11.04.09
How to get more exposure for your creations
Independent artists find it hard to get exposure for their art, especially poets and spoken word artists. What are the possible solutions?
The venues to get one’s creations noticed are many and few at the same time. It takes months, and mostly years, of hard work and patience to finally hit the general public. I have connected with some of the most incredible artists and supporters in North America and have followed their tips and advice very carefully. And as a result, I received more exposure in a couple of months than I had managed to achieve in more than three years!
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
A lot of independent artists believe that once their CD or book is available for purchase, the work is done. They think that they can rely on the quality of their work for it to sell itself. While this is not a bad thought at all, it is also important to realize that sales obey the 10-90 rule: 10% creativity and 90% promotion/marketing.
Start by asking yourself the following questions: “What is my long-term goal as an artist? What do I want to do with my creation(s)? What is my mission statement?” Be very honest in your answers, because they will determine your career and how long you may last in the business. Being an artist entails many things. You must be professional in your approach, dedicated, and aware of your surroundings and global issues. It is also essential that you be willing to support other artists and causes, and serve as a positive role model. Always acknowledge your fans and supporters, those who work in the shadows for you. And most importantly: build relationships before thinking of sales! This is the first step to get respect from fellow artists, and hence exposure.
WEBSITE/PROFILE PAGES
Nowadays, if you want to attract more followers, you need to build a website or at least have a regularly updated profile page. This is very easy to do, especially if you are not computer-savvy, and it is free.
For a website, use Wix or Weebly. They are excellent! I have experience with both, and you can see how I used them: “Rizen – The CD” and the Soulpoetrysite.com store
If you are a musician or a spoken word artist, you have probably heard of Reverbnation. I use it myself and I love the fact that I can send pre-formatted newsletters to my fan base, build a street team and launch missions with the click of a button, and promote my CD and tracks through easy-to-share widgets. What’s more, people can also help spread the word by sharing the widgets almost everywhere on the Internet!
BLOG/COMMUNITY
If you want to build your online presence, it is very important that your fans and followers be involved. They want to know more about you and what you care for. A blog is a very nice tool to use. You can talk about anything, address questions and concerns from your fans, educate them on topics that matter to you, and invite them to take part in discussions. You can also promote yourself. The best blog services are WordPress and Blogger. I use WordPress myself for my two blogs: this one and my poetry blog.
You can also join writing communities and forums like Red Room and share some of your stuff there.
NETWORKING
Social networking sites are essential for promotion these days. The best part is that they are totally free! Make sure that you check out Facebook, Twitter, Ning, YouTube, and Myspace. Ning is especially impressive, as it offers tons of options! Feel free to join my network.
You can also use Internet radio. I recommend Blog Talk Radio. There are tons of broadcasts every day and the neat thing is that you can also interact in chat rooms. Hence, you have the golden opportunity to “meet” hosts and listeners who often happen to be hosts or promoters of the art themselves. I used this medium and got to know great individuals. I have been a guest on numerous shows, which has allowed me to promote my books and CD, and tell the world why I am a poet and spoken word artist. I got introduced to many new listeners. The traffic to my site has been huge since I started listening to BTR shows!
If you are not camera-shy, you can also host your own show, using your webcam. This is something that I do once a month with Livestream (and people love it!). When you join their site, you receive access to a personal studio. From there, you can upload your own videos or videos from YouTube and stream them on a 24/7 basis. Then, feel free to embed the screen anywhere you want. See for yourself on my website.
UPDATING YOUR STATUS
Part of your promotional time should be used to update your status across the different networks you belong to. You will attract more followers. However, it can be very time-consuming. You need to be able to do it in one convenient place. Use TweetDeck or Hootsuite.
BUILDING A STREET TEAM
You can only do so much on your own. At some point, if you are like me, and work alone 14-15 hours a day, you will get burned out. You need to be able to rely on others.
A street team is a group of people who are committed to help an artist spread the word about their work. The artist sends the group on miscellaneous missions (never involving money on the part of the group) and the best street teamers are rewarded in different ways. The thing I love about this concept is that it allows an artist to connect with their fan base on a different level. It brings them exposure and makes fans a complete part of the artist’s success. On the other hand, street teamers get free stuff, which is always nice!
Reverbnation offers you the perfect way to do it: once your mission is launched, the site keeps counts for you and all you have to do is check your stats!
