Introducing "The Meaning"

Hello everyone!

I am very excited to announce the upcoming release of my new book, titled The Meaning.

For many years, I had wanted to write a multimedia book that featured a blend of poetry, poetic thoughts, short personal essays, and photography. But I wanted to do it at the right time.

In December 2022, after a short, albeit much-needed conversation with someone whom I hadn't seen in more than 15 years, a sentence started echoing in my head:

"There is a profound beauty in forgiving those who have hurt us deeply."

My heart skipped a beat; I felt goosebumps. The pivotal moment was there. I would write about life, lessons learnt, the importance of healthy grieving and forgiveness, and the transformative power of self-love.

The poetry in this book was written years ago. But the essays and poetic messages were developed over a period of eight months.

The Meaning is my most personal project to date. It delves into the parts of us that we often fail to nurture properly. The same parts that usually cause the biggest issues in our lives and the lives of others.

The Meaning is an invitation to stop considering imperfections and challenges as hurdles, but rather as companions on the path to happiness.

The silver lining in all things is real. But it takes a self-empathetic mind to see it.

Foreword by David Ellis

Today, I would like to share the foreword for the book with you.

I’ve known Cendrine for a few years now and I feel very grateful to have been asked to write a few words regarding her latest project, especially since I get to look at it before anyone else does, which is a treat in itself!

Cendrine is without a doubt truly a multi-talented artist in every sense of the word. She simply never ceases to amaze you, astonish you and ultimately completely endear yourself to whatever she is involved in, with this book being yet another fine example of this.

The Meaning is a deeply moving experience comprised of photography, poetry, philosophical musings and even a window into the very soul of different cultures. Just when you begin to appreciate the sheer wonder of the subtle blends of poetic prose alongside scintillatingly stunning photography, Cendrine will interject with stories from her own life experiences, which are compelling, brutally honest and above all very life-affirming.

When reading this book, you will feel like you are spending quality time with a dear old friend, enjoying a quiet drink together while you reminisce, feasting on intricate verbosity interlaced in a sumptuous visual journey of discovery that will leave you feeling completely satisfied yet aching for more.

It’s so refreshing that after getting to know an author a little better, you end up learning more about yourself in the process too, which to me demonstrates how well sincere art resonates and connects with the recipient.

The only thing more inspiring than this collection is the thought of Cendrine creating another one!

Enjoy everyone, you are bound to keep coming back to this again and again.

- David Ellis, Author of Life, Sex & Death: A Poetry Collection

A Few Pre-Release Reviews

I am very grateful for all the wonderful feedback my book has received so far. You will probably recognize several names from our wonderful Vocal community!

• Cendrine’s work not only pushes us to take action towards our well-being, but challenges us to look at ourselves through different perspectives. This was truly well done and felt like a big warm hug that we all needed!  - Robin Chappell (Author / CEO)
• If there exists a phrase to encapsulate a work such as this amidst the exponential busy-ness of societal life that ensnares the masses who really would benefit from this book, it is this: Healing insight. - Danielle An’Mai “The Dani Writer”
• Cendrine's beautiful portraits of words and exploration of emotion made this a fun and thoughtful dive into the human soul, perfect for anyone looking for a positive message and a deeper insight into the world this season! - Joshua Grant (Teacher / Author / Founder of Diabolic Shrimp)
• “The Meaning” is an invitation to see the world more kindly, and I’m very glad to have accepted it. - Suze Kay (Pastry Chef / Fiction Writer / Poet / 2017 Wallace Prize Recipient)
• One gets easily lost between the pages as they blend together to create the perfect marriage of hope and triumph over the hardest parts of existence. It faces death head on and finds beauty in the undeniable truth that so many are afraid to face. - Ashley Lima (Editor / Novelist / Short Story Writer / Poet) 

You can read the complete reviews here.

Video Trailer

Where to Pre-Order the eBook

The Meaning will be released on December 12, 2023. You can pre-order a copy until then for the special price of $5.99 instead of $8.99.

Please note that the ebook will not be available on Amazon. I do not like the way the company treats indie authors. If you read Kindle ebooks, your best option is to shop via Smashwords.

Click below to pre-order a copy.

Not finding your favorite bookstore in the list above? Check out the page below instead.

That's it for today! Thank you for reading.

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Cendrine Marrouat is a writer, photographer, podcaster, blogger, anthology editor, and the co-founder of Auroras & Blossoms and A Warm Cup of Cozy. She has authored and co-authored more than 40 books, including The Train: A Short Story (2023), In Her Own Words: A Collection of Short Stories & Flashku (2022), After the Fires of Day: Haiku Inspired by Kahlil Gibran & Alphonse de Lamartine (2021), Rhythm Flourishing: A Collection of Kindku and Sixku (2020), Walks: A Collection of Haiku (2019-2020), and In the Silence of Words: A Three-Act Play (2018).

Cendrine's work has appeared in many publications. She is the creator of the Sixku, Flashku, Sepigram, and Reminigram; as well as the co-creator of the Kindku, Pareiku, Vardhaku, and Hemingku.