, the 17 onji of traditional haiku are best emulated with 12 syllables in English. 

Other books talk about the number of words, and recommend sticking to 8 to 12 words.

Writing haiku makes a lot more sense to me now. I feel less constrained and more creative. I write a new piece pretty much every day! My long-time readers have also noticed that my haiku are more free-flowing and less arcane.

At the end of the day, it does not matter what pattern you choose to follow. What is more important is your willingness to evoke deep emotions that provide readers with a new or deeper understanding of the world around them.

How does a poem begin for you? Does it start with an image, a form or a particular theme?

It begins with a title. Then, an image.

Regarding editing your poems, how do you approach this aspect of crafting your poems?

I usually edit my pieces as I write them. That’s why it takes me a long time to complete them.

What is your relationship with your speaking voice and your written voice?

I have never really thought about it. They are both part of me, so I love them equally.

Have you considered getting other people to read your poetry or is it important for you to be the one to perform your poetry to an audience?

I recorded a spoken word CD (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/cendrinemarrouat) on my own a decade ago. A couple of tracks feature the voices of different artists who did an incredible job reading my pieces.

Poetry belongs to everyone. While I prefer being the one reading my own poems, it is an enriching experience to hear others. They bring something different to your pieces and add another layer of meaning to them.

Will you be considering making an audiobook version of “Walks: A Collection of Haiku” in the near future?

Making an audiobook is a great idea. But, recording my CD on my own was a gruelling experience. So, I would only do it if I had substantial help.

How important is accessibility of the meaning of your poems? Should we have to work hard to “solve” the poems and discover their deeper meanings?

I think most people are scared of poetry or try to make it more complicated than it actually is. It is not entirely their fault, though. The way the education system presents the art form is, at best, frightening.

Poetry is not a journey into Freudian slips. It is an experience into words that you are free to embrace or interpret the way you want. Anyone telling you otherwise has not found their favorite poet(s) yet. 😉

Has your own opinion or idea of what poetry is changed since you first started writing poetry?

Not at all. I love how poetry allows me to tackle difficult topics that would make people uncomfortable in any other situation. I find theatre very similar in that way…

Are there any other poetry forms you haven’t tried yet but would like to?

I feel that I have dabbled with enough forms for now. Only free verse poems, tanka and haiku really appeal to me.

Which poets and poems inspire you the most when it comes to writing your poetry? Is there any particular poet whose work you would be keen to recommend?

I read a lot of haiku these days. There are some excellent poets in the North American realm, especially Calvin Olsen (https://tenthousandhaiku.com/).

But you are quite the talented poet yourself. You deserve a recommendation too!

It’s been quite a while since I last asked you this question in a previous interview – what do you do in your free time when you are not crafting poetry?

As you know, I am a photographer. So when I don’t write, I take photos. I also teach French to adults. And I love crosswords and a good book!

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

I am almost done working on Volume 2 of Walks: A Collection of Haiku. I hope to be able to release it by the second half of the year. Volume 3 will probably follow next year.

In the meantime, I am looking for a publisher for my mixed media project featuring photography and haiku. And I have another idea for book number 15!

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

Never stop practicing. Write, write, write! And stop comparing yourself to others! You are uniquely talented and nobody else can write your stories like you.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for joining us and sharing all of your inspirational thoughts and philosophies regarding your poetry, we look forward to enjoying all of your new collection very much 🙂

Thank you so much again!

Bio:-

Cendrine Marrouat is a photographer, social media blogger and trainer, French instructor, and author living in Canada.

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 Cendrine’s new book here:-

Buy Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1) in the UK/Europe

Buy Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1) in the US/Rest of the World

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.