SELLING ONLINE AND OFFLINE
95% of poets go the self-publishing way. To me self-publishing is more rewarding than challenging because I have to promote all my products myself, and it gives me the opportunity to really get to know my readers and listeners. Print-on-demand or POD is a great service and I recommend Lulu. Open an account, upload your files, fill in the necessary info, and you are on your way. They will print your books, CDs, calendars, photo books, and pictures for you. Use your Paypal account address to receive royalties when people purchase your products through your personal (free) store.
If you only focus on music or spoken word, there are a few nice options out there. I heard that CD Baby is very good. I personally use Reverbnation & Audiolife. Both sites have partnered to allow Reverbnation members to sell their merchandise and music for free. All you need is a Paypal account. Set up your store (in two minutes), upload your files, fill in the information, and start selling your CDs, MP3 albums, individual tracks, Tshirst and tote bags within minutes! And to be honest, the royalties are very decent. For more information, visit my ReverbNation/Audiolife store.
You can also sell your music digitally, using major retailers like ITunes or Amazon.com. Reverbnation lets you do that very easily!
DIVERSIFICATION
I have a motto: the more you have to offer, the more exposure you will get! It means that you have to diversify. And do not wait for others to do it for you. Do things YOURSELF!
Make a list of all your skills and see what you have to offer. If you are a poet/writer, you could offer poetry/speech-on-demand or proofreading services. If you are an amateur photographer, why not sell your pictures to other artists for their book/CD covers? And if you are really fluent in two or more languages, you could also translate documents…
Another good idea is to design your own exclusive merchandise (Tshirts, bags, mouse pads, mugs, greeting cards, etc.) and sell it using services like Zazzle or Cafepress. All you need is a Paypal account. They provide you with a free store that you can promote everywhere you want. And royalties are quite decent. You can see what I did with my Zazzle store.
The great thing about diversification is that it makes it harder for people to label you in one category. You may end up attracting a lot of different people!
LAST WORDS
Always remember this: treat others the way you would like to be treated. Before throwing links at someone, introduce yourself properly and get to know them a little. You will be surprised by how much help and support you will receive in return!
Also, do not hesitate to ask for tips and advice from those who have a proven successful background in your industry. Always keep a notebook and pen handy, and write any suggestion and idea given you. Sometimes, one little thing will make a huge difference.
Finally, frustration and discouragement are part of the job. Take a few days off, enjoy life, and come back refreshed! 
Do not hesitate to visit my website to see all the above tips and advice in action!
//
10.29.09
The Significance of Poetry
After a busy night listening to Eddie Benitez being interviewed by Olivia Wilder, writing, and doing miscellaneous other things (ah! the exciting life of a night owl!), I came to reflect on a topic that is very dear to my heart: poetry and its significance in this world. A few months ago, I had been asked a similar question about music, and my answer had been published in “The Spiritual Significance of Music”, an online magazine.
It is only when I started writing poetry that I came to realize its meaning. When you study it in school or at university, it is honestly very dull and boring. I still remember one of the essays I had to write for the national examinations I was taking at the time to become a teacher (the most difficult exams teachers have to take in France). The topic was John Donne’s poetry. I recall stopping in the middle of my 10-page essay and thinking: “This cannot be happening! Poetry is awful!” Never could have I imagined that I would be typing this blog article seven years later! The truth of the matter is that poetry stalked me until I was finally ready to give it a try.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends called me a “motivational poet” in a conversation. After almost five years in the poetic world, I thought I knew exactly what poetry was about. But sometimes, we need others to remind us that nothing should be taken for granted. As Krishnamurti says, “Life has to be discovered from moment to moment, from day to day; it has to be discovered, it cannot be taken for granted.” And it cannot be truer with poetry. We all have so many preconceived ideas about what it stands for, what it seems to mean, how we are supposed to read it, etc. In fact, human beings like to imagine that words and ideas have a life of their own, when all they do is create them and then put them in small boxes.
So, I started to reflect on the meaning of “motivational”, “inspirational”, and “spiritual”. I did a bit of research in my etymological dictionaries, and this is what I found:
1) “Motivational”
“Motive” comes from the Latin word for “move”. A motive is what causes/has power to cause motion; it is what moves or excites to action, inducement, reason. The verb “motivate” means: to provide with a motive; to induce. ”Motivation”/”motivity” are nouns describing what has the power of moving or producing motion.
