Combatting anxiety through literature

Local author Lisa Acerbo’s new book Twelve Months of Awkward Moments will be released for sale on August 30, 2018. It is available as an e-book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the Simon and Schuster website. The novel is published by Torrid Press and distributed by Simon and Schuster.

The novel tells the story of Dani, a straight-A scholar whose anxiety is a daily struggle. To survive, being awkward, introverted, and studious has become a way of life. She vows senior year of college will be different. It’s time to move beyond her comfort zone, but that’s not easy. Dani’s wild roommate and handsome best friend hate each other; her crazy family won’t leave her alone; and a new job forces her to be social. Unfortunately, when college romance finally calls, Dani is unable to answer thanks to a stalker who has her all tied up.

The author uses a mix of humor and suspense to keep the reader invested in Dani’s daily struggles. Having suffered with anxiety herself, Lisa Acerbo used personal experiences to make sure that Dani’s anxiety rings true.

According to an article in NEA today, there is an epidemic of anxiety among students. “In 2016, nearly two-thirds of college students reported ‘overwhelming anxiety,’ up from 50 percent just five years earlier, according to the National College Health Assessment. For seven straight years it has been the top complaint among college students seeking mental-health services, notes the Chronicle of Higher Education.”

Lisa Acerbo is a Trumbull High School English teacher and adjunct instructor at Norwalk Community College. Her previous novels have been published through a variety of indie presses. She has a short story “Carnivorous” coming out in October as part of a Limitless Publishing anthology titled Carnival of Nightmares.

Book are available for pre-sale on Amazon.com at goo.gl/4zKLpn

Contact Lisa Acerbo at Lisaacetbo.com