About the Authors
Cendrine's work has appeared in many publications. She is the creator of the Sixku, Flashku, Sepigram, Vardhaku, and Reminigram.
Website * Twitter
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David Ellis is a poet, multi-genre writer/author and co-creator of literary forms, with a fondness for found poetry.
He has released several poetry collections including Life, Sex & Death (which won an Inspirational Poetry Award), Soul Music the Colour of Magic, Lemons, Vinegar & Unvarnished Truths, See A Dream Within (based on the entire collected poetic works of Edgar Allan Poe), along with a Fifty Shades of Grey parody 50 Shapes of Cakes.
Think of him like a thriller novel - fast paced, relentless and impossible to put down!
Website * Twitter
David Ellis: When I was a teenager, I handcrafted my own “Choose Your Own Adventure” book and I have always had a passion for language and literature. I wrote alternative song lyrics for popular songs in my twenties but it was only really later in life when I discovered my connection with poetry and telling stories through this medium. This made me realise all along I had wanted to be a writer and needed the right outlets to coax it out.
David Ellis: I am inspired by pop culture a lot, along with life experiences. I would also say ever since I discovered found poetry/blackout poetry a few years ago, every single piece of written material becomes a potential catalyst for creative projects as well!
A few months ago, David stated that he wanted to gather some of his love poems into a collection. I had similar plans myself, so we figured it would be a great idea to do it together.
David and I have very different styles, but they mesh in incredible ways and always make our co-authored books a joy to release. “A Particle of You: Love Poetry” is no exception. I love this book!
David Ellis: Cendrine & I both write a lot of inspirational poetry, it is one of the single most important things that connects us as writers. We both truly appreciate and respect how collaboration can generate thrilling, compelling projects.
I have always had a romantic soul and this type of writing is something that I have been compelled to compose a lot of recently, especially because of keen encouragement through a group I participate in called The Nu Romantics. This collection we compiled together seemed like an excellent opportunity for us to explore love from our own unique perspectives.
David Ellis: My process has become very efficient over the years. So long as I have a specific theme and a form to work with, I can usually motivate myself enough to get on with the writing, especially if there is a project to compose for, although I will also write to accumulate pieces over time, with an end goal of putting those pieces into collections.
If I am not particularly in the mood for writing, I can get there through enhancing my mood, usually through listening to music, perhaps enjoying a sweet treat with a cup of tea or watching a clip of something funny to give myself the motivationally boosting buzz to get into the creative zone.
Every time I read David’s poetry, I feel the shadow of Emily Dickinson nearby. He knows how to play with words and rhythm. “We Are Bound by Invisible Threads” is my favorite piece of his in the book!
David Ellis: My own personal favourite of the collection that I have written is “Changed Into Wine”. I was combining feelings of how romantic love can spill over into everything, how it is so frothy, fizzy and uplifting in its nature.
There is so much to savour within Cendrine’s luscious words in this collection, it is very difficult for me to pick my absolute favourite but I will go with “A Poetic Moment”. To me, great poetry is about indulging in the flow of a piece and how it builds to something climatic at the end. This charming piece connects to our innermost senses, building bridges softly, assuredly and fleshing out an experience of tenderness between lovers that is both life-affirming and intensely intimate.
David Ellis: For me, I cannot write unless I have access to the internet or other reference books, as I often want to look up the meanings of words, phrases or idioms. I enjoy subverting cliches and playing with humour (mostly parody), although a lot of my writing is quite serious these days.
I think one of the most interesting writing quirks that I have is that I can have eureka moments when thinking about something else. I will let my subconscious work on a particular problem, where I usually have deliberately put myself in a difficult situation where I am writing with limited words or limited access to specific words. I will then walk away when stuck, do something else and be able to see the answer in whatever else I am doing or everything will suddenly make sense, forcing me to race back to my writing. Kind of like in the TV show ‘House’, when Hugh Laurie has a moment of inspired enlightenment while right in the middle of something else.
I have several favorite authors, including Kahlil Gibran, Alphonse de Lamartine, and Emily Dickinson. While Dickinson is a more recent discovery, Gibran and Lamartine have been part of my life for decades.
At the beginning of my writing career, I tried to emulate their styles. It was, of course, a complete failure. But the experiment allowed me to understand my own style and gain a healthy self-confidence in my abilities. It also taught me the value of challenging myself in every area of my artistic career.
Gibran and Lamartine have influenced me so much that I have dedicated one of my most recent collections of haiku to them. Link: https://creativeramblings.com/after-fires-day.
