“As LGBTQ+ rights face threats in Washington and the globe, author Richard Sgaglio releases his debut novel, “When The Road Narrows””
Richard Sgaglio is a communications executive, LGBTQ+ advocate, and lifelong storyteller. Over the course of a 30-year career, he has served in leadership roles across healthcare, education, and the nonprofit sector. He is currently the Executive Director of Marketing at Waveny LifeCare Network and President of the Board of Friends of Karen, a nonprofit supporting children with life-threatening illnesses. He is also on the faculty of Purdue University where he is an instructor in their Purdue Global communications department.
His debut novel, “When The Road Narrows” is a searing coming-of-age story exploring identity, faith, live, loss and the desire to live authentically. Published by Spectrum Books (London), the novel launched worldwide this week and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at other online booksellers.
Set against the backdrop of 1980s conservatism and the emerging AIDS crisis, “When The Road Narrows” follows Nick, a teenager caught between the expectations of his traditional Catholic upbringing and the quiet, growing truth of his sexuality. Through silence, sacrifice, and moments of hard-won courage, Nick begins a painful but powerful journey toward self-acceptance and redemption.
“Stories like When The Road Narrows must not only be told—they must be protected,” says Sgaglio. “We’re witnessing a disturbing return to the rhetoric and policies of exclusion that defined the 1980s. LGBTQ+ individuals are being erased from classrooms, banned from bookshelves, and denied basic human rights. These aren’t just political issues—they’re deeply personal. We must ensure that young people know they are not alone and that their stories matter.”
There is a clear link between the past and the present, reminding readers that history has a way of repeating itself when voices are silenced. This novel is both a tribute to the resilience of queer youth in decades past and a beacon of hope for those coming of age in today's turbulent climate.
A Gay Coming of Age, Historical, Romance novel by Richard Sgaglio, published by Spectrum Books. ISBN: 9781915905642. In the tumultuous backdrop of 1980s conservatism and the emerging AIDS crisis, When The Road Narrows follows Nick, a young man grappling with the tension between his Catholic upbringing and his burgeoning understanding of his sexuality. Growing up in a small, tradition-bound town in New York, Nick finds himself caught in a web of expectation, guilt, and the unyielding desire to live authentically. When Nick meets Philippe, a closeted hockey player from Montreal, their bond deepens into a connection that challenges them both to confront the risks and sacrifices of love. Philippe’s aspirations for a professional hockey career and fear of rejection mirror Nick’s own struggles with family, faith, and societal judgment. Together, they navigate a fragile path of passion and secrecy, forced to make decisions that could irrevocably change their lives. This coming-of-age story is a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and redemption. As Nick faces heartbreak and loss, he begins to uncover the courage to chart his own course, even as the world around him seems determined to narrow his options. When The Road Narrows is a moving tale of love and self-discovery in a time of fear and hope.