2) “Inspirational” and “Spiritual”
These two words are closely related. “Inspirational” comes from “inspire” and “spirit”. “Inspire” means: to breathe or blow (into); to draw or inhale into the lungs; to instruct by divine influence; to instruct or affect with a superior influence; to animate (a person with feelings, thoughts). “Inspiration” is the act of inspiring or breathing in; a breath; instruction or stimulation by a divinity; an inspired condition/thought.
Here are a few synonyms of the word “spirit”: vital principle; the soul; actuating emotion, disposition, frame of mind; animation, verve; courage; cheerful/exuberant vivacity; the real meaning, intent; etc.
So, if we pay careful attention to these three words, they have a lot in common! What causes motion will affect and animate the spirit, hence the soul, mind, and body.
The Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “poetry” as such: “1 a: metrical writing; b: the productions of a poet; 2 writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm; 3 a something likened to poetry especially in beauty of expression b: poetic quality or aspect <the poetry of dance>” Source: http://cougar.eb.com/dictionary/poetry
Since I started writing poetry, my definition of the art form had always been “the language of the soul”. My friend helped me to understand that when poetry truly comes from a deep place within us (heart, mind, and soul, what I also consider as the trinity), it becomes more than a language. It becomes motivation, inspiration, pure spirituality, and true beauty for the poet as well as the reader/listener. And in that sense, it has the power to excite/move/animate us to action and reflections. And that’s exactly what the definitions of all the above words are!
Poetry is much more than simply writing words on a page, as well. It has rules and forms, and they were created for a reason: to help the reader see underlying messages that words alone may never be able to convey.
Great poetry is not hard to write. The important ingredients are: some basic knowledge of the written language and poetic forms (and it doesn’t mean rhyming or following the same pattern all the time); the willingness to study one’s own soul and listen to what God has to say (or whatever one truly believes in); and the desire to use one’s own positive energy to create messages that will leave a lasting impression on people, and probably help a lot of individuals in the process.
And speaking of poetic forms, here are some cool resources for you!
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Poetic_form
Now, go write some poetry! 
10.27.09
Big thank yous to…
There is one thing I like to do once in a while: acknowledge my friends and supporters for all their help and kindness. Without them, I would not be where I am, as an artist and a person. As my friend April Sims says it: “We are greater than I!” It is also a good opportunity for me to spread the word about what they do (so, please support!)… Today, I am calling names! And the list is long.
So, my biggest thank yous go to:
- Sierra Lewis, a.k.a Just Cici, my number one fan and supporter. We chat every day on Yahoo messenger and spend more time laughing than actually being serious. She is a beautiful person inside and out. Please, check out her BTR show. You know I love your crazy hair, girl! LOL
- Saffiyah Muhammad, a.k.a Amina 1389, my oldest online friend, and one I can always rely on. Her positive voice spreads love wherever she goes. She is one of the most talented poets I know. You rock, lady!
- the Mari mafia. Mari Torres and “Dazzle” Dawn Mangham, a very talented singer, from That’s My Word, a daily BTR show. Had Mari not threatened to kick my French butt if I didn’t call in on her show to recite my poetry, I would have never fought my shyness, and made my CD. Tmill, the host of In Tune with Tmill, has been a constant supporter of mine since the beginning of my spoken word career. Last but not least, Anita Charlot, the owner of Anita Charlot International, has been a wonderful supporter! A beautiful lady inside and out. You guys are the bestest!
- Jon Pear, a.k.a neuroaster, a very good friend, talented poet and neighbor!
- Danny Sillada, a unique and multi-talented artist, for his constant support and belief in my abilities.
- Tracey Fennel, a.k.a Elder Beatmaster, one of the most amazing spoken word artists you will ever hear! He supports absolutely everybody.
- Sarah Clayborne, a.k.a Dr Emma Sarah, for her constant words of love and encouragement. She is an enlightened lady whose voice is truly needed in our community! Please, support her foundation!
- Shannon Parker, one of the most beautiful persons I know.
- April Sims, the host of BTR’s April Sims A and E, for her friendship and useful advice. She should get the award for most inspirational woman of the year!
- Lady Flava, the owner of Flava News, for being one of the truest supporters of independent artists. She often spreads the word about what I do.
