We were lucky to catch up with Marianne Lauren recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marianne, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew the moment the audience cheered and applauded after my first stage performance at the age of seven! What a rush! The next happened while I watched Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. Right then and there I decided to pursue an acting career.

My mom, a singer/dancer, supported my dreams and signed me up for charm school, the school choir, and ballet lessons. Fast forward to high school, I attended the theater program and had the pleasure of experiencing more exhilarating cheers and applause at performances.

Though the realities of life can deter a person from his/her path, they can never diminish his/her passion.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a creative artist, my projects vary with acting, writing, singing, and painting projects. I do my best to do one thing at a time and go all in until completion. When it’s ready, I feel good about sharing it with the world.

I’m currently writing my second book and will announce it as soon as it’s published.

If you’re curious about what I write, my debut memoir, An American in … Tehran, is available at selected indie book stores (Village Well Books & Coffee, Culver City: Ketabsara Persian Books, Los Angeles; Sideshow Books, Los Angeles; Chaucer’s Books, Santa Barbara; Small World Books, Venice Beach; {pages}, a bookstore, Manhattan Beach; Libromobile, Santa Ana; and on Amazon, https://a.co/d/f1J7gmk

Inspired by the arts and incredible people who have empowered me, I aspire to entertain and empower.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative artist is when I hear, read or see I’ve made a positive difference in someone’s life. That is the ultimate compliment, and it encourages me to keep on keepin’ on.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I set out to be an actress and life led me on a journey to also become a writer. Writing a book requires the patience of a saint! After urging from family and friends to write my story, I began the process at a college level Creative Writing course, where I received the green light from the professor and classmates.

After years of attending and investing in literary events (seminars, workshops, etcetera) and several books by gracious authors who shared their wisdom, I embarked on my writing trip. And what a ride! It took 19 years of blood, sweat, tears, and determination to complete.

Who knew a little journal and boxes filled with notes scribbled on thousands of pieces of paper, napkins, etc., would turn into hundreds of pages of the first draft? Ernest Hemingway’s words, “Edit, edit, edit” became a mantra, and I whittled my manuscript down to what was most important for me to share.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariannelauren.com
• Instagram: @mariannelauren8
• Linkedin: Marianne Lauren, Actor, Writer