Life sometimes has a funny way of doing things. Vaudreuil-Dorion resident Danielle Cormier wasn't a book lover until she was in her thirties. Two decades later, she has penned her first novel, Je ne regrette rien, which offers a glimpse into the life of Lou Miller, who hopes to turn the page on the twist of fate that life has dealt her. 

“It was really in my thirties that I developed a taste for reading. On a day-to-day basis, I'm pretty busy, but I picked up the hobby again during the pandemic. I've always had a knack for writing, and I promised myself many years ago that one day I'd write a novel. I just had to figure out what it would be about (laughs),” she says on the other end of the phone. 

As a reader, Danielle Cormier prefers romance novels where the romance, spicy or not, is very present. “I'm more open-minded and like to think outside the box sometimes. I subscribe to Facebook pages where people share their reading suggestions. That's where I get my kicks.” 

A self-evident subject 

In 2011, the author lost her lover. This left her alone to raise their daughter, who at the time was 8 years old. “He left for work one morning and I never saw him again. Before he died, we had gone on a motorcycle trip to the United States, and I passed through a super-charming little village. I told myself that if I ever wrote my novel, that's where the action would take place. Unfortunately, we didn't keep any road maps of the trip. For my book, I tried to reconstruct our route. In the end, the story takes place in a small village in Pennsylvania,” she confides. 

Here's the synopsis of Je ne regrette rien: 

A year after the untimely death of her husband, Lou Miller sets off alone on her motorcycle for the United States, hoping that this impromptu trip will help her turn the page on the fate that has befallen her. Little does she know, however, what awaits her when William comes to her rescue in a small village deep in the heart of Pennsylvania. And to add to her confusion as she develops casual feelings for this handsome stranger, she can't turn a blind eye to the coincidences that multiply, to the point of questioning the role her deceased spouse potentially played in the outcome of her adventure.

“I drew on my own story for the prologue to the book. Like me, Lou lost her partner. We understand what happened and why she left for the United States to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains. Eventually, she meets a handsome stranger who helps her out, and she stays there longer than she expected.” 

By her own admission, when she started putting together her ideas for the writing, she had no idea how the book would end. She put down on paper the plots of each chapter, and eventually, an ending imposed itself on her. 

Despite having studied science, she still has a highly developed spiritual side.

“I had so many signs of him after he passed away. I tried to put as many as possible in the book, but I couldn't do it. I can give you an example. One day when I was driving home with my daughter, she told me that technically, next week, she could take her scooter out. I told her that if her father were with us, he'd tell her to wait until the City cleaned the streets before doing so, for safety's sake. She said she knew, but was just saying. Then we arrived on the doorstep and there was a feather on the ground. I saw it as a sign from her and as approval of what I'd just said (laughs).” 

In Je ne regrette rien, Danielle Cormier has written some spicy scenes. “The novel is aimed at ages 18 and up.It's a love story with a well-balanced touch of eroticism. I let loose in some scenes.”

As well as writing, editing and laying out her novel, Danielle Cormier also manages sales via the Amazon platform.“I'm also in the process of translating it into English. I don't have a publishing house behind me. I have friends who are excellent in French and who helped me with the proofreading.It took me a year to write and the same amount of time to proofread, but I wasn't doing it full-time.I have a day job and look after my daughter.” 

When reading novels for personal enjoyment, in French or English, Danielle Cormier puts post-its on words she finds interesting to try and reuse later in another context.“It allows me to expand my vocabulary.” 

Despite the task of launching her novel, Danielle already has an idea for a second novel. However, she hasn't yet started working on it in earnest due to her busy daily routine. 

For those interested, a copy of Je ne regrette rien can be purchased via Amazon for $21.70. In February, the book will be available in digital format. Eventually, the Vaudreuil-Dorion library will also have a copy available for rent on its shelves. 

Danielle Cormier can be reached on her Facebook page, whose profile photo is the same as on the 4th cover of her novel.