David Ellis: I most definitely read lots of different things. I would recommend people read as much as they possibly can. I would heartily recommend audiobooks as a means to get stories into you, especially be it either listening on a long commute to/from work or when relaxing to give your eyes a welcome rest.
My favourite authors of all time are Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It is their fantasy worlds, along with them making the writing process seem so effortless that I never fail to marvel at how they are exquisite masters of their craft.
I like reading a lot of fiction and non-fiction books/articles. I actually enjoy reading about subjects that I know little about, as it helps to broaden my mindset, when it comes to considering different/unusual subject matter for creative projects. I would say that the writing of comedians has had a significant effect on my writing style (whether comedy or drama, I will write to make an impact with the least amount of words possible). I am very heavily influenced in my poetry by the romantic poets/the Romanticism movement of the 1800’s too.
David Ellis: The best advice I have ever had is to not keep waiting for motivation to fall into your lap but to generate it yourself, visualise the end product and know you can get there by giving yourself simple goals, tasks and structure to make it happen. Focus on getting a stanza done for a poem, a paragraph for a short story, a chapter for a book/novella then build from that crucial foundation. Your piece will never get done if it all stays up in your head, set it free!
David Ellis: Look to join a local Writers Circle/writing group. Talk things through with fellow writers face to face or online. Set up friendly goals or encouragement to get yourselves writing regularly. Start a blog, publish often, keep honing and evolving your writing style. Be fearless and only take advice that you feel will improve the flow of your work and will not hinder it or rob it of its innocence/uniqueness.
David Ellis: A scrabble set, a cocktail maker and a pool table.
David Ellis: I enjoy reading books, watching films (action, romance and comedy are big favourites), listening to music and fantasising about becoming a musician one day.
David Ellis: I wish to visit all countries in Europe. I have become more and more keen to travel as I have gotten older. I particularly want to visit a lot of locations within Italy, Germany, Greece, France and Spain (mostly hot countries!) but if I can get to every country in Europe before I meet my maker, that would be my ultimate goal. I hope to go on international cruises to speed the process up!
Thankfully, in the 1970s, parents did not have the same freedom as today when it comes to choosing names. So, mine settled for Cendrine, which is an alternative spelling of Sandrine. The meaning behind my name is linked to “cendres” (“ashes” in English), which speaks to the resilient person that I am.
David Ellis: I’ve always wanted to learn kung-fu but mostly enjoy watching it, since I have hurt myself when I have tried to learn it with instructors - I think I need better instructors! I go completely bananas over cute animals, especially cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, llamas, so many - I am extremely fond of giraffes and elephants too. I am completely obsessed with ice-cream, tea and cake!
When the promotional campaign is over, I plan on starting to work on a new multimedia collection that will feature my photography, fractals, AI-generated art, and poems in the forms that I created and co-created with David.
David Ellis: Cendrine & I always have plenty of other projects that are at various stages of completion. I have plenty of written poetry that needs to be turned into published collections and have so many ideas for other found poetry collections for years to come! Our readers are never going to be short of material from us :)
Try to read in genres that you would not normally choose, sample them all and you will be surprised at what you really enjoy reading, if you remain open to the hidden wonders of the world around you.
If you do have a favourite genre and don’t want to read anything else then be sure to read as much as you can. Support your favourite authors and keep giving them encouragement. We want to hear from you and we want to keep on making your lives more enriched for years to come!
Interview with Cendrine Marrouat & David Ellis
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
Cendrine Marrouat: I started writing poetry on a whim in 2005. I do not recall going through a time when I wanted to become a writer or storyteller. Things happened naturally.David Ellis: When I was a teenager, I handcrafted my own “Choose Your Own Adventure” book and I have always had a passion for language and literature. I wrote alternative song lyrics for popular songs in my twenties but it was only really later in life when I discovered my connection with poetry and telling stories through this medium. This made me realise all along I had wanted to be a writer and needed the right outlets to coax it out.
What inspires you to write?
Cendrine Marrouat: Life and the world around me.David Ellis: I am inspired by pop culture a lot, along with life experiences. I would also say ever since I discovered found poetry/blackout poetry a few years ago, every single piece of written material becomes a potential catalyst for creative projects as well!
How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
Cendrine Marrouat: David and I chat together almost every day. When conversations aren’t focused on Auroras & Blossoms (our platform dedicated to inspiration and upliftment in the arts), we usually talk about future book projects.A few months ago, David stated that he wanted to gather some of his love poems into a collection. I had similar plans myself, so we figured it would be a great idea to do it together.
David and I have very different styles, but they mesh in incredible ways and always make our co-authored books a joy to release. “A Particle of You: Love Poetry” is no exception. I love this book!