- Michele Green, the multi-tasking owner of RM Greenhouse Services Corp. and host of Author Speak, for her amazing support and friendship.
- Sheree Margaret, one of the hardest working hosts on BTR. She is one my biggest supporters and always finds a way to help! Please, support her show!
- Janice “B” Buerkli for her constant support and presence during my BTR interviews. She is a beautiful singer with a voice that soothes and caresses the mind. Check out her new CD, Watch Me Fly, and support her!
- Natalie Brown, THE Kanuck singer and “Kindest Artist of the Year” Recipient.
Et puis, un petit paragraphe en français, pour remercier du fond du coeur plusieurs personnes qui comptent beaucoup pour moi:
- Christèle Guinot, la meilleure amie que quiconque puisse avoir.
- Richard “Tigger” Bouchard, l’un des garçons les plus sympas que je connaisse.
- Nolween Eeway, Laura Kita Kejuo et Astrid Desmarécaux, les écrivains françaises les plus gentilles du circuit indépendant mondial.
- Natalie Burgun, une super copine et une sacrée supportrice!
- Laëtitia Ery, aka Azelle, qui malgré les apparences, finira par épouser un personnage de manga! Ma fille, je suis ravie qu’on se soit retrouvées. Tu es un quelqu’un de génial!
Why independent artists need to change…
As most people know, I am big on quality. Quantity means nothing when people do not feel concerned. I have always valued relationships before anything else, and lent my support and help to countless numbers of people. I am not looking for thank yous, I did it because I wanted to. As a result, God has blessed me without limits!
Being a poet is interesting nowadays, especially when one dabs into written and spoken word. I am a writer, first and foremost, because I love the written word. But I am also a spoken word artist: I want to give life to my poems.
I have seen a lot of changes since the inception of my writing career. I have connected with a HUGE number of people, and among them writers, poets, and spoken word artists. Some have become my friends; others (and there were many!) did not seem interested in pursuing the relationship beyond the please-buy-my-book-or-CD point. I have also had the great honor to meet people who work in the shadows and offer unconditional support, no matter what happens in their lives. These people will be the subject of a future blog article, because they deserve to be acknowledged and thanked! I will even call names!
What strikes me the most is the lack of support for independent artists. Let’s talk about audiences and readers for a minute.
80% of the population have no idea what being an independent artist means. The only thing they know is mainstream art. They listen to music, watch videos, and read magazines that demean women and portray them more as merchandise as human beings, promote violence, and encourage youths to think that money is more important than the rest. They hear and read the rantings and ravings of celebrities who have been thrown in the public eye in their teens and who have no clue how to behave properly and be an example to their own generation, because they are encouraged to do so by the big guns in the music industry. As a result of that smart brainwashing by the media, people have no idea what indie artists go through, and how hard it is to make themselves known. People root for what they see, because they do not know if there is something else available out there. And honestly, should I be in their shoes, I would not even want to spend much time doing any research!
20% of the remaining worldwide population is comprised of mainstream artists, independent artists, and people who know them. I am part of these 20%, and I will tell you in all honesty why 80% of people can be excused.
First of all, a big majority of people live in poor countries where music and books are luxury. They do not, or barely, have access to the Internet, a TV screen, or a radio set. Second, the rest of us live in “affluent” countries where (both societal and mental) wealth and poverty meet each other anywhere daily.
During my many discussions with artists from the North American spoken word scene, I have noticed one thing: disunity. We are NOT united! Most artists fight for their own piece of paradise, not concerning themselves with what goes on in the lives of their fellow artists or fans. They ask you to buy their CDs or books, but they will not even help you to spread the word about your own work, even if you purchase something from them. It is something that baffles me but also worries me greatly, because these artists are the most adamant that the world does not understand them. Of course, I am generalizing a little, because I know a lot of fantastic artists whose heads are properly screwed on their shoulders and who are big supporters of others’ work. But the trend of non supportive indies is growing.
Being an artist entails many things, and among them, one is to educate others. And education takes many forms. It starts with professionalism (in every sense of the term), dedication, awareness (of one’s own world and global issues), support, and the willingness to serve as a positive role model. You cannot be a real artist if you do not understand your mission in this life. If you are there just to make money and not worry about the world around you, then you are missing the whole point. Because, always remember that we have real supporters who work in the shadows and who are getting tired of the situation. If we don’t change quickly, they will stop supporting us. And when that happens, our chances of being acknowledged will be even slimmer.
