An Interview with Suzan Denoncourt: Writer of Heaven’s Particles

It was on the peak of her profession as a enterprise govt that Suzan selected to pivot away from the company world and embrace a very new chapter. Actually. Gravitating towards the thriller/thriller style, she accomplished the primary two manuscripts within the Cisco sequence earlier than pursuing publication of her debut novel, The Burden of Reality, which was a finalist for Greatest Crime First Novel within the Crime Writers of Canada 2025 Awards of Excellence. Heaven’s Particles adopted 4 months later.

The third installment from this Montreal-based, married mom of two is predicted in early 2026, with extra novels within the sequence to observe thereafter.

Inform us about your e book.

Heaven’s Particles is the second installment of the Boston-based Cisco sequence, and the primary whereby Detective Max Cisco is a member of the home violence unit. Half police procedural, half household drama, this intense thriller retains readers on edge from begin to end.

Faye’s condominium collapses along with her brother-in-law inside, leaving her to both confess to having cheated on her sister or keep away from the reality in any respect prices. Gerry’s sudden survival and the likelihood that Faye could also be carrying his little one complicate issues in additional methods than one.

Detective Max Cisco, in the meantime, is investigating a sufferer of the collapse who occurs to be a intercourse offender. The drama intensifies after he meets with Gerry, who tries to distract from his involvement with Faye, solely to lift Cisco’s suspicions. As each storylines grow to be extra tangled, the strain rises till the explosive reality lastly comes out. However what will get revealed shouldn’t be what anybody expects.

Why did you need to write a e book?

I’d not have thought-about embarking on such a frightening mission earlier than stepping away from the company world. Then got here the worldwide pandemic. To counter the bodily confinement, I selected to let my creativeness run wild. Earlier than I knew it, I used to be 4 chapters in, had written the climax, and constructed an bold plan for a whole sequence with Detective Max Cisco because the frequent thread.

Whereas the writing course of was partaking, for me to pursue it long-term I wanted a significant message to convey, one thing that will resonate with readers lengthy after they completed the e book. That’s once I considered a quote that has caught with me for the reason that very first time I heard it: “Everybody you meet is combating a battle you already know nothing about.” That premise is prime to the various characters I create. In writing their tales, I hope to encourage readers to replicate on their very own battles and be extra delicate to these round them.

Why did you select to self-publish?

The primary query for me was whether or not to publish, interval. Inspired to take action by the beta readers of my first manuscript, I used to be too engrossed in writing e book two to be distracted. Additionally, I used to be removed from ready to undertake a course of I knew nothing about. However after receiving optimistic suggestions on my second manuscript, I revisited my choice and took the plunge.

Naturally, my modest try at touchdown an agent failed. However surprisingly, it felt extra liberating relatively than discouraging. Between the literary business analysis I had amassed and the enterprise acumen I possessed following my company profession, the flexibility to retain full rights to my work in alternate for assuming my very own future appeared honest.

However the monetary burden and unbelievable odds of success, I set a price range, adopted steering from respected sources just like the Alliance of Impartial Authors, joined related associations, and embraced the platforms that simplify the self-publishing course of.

Ten months after launching The Burden of Reality, it made the shortlist for Greatest Crime First Novel within the Crime Writers of Canada 2025 Awards of Excellence. Main validation for this debut indie writer and a testomony to what might be achieved even when self-published.

Would you self-publish once more?

Sure and shortly. Ebook three is properly underway. Having finished this twice earlier than, the method might be simpler. I even have a slowly rising readership base and better social media presence, which was not the case once I printed e book one.

Self-publishing may not be for everybody, however it’s all I do know. At minimal, it permits me to memorialize my work. Past that’s the thrill of receiving accolades from readers who felt entertained, some who devoured my books in simply days, and significantly those that had been affected by the subject and characters in a long-lasting means.

Would I contemplate conventional publishing if I used to be approached? Nonetheless a enterprise particular person at coronary heart, I will surely entertain the dialogue. Whether or not I’d be prepared to forego my possession rights is a unique matter.

What do you suppose are the primary pitfalls for indie writers?

It’s been simply over a yr since I printed e book one, so I contemplate myself a beginner with a lot to be taught. That mentioned, there are two pitfalls that stand out for me: credibility and discoverability.

