IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS…

A passionate life is never empty, and there are probably as many passions as many people we can count in the whole world. Is it really possible? This infinity gives us a wide range of options which are just waiting to be discovered.

Passions don’t need to be sophisticated or unique, most importantly they should make our life more interesting and a bit more colorful, because once it absorbs some colors, it will become way more pleasant, despite all these difficulties we have to face on a daily basis.

Our interests may also distract us form bad thoughts, which keep penetrating our souls and minds just like sawyers penetrate rotten wood. We need to keep in mind that our emotional state has a tremendous influence not only on our relationships with others, but also on the health of our bodies, since all these is connected in an intricate mechanism, which won’t function well if any of its parts gets rusty.

You don’t know how to think about something other than unpleasant issues? You cannot come up with a new hobby? My today’s interviewee – Mouna El Hajji – has a wonderful suggestion for you… Are you wondering what’s that? Books – literature has the same infinite potential as our interests and can move us to the worlds and times we have never dreamed of. Mouna will tell us a little bit about the way in which reading and writing novels have influenced her during hard moments and about the content that her blog offers, which is also devoted to books.

Passion Piece: Could you tell my readers a few words about yourself?

Mouna: I’m Mouna El Hajji. I’m twenty-two years old. I’m also a fourth-grade computer science student. My love for books has grown with me since my childhood. I can’t forget to thank my mom, because she instilled the love for books in me.

Reading has made me fall in love with writing. I wrote a few stories when I was younger, but unfortunately, they’re all lost now.

My love for writing has grown up with me. However, it is hard for me to balance my studies and my hobbies, because of difficult courses I take. Once I had a thought why not to start a blog. A virtual space where I could express my love for both writing and reading.

I have developed this blog with my sister from scratch using HTML and CSS.

Passion Piece: Mouna you describe yourself as a bibliophile… Can it be treated?

Mouna: A bibliophile is someone who has a deep love for reading books. I’m not exaggerating when I say that there are people who live on the smell of books.

A bibliophile is someone who loves books the same way they love their family and friends. Books were friends to me when everyone else left me alone. They healed me in the hardest moments of my life.

I will forever be proud to be a bibliophile.

Passion Piece: What kind of literature impresses you the most? Why?

Mouna: Novels. No second of hesitation.

There are so many people claiming that novels are useless and that you can watch a movie instead of wasting weeks on reading a novel, especially if they both contain the same events. However, novels are much more than just characters moving and talking to each other.

Novels can improve your state of mind, as well as soften your heart and make you feel better. Novels make me happy. They showed me the way to live a good life and to be who I am, no matter what could possibly happen.

The novel’s characters showed me how to value myself and how to never compare my qualities to others’. Not to mention the intellectual side. Some novels include significant information. I have been able to recognize so many civilizations because of novels.

Trust me, novels are a treasure.

Passion Piece: How being a bookworm encouraged you to set up your blog?

Mouna: I always wished to share my knowledge with others.

Honestly, the idea of a blog hit my mind a long time ago, but I was too busy to search for a way to do it. And even when I explored a little bit the world of bloggers and WordPress, it seemed weird to me. So, I just gave up the idea.

However, computer science recreated this desire in my heart. My sister started developing the website first and then I joined her, and we developed it from scratch. Then we started reviewing the books we’ve read and it was so fun to write for others and to share our experiences with reading books, as well as my attempt to write a novel.

Sharing something you love with strangers feels different. Just imagine the feeling that someone would read a book or write a successful novel because of something that they read on my blog. Woow.

Passion Piece: You share your blog with Loubna. How do you both contribute to this website? Do you both write on the same topics? Or maybe you specialize in different areas?

Mouna: Eventually, yes, we have specialized in different areas.

I write more than she does, so my posts are mostly about writing books and novels. Loubna tends to write articles about reading. She loves talking about tips to improve reading speed, audiobooks, etc.

When it comes to the personal development part, it’s just an additional category that we created to express our life issues and to help people with their problems. We both love helping others to move with their lives to the next level, so we create it both.

Loubna recently wrote a book that contains some tips to stop overthinking, and it received a huge interaction.

Passion Piece: What can your readers find on TwiiBook?

Mouna: They can find suggestions for books. If they want to start a reading habit, but they have no idea where to start, they can find some books to read as beginners. If they want to improve their English level, they will find a list of books that will help them enhance their language.

We also give some reading tips. Like how can readers read faster and stick to their routine no matter what abstractions life presents?

And because a reader can be a writer, we also provide some writing guidance for readers who would like to join the writing world. We start from step one, we give them all they need to enter the writing world in a good manner. We have posts like: “How to write your first novel from scratch?”, “How to write a short story in 5 steps?” and so much more.

Passion Piece: Where do you find your inspirations when it comes to the articles which are not devoted to books? Are you an expert on the subjects you write about?

Mouna: I think you’re talking about personal development.

I’ll be honest with you. I’m not an expert nor did I live that much to gain an insight into all life’s secrets. But I had also my hard moments. I survived a tough period of depression all by myself. There were moments when I cried for no specific reason. And I realize that sadness isn’t a solution to our problems.

I have figured out that we should face our dilemmas with a big smile. To love ourselves and not to care about others’ opinions about us. I just wanted to show people the good side of life. I desired to reveal what this little journey taught me.

Literally, it felt great to share a positive thought with someone and to imagine the little smile that your words could draw to his face.

Passion Piece: How would you like to expand your blog? Is there someone you would like to invite to guest-post on TwiiBook?

Mouna: I’d like to write more articles and come up with new ideas.

I’m currently working on a guest post, but I haven’t posted anyone yet. I’m just a newbie to the blogging world, so I’m just learning to interact and talk with others.

There is no specific person in my mind. But I’d love to build more lovely relationships with bloggers like you. It’s great to meet with bloggers and to converse with a stranger living far from your city.

Passion Piece: What do you love doing in your free time? Which daily routine can’t you live without?

Mouna: Reading for sure.

Reading has become a substitute for oxygen.

I start my day with a cup of good coffee, I read a book and then I exercise a little bit. If I’m too lazy for sport, I dance.

Then I spend time with my family, I write a little bit, and then I do some homework.

At the end of the day, I go on a ride with my family to buy ice cream.

As you can see, reading is a must for me. My day would be incomplete without reading.

Passion Piece: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Mouna: I see myself in my own café-library.

Another additional piece of information about me is that I love cooking, and I’d love to create something that could combine reading and cooking. Why not?

I just want to follow my passion and to do what makes me feel truly alive. I want to see myself in 10 years’ time in my most peaceful life ever.

Passion Piece: Which motto would you like to share with my readers?

Mouna: Look how far you’ve come and keep going.

Passion Piece: Thank you very much for this truly inspiring conversation and I wish you continued success in writing your future novels.

See you around!

Yours,

Passion Piece

Photos by: Mouna El Hajji