It does not matter what each one of us has to bring to the table. We MUST become a community. We MUST have discussions. We MUST support and help one another. It does not have to be financial: a lot of us cannot afford it. But there is something that we can all afford: time. It takes one minute to help spread the word about someone else’s creations (for example, use the share button on Facebook to make the link available on your page). It takes two minutes to forward a message to all your contacts. Listen to BTR shows, even if you can only do it for 5 minutes daily. Connect with people, say hello once in a while, leave a comment under their posts or on their pages. Congratulate them on their work. Send them a note. And most of all, BE GRATEFUL for God and people in your life! Always remember that, without fans and supporters, all your hard work is worth NOTHING. So, we need to CHANGE and STOP taking people for granted. We have to learn to RESPECT everybody, even those who don’t have a voice.
Once we start this process, audiences will notice us…
08.08.09
I am an artist because…
What is an artist? What does an artist do? Wiktionary defines the word as follows:
- A person who creates art.
- A person who creates art as an occupation.
- A person who is skilled at some activity.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist
Some synonyms of the word “occupation”: (activity with which one occupies oneself) profession, vocation, interest
Source: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/occupation
1) I create art in the form of poetry.
2) I made four books and a CD, so this falls under the “occupation” category.
3) I write in French and English, so I must be skilled.
Many people believe that buying anything related to art is a waste of money. They think that most things should be free. The economy may be in a bad shape, however people still buy cars and plasma TVs. And some industries still make billions of dollars. Nobody complains about that, except when it comes to books.
As an artist, I believe that I have a mission to educate people. So, today, I am going to give you a broad idea of the costs of making a book and a CD, as far as I know it. Bear in mind that I can only talk about my own experience. Others may tell you things a little differently. Still, my hope is that you will understand why artists deserve to be paid for their work. Because, they have bills to pay and need food like any other human being in this world…
I do not know what it takes to write a novel, paint, or make music, but I can tell you about poetry, plays, and CDs. I have experience in those fields. It takes months, sometimes years, of grueling work, dedication, patience, and faith. I do not know what an “8-hour day of work” means. When I was a French Instructor, I sometimes taught 11 hours a day! I do not get up in the morning, thinking: “Well, I am going to work from 9 am until 5 pm and then go home.” Otherwise, my creativity would be blocked. Sometimes, I write for 12 hours in a row. Bear in mind that I am not complaining. I love it! And a real artist at heart will tell you the same thing…
As you already know, I chose the self-publishing way because I wanted to have full control over my creations. Lulu.com is a very good website for that. They are one of the cheapest options out there and they have no hidden fee that I know of. However, everything has a cost.
I sell my books for 18.50 US dollars. On average, this is what it costs to make each book there:
- Manufacturing cost: 5-6 US dollars
- Lulu fee: 2-3 US dollars
- My revenue: around 10 US dollars
If I choose to have my books sold through Amazon.com, for example, this is what happens:
- Manufacturing cost: 5-6 US dollars
- Lulu fee: 1 US dollar
- Retail markup (the money the retailer makes): 9-10 US dollars
- My revenue: 3-4 US dollars
The maximum amount of royalties that you can get from a publishing company is 25%. So, you do the maths. It is not much! Now, I consider myself pretty lucky that I can make almost 50% of the price displayed at Lulu.com!
Now, let’s talk about my CD. I sell it for 14.50 US dollars. This is what it costs to make it with Lulu.com
- Manufacturing cost: 5.50 US dollars
- Lulu fee: 1.80 US dollar
- My revenue: 7.20 US dollars
If you use digital distribution through CDbaby, for example, you will have to pay money upfront (around 30 dollars), and they keep a small fee on each track or album that you sell.
Now, let’s talk about promotion. Because, let’s be honest: making books and CDs is the easiest part, especially nowadays! When they are ready for the world, you have to let the world know! Otherwise, you will never be able to sell anything, and will have wasted your time. You need to promote yourself and it requires a LOT of work, patience, time, and MONEY. In my case, it starts as soon as I wake up in the morning, and stops whenever I am tired and need to sleep. I am always doing research on the Internet, networking with people, organizing listening parties, and preparing shows (my latest addition). At the same time, I try to continue writing and working on new projects. So let me tell you one thing: I am always extremely busy!