David Ellis: Cendrine & I both write a lot of inspirational poetry, it is one of the single most important things that connects us as writers. We both truly appreciate and respect how collaboration can generate thrilling, compelling projects.
I have always had a romantic soul and this type of writing is something that I have been compelled to compose a lot of recently, especially because of keen encouragement through a group I participate in called The Nu Romantics. This collection we compiled together seemed like an excellent opportunity for us to explore love from our own unique perspectives.
Tell us about your writing process.
Cendrine Marrouat: Most writers follow a specific writing process. I used to be that way too. But since I started creating my own poetry forms, that process has been all over the place. Now, it is a by-project affair.David Ellis: My process has become very efficient over the years. So long as I have a specific theme and a form to work with, I can usually motivate myself enough to get on with the writing, especially if there is a project to compose for, although I will also write to accumulate pieces over time, with an end goal of putting those pieces into collections.
If I am not particularly in the mood for writing, I can get there through enhancing my mood, usually through listening to music, perhaps enjoying a sweet treat with a cup of tea or watching a clip of something funny to give myself the motivationally boosting buzz to get into the creative zone.
What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
Cendrine Marrouat: My favorite poem is “Moments”. It was inspired by two things: my maternal grandparents who loved each other deeply and my own experience. I have been in a wonderful relationship for more than two decades…Every time I read David’s poetry, I feel the shadow of Emily Dickinson nearby. He knows how to play with words and rhythm. “We Are Bound by Invisible Threads” is my favorite piece of his in the book!
David Ellis: My own personal favourite of the collection that I have written is “Changed Into Wine”. I was combining feelings of how romantic love can spill over into everything, how it is so frothy, fizzy and uplifting in its nature.
There is so much to savour within Cendrine’s luscious words in this collection, it is very difficult for me to pick my absolute favourite but I will go with “A Poetic Moment”. To me, great poetry is about indulging in the flow of a piece and how it builds to something climatic at the end. This charming piece connects to our innermost senses, building bridges softly, assuredly and fleshing out an experience of tenderness between lovers that is both life-affirming and intensely intimate.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Cendrine Marrouat: For a very long time, I could not start writing without a title. It also took me an inordinate amount of time to pen anything. Now that I have fully embraced my perfectionism, I let it take me wherever it wants. The results are always fascinating.David Ellis: For me, I cannot write unless I have access to the internet or other reference books, as I often want to look up the meanings of words, phrases or idioms. I enjoy subverting cliches and playing with humour (mostly parody), although a lot of my writing is quite serious these days.
I think one of the most interesting writing quirks that I have is that I can have eureka moments when thinking about something else. I will let my subconscious work on a particular problem, where I usually have deliberately put myself in a difficult situation where I am writing with limited words or limited access to specific words. I will then walk away when stuck, do something else and be able to see the answer in whatever else I am doing or everything will suddenly make sense, forcing me to race back to my writing. Kind of like in the TV show ‘House’, when Hugh Laurie has a moment of inspired enlightenment while right in the middle of something else.
Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
Cendrine Marrouat: You cannot call yourself a writer if you don’t read. ;-)I have several favorite authors, including Kahlil Gibran, Alphonse de Lamartine, and Emily Dickinson. While Dickinson is a more recent discovery, Gibran and Lamartine have been part of my life for decades.
At the beginning of my writing career, I tried to emulate their styles. It was, of course, a complete failure. But the experiment allowed me to understand my own style and gain a healthy self-confidence in my abilities. It also taught me the value of challenging myself in every area of my artistic career.
Gibran and Lamartine have influenced me so much that I have dedicated one of my most recent collections of haiku to them. Link: https://creativeramblings.com/after-fires-day.
David Ellis: I most definitely read lots of different things. I would recommend people read as much as they possibly can. I would heartily recommend audiobooks as a means to get stories into you, especially be it either listening on a long commute to/from work or when relaxing to give your eyes a welcome rest.
My favourite authors of all time are Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It is their fantasy worlds, along with them making the writing process seem so effortless that I never fail to marvel at how they are exquisite masters of their craft.
I like reading a lot of fiction and non-fiction books/articles. I actually enjoy reading about subjects that I know little about, as it helps to broaden my mindset, when it comes to considering different/unusual subject matter for creative projects. I would say that the writing of comedians has had a significant effect on my writing style (whether comedy or drama, I will write to make an impact with the least amount of words possible). I am very heavily influenced in my poetry by the romantic poets/the Romanticism movement of the 1800’s too.
