Photo supplied by Brooklyn Biegel

By Curtis Galbraith

Books

Peace Country author releases first novel

Dec 17, 2022 | 7:00 AM

She has written poems, short stories, and plays that have been performed for audiences across the Peace Country.

Now, a Grovedale author has released her first novel.

Brooklyn Biegel’s work is titled Through These Dark Gates.

She says it is set during the US Civil War and the Irish immigration movement of the 19th century.

“The title Through These Dark Gates is somewhat symbolic. One of the characters is a Catholic nun and I don’t want to spoil the story by explaining what the gates are but any reader who’s reading the book, they might begin to guess that it is also symbolic of spiritually dark gates.”

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Biegel says she always dreamed of writing a book, but this one actually started as a play.

“People … loved the play so, so much and they were like you should put it into a novel and so I decided to write a book and now, a few years later, I have a book.”

Two of Biegel’s plays are called The Crown of Life and The Hidden Witness. Both have been performed in Grande Prairie. One also hit the stage in Fairview.

She says productions of The Hidden Witness performed in both communities in 2016 raised $13,000 for three local charities.

Biegel says she was inspired to take up writing by reading ” a lot of good literature” when she was younger.

She says her parents read to her, and her eight siblings, everything from Tennyson and Dickens to Milton, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and the Bible.

Biegel says her book has been received “really well” so far.

“I’ve gotten great reviews from adult readers, young adult readers. I just got a 4.5-star review from The Historical Fiction Company. That was exciting, this being my debut novel.”

Biegel says the book can be found at various sites online, including this one.

People can also try their favorite bookstores. There are eBook and paperback versions available.

She also posts works to her blog At the Brook’s Bend.