In March 2022, Vaudreuil-Dorion resident and father of three Cédric Léveillé began to realize a long-held dream: to write a book. Two and a half years later, he is launching the third and final volume of a project that has grown over time thanks to his talent and imagination. Interview with the news and current affairs enthusiast.

The son of well-known journalist Réjean Léveillé, Cédric Léveillé is passionate about current affairs and everything that goes to make them up. Among the subjects that make headlines on a daily basis are news stories...which fascinate the writer.

Does being linked to a renowned journalist add a stress factor when writing a book?” Obviously, we want to make our father proud. He was a good ally in this important project in my life. He was a tough but fair judge. I paid close attention to his comments, trying as much as possible to take them into account. He encouraged me every step of the way, and I thank him for that ,” he begins.

In this third and final opus in the Némésis series, Cédric Léveillé brings back his two main characters Michael and Leila for one last adventure. Here's a summary of the final chapter:

Six months have passed since the terrorist attacks on the Montreal subway. For Dwayne Colbert, Director of the CIA, this seems like an eternity. Criticized from all sides as he tries to clean up the Agency, he feels quite isolated. His young protégé, Leila Salloum, suffers in silence at the bottom of a Cuban prison. As for Michael, the mysterious hitman, he has perished in the waters off Havana. But have they really disappeared? Can they help him, if only one last time?

That's when Govran Ivanov, a former computer hacker, takes refuge in a video game company in Montreal, convinced he's being hunted by the Russian secret services. The Russians are convinced that this Serbian-born university professor emeritus is in possession of American nuclear codes, and they're not alone.

From Boston to Montreal, via the Balkans with the Varga family, take part in a race against time to find out what Professor Ivanov is hiding before it's too late.

How does he feel about having to leave behind this universe and the characters he's created? “ It's certainly hard to say goodbye to the characters I've imagined. As I wrote the three volumes, the hardest part was reinventing myself and making sure I didn't bore the reader. I had to find something interesting to say and make them live. Humbly, I think I managed to write a real conclusion to the story. The first comments I got from readers were positive ,” says the author, who is already working on a fourth manuscript.

A first volume...then a second and a third

At the outset, in March 2022, when he began writing his first novel L'éveil de Némésis, Cédric Léveillé had no intention of writing a trilogy. “ It was a stand-alone story with a beginning and an end that didn't hint at a sequel. I was really proud of the result. Then, when it came out, the reaction from readers was good and they asked me when I'd write the sequel. As I really enjoy writing, I decided to write a second volume with the same characters. The ending of this one didn't really suggest a sequel. However, I was tempted to write a third and final book. I drew up an outline of the major plots and built the story around them,” he says.

In the course of his writing, Cédric Léveillé set himself the mission of introducing readers to the places in the world he has visited in his life. As a citizen of Vaudreuil-Dorion for over a decade, he even made a nod to his adopted hometown in his latest novel.

“ There's a scene set in Vaudreuil-Dorion in the old presbytery that used to stand behind the water tower. It's since been demolished, but readers here should have the reference.”

This third book took Cédric Léveillé around nine months to write. “ I took steps to have it published by a major publishing house. I waited several weeks for an answer. The manuscript was ready in June, and I waited many months for an answer. In the end, it didn't work out. According to their observations, I would have had to change several things in my story to make it work, and I didn't want to go down that road. So I decided to do what I'd done with my previous books and self-publish. Volume three is now available in hard copy on Amazon for $24.95, as well as digitally. ”

It can be purchased via this link (https://a.co/d/hCguXlL).

A book containing volumes 1, 2 and 3, with almost 700 pages, can also be purchased for $49.99 via the same digital platform. Michael and Leila's adventures can also be discovered at the Pointe-des-Cascades, Saint-Zotique and Vaudreuil-Dorion libraries. “ If you're not a published author with a well-known publishing house, it's hard to get visibility in libraries. The book has been out since last week, and the reviews are good and positive. ”

The long version can be accessed here: https://a.co/d/21Jnu9E.

Writing inspired by his everyday job?

To coincide with the release of this third and final installment in the Némésis story, Cédric Léveillé has decided to reveal a little about his profession: that of a police officer. On Thursday November 28, he will be the guest of journalist Félix Séguin on Le Parloir, where he will discuss his books and his profession.

Has his profession made it easier for him to write his books, in which espionage and police investigations are at the heart of the plot? Certainly, my knowledge of the milieu and internal workings helps me in my writing. But at the same time, I've been extremely careful not to reveal any investigative techniques or the like. I couldn't have done that anyway. As soon as the first volume came out, people were telling me: you write like a detective. I didn't say anything back then, because I didn't want anyone to know. But today, I'm comfortable with that. My colleagues are very happy for me and several have ordered books from me. The reaction in my workplace has been very good.

A fourth novel in the works

Even though the ink is barely dry on the third novel in the Némisis series, Cédric Léveillé is not idle. On the contrary, he's already working on a fourth novel. “ It's in the same style. It's about espionage, organized crime and there's a lot of action. The story takes place in a dark universe.

This spring, Cédric Léveillé will take part in the Salon du livre de Roussillon, scheduled for April 4, 5 and 6, live from the Centre municipal de Saint-Constant. He will be available to sign books and chat with interested readers.

To find out more about him, you can follow him on his official Facebook page Cédric Léveillé auteur.