Éditions Charlie Crane , an interview with Mathilde Toulot – the founder

1 - Mathilde, could you tell us about your journey: how did you come to poetry, and then to the creation of this collection?

My path is as winding as a river's, but like a river, it always flows in the direction of my inner current. I worked for 20 years as a fashion journalist and had created a content studio for luxury brands. After the birth of my third child, I'd had enough of that world, of the endless demands; I needed to express myself. I needed my work to have meaning for me.

2 - Where did you get the inspiration to publish a collection of poems for newborns, you whose children are already grown?

I was 45 when the idea came to me. And in my mind, motherhood was over. I would never get pregnant again; that number was like a symbolic circle, enveloping me in its certainty. I would never have another child of flesh, made with my own blood. Nestled in the knowledge of my body, this certainty gave birth to " À toi qui es là ".
This collection is like writing in the guestbook of a place you loved more than anything. You leave it and leave the most beautiful message for those who come after. With " À toi qui es là ", I offer my sisters, future mothers, and the fathers by their side, words to build that bond.

3 - As an editor and author, how do you juggle these two roles? What are the advantages (and perhaps the challenges) of wearing these two hats?

These are different mental states. As an author, I write at the edge of the world, in my inner garden; it's in the early morning that I write. As an editor, I'm focused on others and work in broad daylight. The two complement each other perfectly.

4 - How do you imagine the role of a book of poetry in today's world?

Poetry is enjoying a resurgence. Numerous poetry clubs are springing up. No doubt because this concise and effective form of expression, which speaks from heart to heart in an instinctive way, is perfectly suited to our fast-paced world. We have always needed to connect with one another through beauty.

5 - Why publish this collection by launching Charlie Crane Publishing, rather than with an already established publisher?

For over ten years, my husband Thomas at Charlie Crane has been supporting young parents by designing beautiful, enveloping furniture adapted for toddlers. Supporting families in turn, but this time with words, was a natural step.

6 - How did the selection process for the authors unfold?

I started reading poetry, going everywhere poets were reading, meeting them, telling them about my idea, and from the very first conversations, I felt that I hadn't completely dreamt up this project, that it was going to exist, that bridges were being built between my idea and others. The desire to spread poetry to newborns began to consume me. I had the idea for the boxed set at the same time as the collection. It was essential that people would want to buy it for themselves.

7 - What role did the book as an object (layout, illustration, choice of paper, etc.) play in your approach?

It's harsh to say, but a book is also a product. It has to find a market. If I wanted to share poetry with the widest possible audience, I needed the most attractive packaging. It went without saying that it had to be beautiful. And besides, I like beautiful things; my wallet, for one, complains about it quite a bit.

8 - You recently launched a poetry workshop in the neonatal unit of Robert Debré Hospital, where you offer parents and newborns a reading session. Can you tell us about this experience?

I visit the parents in their rooms, with their premature or sick baby. I explain the benefits of reading and poetry, and we chat for a bit. Then I read a poem, and afterwards, I invite them to read one in turn. It's very simple on paper, and yet, these are experiences that transcend words. A neonatal unit is a very special place. As soon as the doors close, you enter a world where the tension rises tenfold. The stakes of life and death are ever-present. So is the parents' need for support and comfort. And I'm happy to give them a few moments of light. They appreciate it immensely.

9 - Is there a moment or anecdote that particularly touched you?

When, in the middle of their reading, mothers suddenly slap their hearts with their palms and exclaim, "That feels so good!" There's no better reward. Or when a father explains to me that he changes the names in the texts to his daughter's name to feel even closer to her while reading.

10 - Do Charlie Crane Publishing have any other projects in preparation?

We have some amazing projects coming up for newborns. And some fun toy books for toddlers! Finally: what would you like to say to all the people " À toi qui es là " (readers, parents, babies, partners) who will be touched by this book?
I want to take their hands and tell them: I know, too. Experiencing joy together is the spice of life.