Kimberly Kocken’s first book based in the Crowsnest Pass town of Lille was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She is writing a sequel to ‘The Ghosts of Lille.’
A writer whose first book about the Crowsnest Pass town of Lille was a finalist for an award is working on a sequel.
Kimberly Kocken’s book “The Ghosts of Lille” was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for best overall design.
“I was in shock at first of course but then I was filled with pride and a sense that I had made the right choice to publish my story,” Kocken said of her book being a finalist.
Although award nominations weren’t at the top of her mind while writing “The Ghosts of Lille,” Kocken said being a finalist brought some welcome attention to the book.
“Immediately people were reaching out to me on social media and the local bookstore had a rush of sales again,” said Kocken, who splits her time between Lethbridge and the Crowsnest Pass.
“The publisher did say that marketing a book is a marathon not a sprint and this helps to renew interest in my book,” added Kocken, a high school English teacher. “One of the great things about fiction is that it is timeless and new to the reader if they haven’t read it.”
Kocken drew on her love of history for “The Ghosts of Lille,” which is about a young family from Calgary who inherit a house in the Crowsnest Pass.
“The Ghosts of Lille” moves back-and-forth between the past when Lille was a town, and the present.
Some of the stories within the book relate the history of the Crowsnest Pass.
The house in Kocken’s story is based on the one she lives in at the foot of Frank Slide.
Kocken’s house is from what was once the tiny, short-lived mining community of Lille.
Although it didn’t last, Lille thrived for a while with its own hotel, hospital, school and other amenities.
When it was discovered the coal was of poor quality, the town was shut down and buildings moved. Kocken said her house was pulled by horses to its present location.
The house is situated in an area that a lot of people refer to as Disaster Alley in reference to the Hillcrest Mine Disaster, the Frank Slide and the days of illegal bootlegging as examples.
Kocken is at work on her next work of fiction, “Ghosts of Ponoka,” which is a sequel to “The Ghosts of Lille.”
“The main character, Emma, moves from researching the haunting of her own house to the haunting of the historic psychiatric hospital in Ponoka,” Kocken said. “She and her local guide begin to wonder if they have made a mistake when sinister forces seem to target them after their time in the ominous hospital.”
Kocken is more than halfway through the writing process and hopes to start the publishing process in the fall of this year.
“I’ve had a lot of interest from fans of the first book so I am making it a priority,” Kocken said.
“The Ghosts of Lille” is available at Chapters and Indigo, as well as amazon.ca and friesenpress.com.
