Cendrine Marrouat
Hello Readers and Writers!
We are so happy to introduce you to the most active author we have met recently. She operates TWO creative ventures and has TWENTY-THREE books available ranging from humor writing to poetry and even photography. She is passionate and works hard to support other creatives along the way!
Introducing Cendrine Marrouat!
RL: You are quite a busy lady! Before we get to writing, tell me about the FPoint Collective.
CM: I co-founded FPoint Collective, a collective of photographers, with Portuguese photographer Isabel Nolasco. Our third member, Hadiya Ali, joined us a few months ago.
Isabel and I wanted to show that photography is for all audiences. We also wanted to prove that a few passionate people can come together to make photography an exciting art form that tells good stories without the need for over-processing and expensive gear.
RL: Next, tell me about Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal.
CM: Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal is a magazine that I co-founded with poet and author David Ellis. It focuses exclusively on positive, uplifting and inspirational poetry. We accept every topic, with the exception of erotica and politics.
We launched in October 2019. Our third issue will be released in April 2020.
RL: How does your Journal support authors?
CM: Our poetry journal gives a voice to anybody who has uplifting things to say. We do not care about your credentials or level. As long as you seek to have a positive impact on our readers, we will consider you.
We also are one of the few magazines that accepts already published content and submissions from both adult and 13-16 year-old poets.
RL: When did you start writing as a career?
CM: In January 2005, so 15 years ago. Time flies!
RL: What's your current work in progress?
CM: I am working on a mini-series of haiku books inspired by a few major writers. I also have two books available for pre-orders: Blog Your Way to Success: 35+ No-Nonsense Tips for Authors and Writers and Songs in Our Paths: Haiku & Photography (Volume 1).
RL: You consider yourself a multi-genre author. Do you have a preferred genre to write in?
CM: It depends on my mood, to be honest. I loved writing my play (In the Silence of Words) but I am not sure if I will ever work on another one.
My latest release, Bad. Pitches. Period. 30 Flavors of Spammy Emails, was my first attempt at writing a humor book. It was so much fun!
And then, there is the haiku, my favorite poetry form. Some days, I consider my series (Walks: A Collection of Haiku) as my proudest achievement as a poet.
RL: How has being a photographer inspired your writing?
CM: Actually, it is the other way around. I started my career as a poet and this has influenced the rest of my work.
RL: How do you rebel against the status quo as you create?
CM: By focusing on topics that people may be uncomfortable to talk about and by tackling projects that bring me joy, so I can share that joy with the world.
RL: You work with quite a few creatives in your collective and journal. How does working with a team compare to the solo work most authors experience?
CM: After 15 years in the writing business, I am now convinced that collaboration is the solution to the problem of visibility that most indie authors experience. We need to come together in order to be taken more seriously.
For example, my collaboration with David Ellis on the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal is extraordinary. We help and support each other on a daily basis. We share ideas and implement them together. Our numerous conversations have led us to co-author a series of mini-guides for authors and writers. We also created the Poetry Really Matters show. And we are working on a few more things together!
As much as I enjoy solitude, partnering with like-minded people is awesome. I have been able to take my work to the next level and make some of my long-time dreams come true.
RL: Which one of your books is your favorite?
CM: Honestly, I cannot answer your question. I have released 23 books and I love them all equally. Don't ask me to choose a baby over the others! ;-)
RL: Talk to me about the path you choose in publishing.
CM: I chose to self-publish because I am very independent. I know how to format books, design covers and create book trailers. I also know professional proofreaders and editors that can help me.
Traditional publishers promote authors very minimally. So, I knew that I would have to take care of marketing anyway. It is something I enjoy doing. I was a social media coach for almost a decade.
RL: Authors often complain about not having enough time to write. Is this an issue for you?
CM: Many authors do not treat their writing as a business. So they don't strategize and prioritize accordingly. It's not about how many words you can write per day, but how well you can use the time you have.
Every day, I try to write for at least 10 minutes. But I don't pressure myself if my brain refuses to cooperate.
RL: Where do you see your writing career going from here?
CM: There is one thing that I know: I am on the right path. So, I can only see myself going up. :-)
RL: What can readers expect from you in the future?
CM: Much of the same. More poetry, humor books, guides for authors and writers, and photography collections.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!