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At Lake Drive Books, we tell authentic, gritty stories because we believe storytelling creates empathy and drives real change. Some stories shine a light on injustice that has gone unchecked for far too long. Today, I am honored to announce that we have signed a publishing agreement with Melissa Duge Spiers for her upcoming memoir, now titled Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows—a book that does just that.
An Extraordinary Story of Survival and Transformation
Melissa’s story is one of survival, revelation, and ultimately, moving forward into real life. Raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, an enormous Christian fundamentalist sect that exists under the radar despite a larger worldwide membership (22M+) than the Mormons or Southern Baptists, she was taught to obey without question, live under rigid purity culture, and conform to a system that demanded silence in the face of abuse. Her world shattered when a family member became the center of an abuse scandal—someone enabled and protected by the very church that shaped her childhood.
Her memoir is not just about leaving a high-control religious environment; it’s about the struggle that comes after—the long, painful process of deconstructing indoctrination, unlearning deeply ingrained beliefs, and reclaiming one’s identity. In sharing her journey, Melissa has become an advocate for those who have left the SDA church, many of whom have faced similar abuses. Through her powerful online presence as "The Glory Whole" on TikTok and Instagram, she has built a community of ex-Adventists and religious trauma survivors, giving voice to the often-overlooked stories of those who have suffered in silence.
At Lake Drive Books, we believe that Melissa’s story is not only necessary but urgent. Abuse in religious institutions—whether in the United States or abroad—too often goes unchecked, dismissed, or deliberately buried. Holy Disobedience is a raw, unflinching account of what happens when the structures meant to protect instead enable harm. And yet, it is also a testament to resilience, to the power of speaking out, and to the healing that comes from breaking the silence.
Melissa’s book joins a growing movement of literature exposing the toxic underbelly of fundamentalist Christianity, and we are honored to help bring it into the world. Her voice is fierce, her story gripping, and her advocacy essential.
Please help me welcome Melissa to Lake Drive Books.
Sign up to be notified of preorder availability for Holy Disobedience here!