This blog article is not a pity call. I only hope that, from now on, you will think twice before saying that artists are trying to rip you off.
08.04.09
The Spiritual Significance of Music
I met Justin St Vincent, the webmaster of Xtreme Music a couple of months ago on Myspace. THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MUSIC is an epic anthology of exclusive interviews with over 600 of the world’s most visionary leaders in music and spirituality. Prelude provides readers with a brief introduction, and Encore encapsulates a summary of this ambitious project. The complete portfolio is freely available.
Justin asked me the following question: “What do you believe is the spiritual significance of music?” I emailed my answer and he liked it. I am part of the August Edition of the project. I feel honored and blessed!
Here is my answer to Justin’s question (you can also download the interview HERE):
“To me, two art forms stand out from the rest: music and poetry. They have co-existed from time immemorial, as testimonies of humankind’s ability to imitate Nature or show worship and love of God. Through music, many individuals and groups have been able to express beautiful messages. Spiritual in its essence, it is also a reflection of society and its evolution over time. The spiritual significance of music is manifold. Its biggest role is educational. But it
must be education of body and soul. Mainstream music is geared towards instant money gratification, and it has to be much more than that. Obviously, musicians have to be able to make a living. Nonetheless, when money comes first, music loses its value. When music expresses messages of Love in its purest sense, this art form should be part of any curriculum. Its importance lies in the fact that it fills a void, a need for spiritual longings. It transports the mind out of its regular context and gathers truths in one place. It helps those in need and comforts those in pain. Most importantly, it brings joy to the whole world. In that sense, it makes one more attuned to God.”
Thank you Justin!
07.28.09
Celebrating Great Minds – Part II
Two or three years ago, on a plane back to Canada, as I was reading one of Alphonse de Lamartine’s numerous poems, I noticed that one of the flight attendants was smiling at me. I closed my book and we started talking.
“I notice that you are reading Alphonse de Lamartine.”
“Yes, I am. Have you ever heard of him?”
“I am a huge fan. However, I had never met anyone before who actually reads him.”
What the flight attendant said did not surprise me. Alphonse de Lamartine is one of the most amazing writers in the history of French literature, and yet, most people have barely heard of him. I want to celebrate this great soul today.
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine (October 21, 1790 – February 28, 1869) was a French writer, poet and politician. He is considered as the first French romantic poet.
A passionate man, he had an unequalled way with words. The only writers that touch him are Khalil Gibran, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Victor Hugo. The timeless messages in his novels and poems are the deepest that I have ever read.
Below are a few quotes taken from http://thinkexist.com/quotes/alphonse_de_lamartine/:
- “Sometimes only one person is missing and the whole world seems depopulated.” (his most famous quote)
- “To love for the sake of being loved is human, but to love for the sake of loving is angelic.”
- “There is a woman at the beginning of all the great things.”
- “Limited in his nature, infinite in his desires, man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens.”
If you ever talk to fans of his body of work, they will tell you about The Lake. This poem recalls a brief but intense love affair between Lamartine and Julie Charles, who died before they could meet again.
Source: http://blog.luciolepress.com/2008/02/23/alphonse-de-lamartine-17901869-and-the-lake.aspx
The Lake
And thus, forever driven towards new shores,
Swept into eternal night without return,
Will we never, for even one day, drop anchor
On time’s vast ocean?
O Lake! Only a year has now gone by,
And to these dear waves she would have seen again,
Look! I’m returning alone to rest on the very work
Where you saw her rest!
Then as now, you rumbled under these great rocks;
Then as now, you broke against their torn flanks;
The wind hurling the foam from your waves
Onto her adored feet.
One evening, you recall? We drifted in silence;
Far off on the water and under the stars hearing
Only the rhythmic sound of oars striking
Your melodious waves.
Suddenly strains unknown on earth
Echoed from the enchanted shore;
The water paid heed, and the voice so dear
To me spoke these words:
“O time, suspend your flight! and you, blessed hours,
Suspend your swift passage.
Allow us to savor the fleeting delights,
Of our most happy days!
So many wrteched people beseech you:
Flow, flow quickly for them;
Take away the cares devouring them;
Overlook the happy.
But I ask in vain for just a few more moments,
Time escaping me flees;
While I beg the night: ‘Slow down,’ already
It fades into dawn.
