This memoir digs deep into mother-daughter bond and buried truths

First-time author Lori L. Lee is baring her soul with the release of her powerful new memoir, Half Penny: A Memoir of Tangled Truths.

Lee began writing the book after uncovering a family secret following her father’s death — a revelation that led her to re-examine her childhood, her parents, and her own identity.

“A bit of my heart and soul went into this book,” she told Toby from 103.1 Beach Radio. “After my father passed away, I found out a secret and kind of went internal. Writing the book really helped me process the feelings I was working through and helped me tell the story.”

Half Penny explores themes of love, safety and truth, and how they intersect in complex family relationships.

“It’s a story that compares being loved but unsafe to being safe but unloved — and rediscovering both after a genetic revelation,” Lee said.

While the writing process was healing in the long run, it came with emotional challenges.

“A lot of people say writing is cathartic, and it is — but not in the moment,” she said. “I didn’t like writing the story. I had to remember things I didn’t really want to touch.”

Lee believes the memoir will resonate with readers interested in family tension, healing, and personal growth.

“It’s mostly about my mother,” she explained. “After my father passed, I learned a lot more about her story. I hope I’ve done it justice in telling it here.”

Half Penny: A Memoir of Tangled Truths is available in digital format now. Print copies will be released April 18.