Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat, MD is a medical intuitive and board-certified gynecologist who hailed from Haiti in a family of healers. She received her training in Haiti, Mexico, Jamaica and the US and from 1982 to 2005 had a successful practice in San Diego, CA. She is the director of the Dr. Carolle’s Wellness & Retreat Center of San Diego and since 2005 has been offering intuitive consultations (by telephone & in person). She is the author of many books including her most recent award-winning memoir Voodoo In My Blood: A Healer’s Journey from Surgeon to Shaman.
Thank you for this interview, Dr. Carolle. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?
I am 62 years old and living the best time of my life; free to be my true self and at peace. I started my journal when I was 15 years old and still have it with me after living in four different countries. Since then, I have written many books in Spanish, French and English, including my latest one, my memoir, which was the hardest one to write.
Can you tell us briefly what your book is about?
It is the story of a US trained OB-GYN and born in Haiti who could intuitively see the root cause of her patient’s illness, struggling to reconcile Western medicine with her healing heritage. A spiritual journey of self-discovery; an awakening to live life “close to the bones” of innate identity.
Who is your intended audience? Have you been able to crossover into other audiences as well?
Anyone who loves to read about other cultures, love to read and be empowered, those who are seeking the truth about self-healing. My books are intended for mature women but they have been well-accepted by both men and women of all ages.
Why did you choose your particular genre?
Most of my books are self-help books except for my memoir, the last one.
Do you ever experience self-doubts with your work?
English is my fourth language; as a writer I don’t have the confidence that whatever I write is good enough and will have to be edited.
As a healer, when I was transitioning from a gynecologist, a surgeon, into a shaman – I have always been guided by an inner voice who would tell me to do things that were totally contradictory to what I had learned in medical school and during my postgraduate training, but were at par to the kind of healing practice I was part of while growing up in Haiti in a family of indigenous healers. That voice never proved me wrong; but it took a lot of struggle to trust it; this is what my memoir is all about.
Where do you write? Do you have a favorite place?
I have a home office with a desktop computer where I do most of my writing.
What kind of research did you have to do during the writing process?
My last book being a memoir, I just had to make sure that I depicted a true picture for what happened. I started to write it in 1987 when my parents were still alive. Most recently, I am grateful for Google search, it enabled me to put a date and even add more details to historical stories.
Who is your publisher and how did you get accepted by them? Did you pitch your book yourself or go through an agent?
My publisher is Bettie Youngs of Bettie Youngs Book Publishers. She used to be my agent and was unhappy with the publishing world and started her own publishing company.
How are you promoting your book thus far?
I work with Jackie of Lauderdale Media and there were many press releases; the book was represented at the international book fair in Germany as well as in the New York Book Fair. I also have had many personal, radio and TV appearances. I also use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and my blog since the book came out and plan to continue to do so. I also told my friends and patients to get it and refer it to their friends.
If you could give one book promotion tip to new authors, what would that be?
Write from the heart and keep on peddling the book.
What’s next for you?
I just finished the manuscript of Is It My Hormones Or Something Else? How to Find What Is Really Happening to Me & What to Do About It. It is now in the hands of my editor. The one I am passionate about and presently fervently writing is Painful Sex No More: Preventing & Overcoming Vaginal Pain Before & After Menopause. Another one is Moving Beyond Sexual Trauma: A Victim No More!
I am also writing the outlines for a series of webinars, seminars, and video blogs.
I have been offering one-on-one consults via phone and in person as well as retreats that would last from an overnight stay to up to a week since 2005. My gift as an intuitive healer is so sharp now that I want to share it with more people. I am presently putting together a team of alternative health care practitioners and will head the Integrative Health Institute of San Diego opening up in the Spring.
Thank you for this interview, Dr. Carolle. Can you tell us where we can find you on the web?
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