Then let us love, let us love! And the fleeting hours
Let us hasten to enjoy.
We have no port, time itself has no shore;
It glides, and we pass away.”
Jealous time, will these moments of such intoxication,
Love flooding us with overwhelming bliss,
Fly past us with the same speed
As dark and painful days?
What! will we not keep at least the trace of them?
What! They are gone forever? Totally lost?
This time that gave them and is obliterating them,
Will it never return them to us?
Eternity, nothingness, past, somber abysses,
What are you doing with the days you swallow up?
Speak: will you ever give back the sublime bliss
You stole from us?
O lake! silent rocks! shaded grottoes! dark forest!
You whom time can spare or even rejuvenate,
Preserve, noble nature, preserve from this night
At least the memory!
May it live in your peace, may it be in your storms,
Beautiful lake, and in the light of your glad slopes,
And in these tall dark firs and in these savage rocks,
Overhanging your waves.
May it be in the trembling zephyr passing by,
In the endless sounds that carry from shore to shore
In the silver faced star that whitens your surface
With its softened brilliance.
May the moaning wind and sighing reed,
May the delicate scent of your frangrant breeze,
May everything that we hear and see and breathe,
Awaken the memory of — their love!
(Editor K.’s note: I transcribed this out of The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume E. This translated version is by Andrea Moorhead)
If you google “Alphonse de Lamartine”, you will find hundreds of websites. So, get enlightened right now!
07.05.09
5 minutes, 5 questions with… Cendrine Marrouat, author of Project: Heartbeats and Elevation
JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Cendrine Marrouat, author of Project: Heartbeats and Elevation (Lulu)
Project: Heartbeats And Elevation is not your regular collection of poetry. It is a celebration of Life, Love and Spirituality. Word after word, line after line, poem after poem, let your heart and soul commune with God…
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Project: Heartbeats and Elevation?
Cendrine Marrouat: God is my main inspiration in everything I do. I wanted to write about my belief in him and how it helps me to see Life and Death as a continuum of the same process.
I always pen my best poetry at night. But, before I can actually start writing anything, I need to find a title. Otherwise, inspiration will not come. So, one night, while finishing a poem, the title Project: Heartbeats and Elevation popped out without warning. I wrote it on a piece of paper and thought: “Wow! That would make an awesome poem!”
I set about writing something and, before I knew it, I had ten poems. They were short but powerful. The next day, I showed what I had done to a friend, and they were ecstatic: “You absolutely have to write a book. The message will give hope to many.” That is how the book was born…
JP: What sets Project: Heartbeats and Elevation apart from you other collection of poetry?
CM: When I wrote my other books, I was three years younger and in a different frame of mind. My belief in God was already strong, but not as strong as it is today. I have grown a lot since then.
As a translator, I love to translate what I write in French, my mother tongue. Sometimes, I do the same in English, with my French poems. I find this to be a very good exercise, as it forces me to detach myself from my work.
Hence, I can say that what sets Project: Heartbeats and Elevation apart from my other collections of poetry is the sense of joy and hope that emerges. I am confident that those who will read it will agree.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Project: Heartbeats and Elevation getting out to the public?
CM: God as a motivating force is the key to my success. I was given a wonderful gift through him: poetry. As such, monetary gain is of secondary importance. It is the reason why I chose self-publishing. Although this process takes time, patience and dedication, it also gives me enough freedom to go at my own pace and promote my books the way I want.
I just want people to see that Spirituality and God are not some vain words. They can actually help you to overcome the greatest hurdles and make you a better individual. If I can reach one person and have them realize that, then my job is done!
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Project: Heartbeats and Elevation?
CM: I do not write often. Sometimes, I will spend weeks without penning anything. And when I work on a poem, I like to take my time. I choose my words carefully, making sure that they reflect the person I am deep inside.
In the case of Project: Heartbeats and Elevation, I started sometime in the middle of 2008. Then, I took a long break and resumed work in February 2009. A month later, I had it proofread. In April, the book was ready for release… Voilà!
JP: What’s next for Cendrine Marrouat?
CM: I want to continue writing, of course. I plan on releasing my two plays in book format through Lulu or other means. Also, I have just started working on a poetry CD/DVD project.
