Central Illinois author to share sequel to his LGBTQ+ martial arts novel (2024)

BLOOMINGTON — Central Illinois author Joe Chianakas is set to release a sequel to his martial arts-inspired LGBTQ+ novel, "Singlets and Secrets."

"I just wanted to write stories that also represented people like me," said Chianakas, 45, of Peoria. "It feels so empowering to see yourself on the page or on the screen, and I'm certainly far from the only one who's attempting to do that, but that has been one of my greatest joys is just being able to say I'm not hiding who I am."

"Singlets and Secrets" was released in August 2023 and is about 14-year-old Aiden Rothe whose time in high school is full challenges as he tries to join the wrestling team but is ridiculed and criticized for his sexuality by fellow athletes— except for one he falls for.

Through the hom*ophobic comments and being locked out of the wrestling team, Rothe develops an interest in the school's martial arts program and is part of a campuswide conflict between the wrestlers and others like him who are seen as outsiders.

"This is a love story and this is a story about confidence and empowerment," said Chianakas, who is also a professor at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. "But it is ultimately a story about finding one's true identity, standing up against hate and fighting for love and equality."

The follow up, "Pride and Persistence," will be released on Aug. 27 and continues the story, asking "what are we fighting for, if not one another?" Chianakas said.

To promote the sequel, Chianakas will take part in Pride in the Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 29 at the Miller Park bandstand, 1020 S. Morris Ave. in Bloomington.

Next month, he will be at Bobzbay Books, 419 N. Main St., at 6 p.m. July 17 for book store's LGBTQ+ Teen Book Club in Bloomington.

Chianakas said he drew from his own experiences when writing his novels.

"When I tried traditional sports, like a lot of gay kids, I suppose it just didn't go very well for me at all. I just wanted to do something and fit in," Chianakas said. "At about 11 years old, I talked my family into finally letting me join a martial arts program, and I fell in love with it."

Chianakas said growing up, he fell in love with the original 1984 "The Karate Kid," and martial arts became his passion. But throughout his youth, he saw "blatant hom*ophobia" from instructors and other students.

Chianakas kept up with the sport and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in English with a secondary education certificate from Eureka College becoming an English teacher at Metamora Township High School in 2001.

In the 10 years he spent at Metamora, he started a new program called the Metamora Martial Arts Program, which is still active today.

In 2011, Chianakas started teaching at ICC, where he started another program called the Cougar Karate Club.

"Martial arts, when you get it as a young person in particular, it becomes such a core of who you are that I think it's almost impossible not to return to it because it gives you peace," Chianakas said. "It gives you peace, it's meditative, it's cathartic in so many ways and then has that nostalgic value, (too)."

Chianakas said he attempted lots of novels, short stories and poetry, but his first published novel in 2015 was "Rabbit in Red," a trilogy of horror fiction novels inspired by his love for reading R.L Stein books late at night.

When he started writing "Singlets and Secrets," he said saw the lack of LGBTQ+ characters and role models in martial arts and wanted to fill that gap.

"It is my unapologetically gay 'Karate Kid' story," Chianakas said. "Let's be authentic and let's be real, so the representation matters. … We have to have that representation, not just in entertainment but in day-to-day life."

Chianakas said he has already heard praise from former students and other readers who have told him the book helped them open their minds or heal from trauma because of the representation it offers.

"We don't think about other people's experiences until we are forced to do so," Chianakas said. "We have to start listening to the sources that that are the very people that we're talking about but more than that I want people to be entertained, I want people to be inspired and I want people to be empowered.

"If you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community and you have trauma, you have pain — and a lot of us do— we owe it to ourselves to heal and move forward, and I hope this books shows that," he added.

Readers can purchase "Singlets and Secrets" at Bobzbay Books, both in-person and online, and use the code "SINGLETS" to get a 15% discount.