Illinois Central College Professor Joe Chianakas Gives Presentation About His #1 Bestseller Book “Singlets and Secrets”
This month, Illinois Central College Professor Joe Chianakas gave a presentation and Q&A session for his LGBTQ+ youth adult novel Singlets and Secrets. It was recently a #1 Amazon bestseller for teen and young adult LGBTQ fiction.
Chianakas describes the book humorously as a “gay Karate Kid story”. The novel follows Aiden, a 14-year-old closeted gay student who is kicked out of his high school wrestling team due to homophobia, and eventually joins a new karate team.
Much of this book was actually inspired by his own life. He joined karate when he was a freshman in high school, which he stuck with into college and played a major part in his life for years.
“It gave me this internal strength, that even if I didn’t feel tough on the outside, I started getting a little tougher on the inside.”
However, the book goes deeper than the sport itself. Chianakas’ struggles with coming out, dealing with homophobia, and being more comfortable in his own skin are major themes in the story inspired by his own life.
“Singlets and Secrets is basically all of my traumas and joys in 300 pages or so.”
When commenting on the LGBTQ Legacy Wall, a recent exhibit brought to ICC celebrating the achievements and lives of influential LGBTQ historical figures, he expressed happiness at the widening ability of LGBTQ people to have their voices heard and related it to ICC allowing him to put on this event.
“I am so grateful to live in the time that I live in. I don’t want to be quiet about this anymore. I feel like I had to be quiet so long to maintain that respect… I love when things are out there in the community for everyone to see them.”
This is the first book in a future four-book series, the next of which will be released this spring, and will feature a transgender character. It can be bought on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, many other sellers, and on his website linked here.
Chianakas also recently became the teacher sponsor for the ICC club UNITE, which was re-established this past month. It is a social safe space for both LGBTQIA+ people and allies. If you are interested, they meet for their official meeting every other Tuesday at 1:30 in room 302A, and their next meeting will be November 14.