My objective is to release it within a year. I have created three videos so far, and they can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/soulpoetrysite. They are also downloadable for free on Itunes. Obviously, I need to improve their quality, but they are good examples of what the poetry CD/DVD will be about.
http://www.soulpoetrysite.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cendrinem
Facebook: search “Cendrine”
http://twitter.com/soulpoetrysite
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P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews
07.03.09
Yay me!
It is now official. Rizen – The CD is available in MP3 format. I sent the tracks to www.lulu.com and I should receive the first official copy of the CD in a few days. I do not think I have been so excited in my life!
When I was in grade 8, on the first parent-teacher meeting of the year, my English Teacher told my mother that I was a lost cause when it came to English. He predicted that I would never be able to speak the language well enough to be understood by anyone. The same thing happened when I was at university. One of my professors asked me what I would like to do once I graduate. At the time, my dream was to become a university Professor. She laughed and said: “I hope you are kidding. Your accent is so bad that I highly doubt that anyone would understand you.” I thanked her and just replied: “I do hope we meet again, in a few years.”
Naysayers come in all shapes and colors. I could write a book on them. I have met so many in my life that my whole neighborhood would not be big enough to accomodate them. However, they deserve an award for trying to make me quit. And I have proven them wrong every time…
Here are the naysayers that I have met and who stand out from the crowd.
1) Strangers. It takes them five minutes to predict my fall. They read one poem, and start telling me exactly what I need to do to turn my poetry into a masterpiece. They have all the answers to help me improve my craft. The only problem I have with advice like that is that most of these people have never written one poem in their lives.
2) Experts. They claim that they know everything about the industry they and I belong to. While this may be true of a lot of them, there are still some individuals who should really update their knowledge database.
As most of you know, I self-published my four books of poetry. I chose that path because I wanted to have full control over my creations. A couple of months ago, I emailed reviewers to see if they would accept to have a look at one of my books. One of them sent me the following response:
“Dear Cendrine Marrouat:
Though vanity presses (presses which allow an author to publish his/her own work for a price) sometime publish good and important works, it is very rare. Vanity presses offer no quality control. In short, it’s an issue of quality and credibility. This is no reflection on your work, obviously, but simply a policy this publication practices.
I’d like to direct you to a review venue that might review a self-published book, but I can’t think of one that does.”
An “expert” who does not know the difference between self-publishing and vanity press? I think that they just wanted to see my reaction. However, I decided not to give it much thought, as it would have been a waste of time and energy. Actually, my book was accepted for review somewhere else a couple of days later and the reviewer was actually kind enough to congratulate me personally.
3) Friends. I have had a few dedicated friends, the kind of people that have always been by my side, no matter what happens. Those do not belong to the naysayers category. The people I am talking about here, are those who claimed that they were my friends and acted otherwise.
Since the beginning of my career as a writer, I have emailed my whole list of friends a few times, to inform them of my achievements. I did the same with my CD. Here are the kind of naysayers I had to deal with.
I have “friends” who lost my email address each time that I sent them a message about either my books or my CD. They miraculously found it again once I stopped emailing them. Others were overwhelmed with my news to the point of no return. They had to grieve for at least a year before sending me a response. Others also felt that they had to tell me the truth: no one cares and what I have been doing is useless. Finally, last but not least, some “friends” thought that I wanted them to become my agents. So, they took the easy way out telling me that they had neither money nor time.
The problem is that I had never asked any of that to anyone. When I contacted my “friends” about my books or my CD, I simply told them to help me spread the word by forwarding my messages or simply talk about me to their friends and family members. It takes a couple of minutes and no money to do so!
Naysayers are everywhere. They hide in every corner, even in the comfort of your own home. The worst naysayer may be yourself! We care so much about what others say that we sometimes forget to listen to our own heart. We deny ourselves a good life and our most basic sense of purpose, for fear others should not accept who we are.
In the end, as bad as naysayers may be, they share our lives for only a short amount of time. We, on the contrary, continue lacerating ourselves long after they have left.
So, I say: Yay, me! for not paying attention to all the people who have tried to warn me that I was wasting my time and energy. I can actually speak English properly, write poetry in a language that is not my mother tongue, and still move people. I authored four books and made a CD. Talk about proving people wrong, eh?
Now, forget the naysayers. They are just jealous. Celebrate all your victories, small or big. They are worth it! And most importantly, never let go of your dreams…
