At Lake Drive Books, we believe in telling the stories you might not otherwise hear—the ones that don’t always get space in church pulpits, mainstream media, or polite dinner conversations. Stories from the margins. Stories that make you pause, reflect, and ultimately grow.
That’s why I’m honored to announce the release of I Hardly Knew Me: Following Love, Faith, and Skittles to a Transgender Awakening by Nia Chiaramonte. This is one of the most honest, tender, and courageously human books we’ve published.
Read more and buy the book here
Nia is a mentor, writer, and speaker, and she’s also the co-founder—along with her wife, Katie—of Love in the Face, a platform supporting queer individuals and families. Some of you may know her from her previous book, Embracing Queer Family (Broadleaf Books). But I Hardly Knew Me goes deeper—it’s a first-person, real-time story of Nia’s trans awakening, told with raw vulnerability and a generous dose of humor.
This book couldn’t be more timely. As more and more states pass laws restricting or outright banning gender-affirming care, and as churches and politicians continue to not acknowledge or to dehumanize trans people, I Hardly Knew Me offers something radical: a story that invites us to truly listen.
Because yes—you may know someone who is transgender. But do you know their story? Do you know what it’s like to come out to yourself, your spouse, your wider family, and your faith community? Have you ever sat with someone in the sacred, terrifying moments when they say out loud, for the first time, who they really are?
That’s the journey Nia takes us on. "I used to be so hidden that even I couldn't see who I was," Nia writes, and that sense of disconnection is what makes this story so resonant.
From being caught off guard by a birthday gift that told her she was seen to all the different stages of transition—mental, emotional, and physical—this book is a step-by-step walk through one woman’s becoming. And while Nia’s story is deeply personal, the themes are universal: love, truth, faith, fear, and the courage it takes to live in your own skin.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll learn. And if you come with an open heart, I believe you’ll walk away changed.
At Lake Drive Books, we’re committed to publishing books that help you heal, grow, and discover. I Hardly Knew Me does all three—and does so with grace, honesty, and an unforgettable voice.
I hope you’ll read it. I hope you’ll share it. Most of all, I hope you’ll listen.
—David Morris
Publisher, Lake Drive Books
ps. Head over here to learn more and order the book here, and you'll also see a couple of quick guidelines for becoming a queer ally and having conversations for transition.