Historically printed authors are launched with the pre-endorsement and fanfare of their publishing home. Indie authors want to hunt that out on their very own. Dedicating time to constructing out a readership base who will suggest a brand new writer can take a ton of trial and error. Placing a steadiness between writing and advertising your self can be key.

Similar goes for discoverability. There are thousands and thousands of books for readers to select from and an infinite quantity that already include sturdy suggestions. A brand new e book from a brand new indie writer might be invisible if not promoted. I’ve come to understand that e book influencers might be invaluable allies.

As a author, what’s your schedule? How do you get the job finished?

As a former enterprise particular person, I labored lengthy hours on weekdays after which made some extent to close down on weekends. As a author, I’ve discovered my rhythm in adopting an identical schedule.

To remain motivated, my plot must firstly hold me engaged. If it doesn’t, I rewrite until it does. On days I really feel artistic, I energy by the storyline. On others, I edit, tweak dialogue, and improve character growth. No matter my focus, I hold plugging away.

Throughout the summer time months, I write much less however dedicate extra time to promotion and constructing out my community of e book friends. Come fall, I’ll get proper again at it with a recent pair of eyes and newfound momentum.

Inform us in regards to the style you wrote in, and why you selected to jot down this type of e book.

My mission was twofold: to create sustained intrigue and to show ethical quandaries that will lend themselves to e book membership discussions. As a sequence whereby a detective is the fixed, there are apparent parts of a police procedural. The twist is that Detective Max Cisco’s investigation is rarely the core plot, neither is he the primary character in what might be learn as stand-alone novels.

How Cisco intersects with the central drama of every story is what makes my thrillers pulse with emotional rigidity. The plots contain unpunished crimes, victims who’ve been silenced, and determined behaviors of people I place in unattainable conditions. My fashion boasts beneficiant quantities of backstory, sharp and plausible dialogue, and delicate dealing with of sensitive matters with out the necessity for gory particulars.

I’ve discovered my candy spot in juggling a ton of balls within the air to maintain the suspense all through, then gently wrapping them up in a satisfying ending that leaves room for thought.

Why did you write about this specific topic?

Home violence is a sensitive and deeply private subject that has affected too many households, but continues to be taboo in a number of circles. Creating consciousness and inspiring extra dialogue by partaking and entertaining reads is considered one of my aims. Not directly supporting those that have suffered by dealing with the subject in a nuanced and delicate method is one other.

My ultimate goal is to deal with a component that’s usually much less explored: the collateral harm prompted to bystanders who had been additionally made to maintain silent. The way in which during which that guilt and remorse impacts my characters as they face tenuous conditions might be perceived in another way by readers as they grow to be armed with extra particulars of their backstory. Maybe that data will carry over into actual life in a useful means.

Why did you select to jot down a sequence?

After I started writing The Burden of Reality, it was supposed as a single work of literary fiction till a buddy requested if I used to be considering a sequence. By that time, I had grow to be utterly enamoured with the character growth course of, so the concept of evolving sure personalities throughout subsequent books was very interesting. As was the opportunity of exploring the subject of home abuse from many extra angles. The issue was that the one character deemed related was Detective Max Cisco, whose position, although important, was minor inside the broad scope of the e book.

Motivated to make this work, I tweaked the ending to incorporate a teaser of what may come subsequent. Readers be taught that the impression of the case Cisco was engaged on in the end compels him to go away murder to hitch the home violence unit. Heaven’s Particles takes place two years later in 2005 with Cisco occupying a extra distinguished – however not central – position within the total storyline, simply as he’ll in e book three and past.

As a relentless and car for advancing the overarching theme of the sequence, Cisco is variety and reflective. He asks troublesome questions that encourage deeper dialogue and reader reflection. His relentless pursuit of justice will at occasions be at odds with protocol, which is what augments the general degree of intrigue.

What are your plans now your e book is printed?

At current, e book three is properly underway, and the concept for e book 4 is in its early levels. For so long as I’ve the drive and the eagerness to proceed, I hope to publish a brand new e book annually. With a bit of luck, I’ll ship ten novels earlier than I wrap up the sequence with correct closure that’s already being thought out.

If between every now and then, I ought to come to get pleasure from significant gross sales, my final aim is to contribute to the reason for home violence through philanthropy. Want me luck!