What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Cendrine Marrouat: Show, don’t tell. Let actions, sensory details, and emotions reveal themselves instead of describing them for the reader.David Ellis: The best advice I have ever had is to not keep waiting for motivation to fall into your lap but to generate it yourself, visualise the end product and know you can get there by giving yourself simple goals, tasks and structure to make it happen. Focus on getting a stanza done for a poem, a paragraph for a short story, a chapter for a book/novella then build from that crucial foundation. Your piece will never get done if it all stays up in your head, set it free!
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Cendrine Marrouat: The same as above. Be a minimalist. Anything that doesn’t serve / further your story should be avoided at all costs.David Ellis: Look to join a local Writers Circle/writing group. Talk things through with fellow writers face to face or online. Set up friendly goals or encouragement to get yourselves writing regularly. Start a blog, publish often, keep honing and evolving your writing style. Be fearless and only take advice that you feel will improve the flow of your work and will not hinder it or rob it of its innocence/uniqueness.
If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
Cendrine Marrouat: My camera, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, and my iPod. I can’t live without music. I’m sure that I would be able to find pieces of wood to write fleeting poems in the sand. lolDavid Ellis: A scrabble set, a cocktail maker and a pool table.
How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
Cendrine Marrouat: Being an artist overlaps everything. So I spend my free time feeding my mind with ideas and concepts that I can reuse in my work.David Ellis: I enjoy reading books, watching films (action, romance and comedy are big favourites), listening to music and fantasising about becoming a musician one day.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
Cendrine Marrouat: I would love to go back to Syria. I was there in 2009 and it is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited.David Ellis: I wish to visit all countries in Europe. I have become more and more keen to travel as I have gotten older. I particularly want to visit a lot of locations within Italy, Germany, Greece, France and Spain (mostly hot countries!) but if I can get to every country in Europe before I meet my maker, that would be my ultimate goal. I hope to go on international cruises to speed the process up!
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
Cendrine Marrouat: I am a Gemini, cats seem obsessed with me, and my name was supposed to be Cendrillon (“Cinderella” in English).Thankfully, in the 1970s, parents did not have the same freedom as today when it comes to choosing names. So, mine settled for Cendrine, which is an alternative spelling of Sandrine. The meaning behind my name is linked to “cendres” (“ashes” in English), which speaks to the resilient person that I am.
David Ellis: I’ve always wanted to learn kung-fu but mostly enjoy watching it, since I have hurt myself when I have tried to learn it with instructors - I think I need better instructors! I go completely bananas over cute animals, especially cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, llamas, so many - I am extremely fond of giraffes and elephants too. I am completely obsessed with ice-cream, tea and cake!
What do you have in store next for your readers?
Cendrine Marrouat: Right now, David and I have been very busy promoting several projects, including this book and the third volume of our annual PoArtMo Anthology (https://abpositiveart.com/poartmo-anthology-3/).When the promotional campaign is over, I plan on starting to work on a new multimedia collection that will feature my photography, fractals, AI-generated art, and poems in the forms that I created and co-created with David.
David Ellis: Cendrine & I always have plenty of other projects that are at various stages of completion. I have plenty of written poetry that needs to be turned into published collections and have so many ideas for other found poetry collections for years to come! Our readers are never going to be short of material from us :)
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
David Ellis: Please do not be afraid of reading poetry, it is fulfilling, rewarding and stimulating. In these crazy times that we live in, it can be so good to read something that is short, accessible and will speak directly to your innermost thoughts, dreams, desires and experiences.Try to read in genres that you would not normally choose, sample them all and you will be surprised at what you really enjoy reading, if you remain open to the hidden wonders of the world around you.
If you do have a favourite genre and don’t want to read anything else then be sure to read as much as you can. Support your favourite authors and keep giving them encouragement. We want to hear from you and we want to keep on making your lives more enriched for years to come!
About the Book:
- Title: A Particle of You: Love Poetry
- Release Date: September 29, 2022
- Formats Available: Softcover, eBook, PDF
In this new collection from well-established authors Cendrine Marrouat and David Ellis, enjoy a series of love poems delicately crafted to stimulate emotional and endearing aspects of our deep connections with each other.
Cendrine and David have selected poems for this volume that perfectly capture feelings and nuances relating to romantic notions. They explore how love can fundamentally shape and change you, how it can feed your innermost muses/desires and ultimately how it can define you as a person, if you fully embrace it with every fibre of your being.
Love need not be scary or complicated. This collection shows us that even the simplest of intimate gestures can mean more to us when speaking from the heart and soul.
Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.com * Amazon.in * eBooks
Thank you for this opportunity, Debdatta! The Amazon link is just for the print book. People interested in purchasing the ebook can visit https://books2read.com/particle-you
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