Cresting Wave Publishing Releases Greenhorn, Cheryl Hunter's Debut Young Adult Novel
Through A Unique Perspective, New Novel Could Provide Trauma Healing And Awareness For Its Readers
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / According to the latest federal data analyzed by KFF researchers, young adults in the United States continue to be more likely than their older counterparts to be experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Exacerbating the problem, KFF says, is the fact that young adults in college settings may encounter increased difficulty accessing treatment. The Steinberg Institute corroborates that fact, adding, "The United States is suffering a critical shortage of licensed mental health professionals."
The analysis of the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey finds that half (50%) of adults ages 18-24 reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023, compared to about a third of adults overall. The data also show that young adults are more likely than adults of any other age group to experience mental health symptoms.
Many young adults have come of age in an era of pandemic-related school closures, remote work and job and income loss, all of which may contribute to poor mental health. Add to that the amount of global conflict and war that is happening worldwide, and it's easy to see why mental health awareness is more important now than ever before. The National Institutes Of Health's finding spells out why that matters by stating, "War has a catastrophic effect on the health and well-being of nations," and, "The effects of war include long-term physical and psychological harm to children and adults."
One unlikely solution has arisen to help teens, young people, and their families cope with the rise in mental health issues young adults are facing: a new coming-of-age novel set in another tumultuous time: the 1970s. The Young Adult novel, Greenhorn, from first-time novelist Cheryl Hunter, was written to shine a light on the path for today's young adults as they struggle to navigate the complexities of the world around them.
Hunter, who has worked in Hollywood as a writer under contract with CBS, Paramount Pictures, NBC, and HBO, as well as having her writing produced by CNN and PBS, states, "My hope is that through losing themselves in Greenhorn's engaging storyline, readers will discover the tools to deal with their own challenges, no matter what they are."
Hunter consulted Greenhorn licensed mental health professionals throughout the writing of Greenhorn, to ensure that the end product would be something that benefitted both young adults and their parents. One such mental health professional is Dr Nancy Irwin, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified hypnotherapist who says, "Greenhorn is an important read for teens and young adults, many of whom will surely identify with Nic, the book's protagonist. Traumatized youth can gain awareness from a third-person perspective, remaining sufficiently dissociated for clarity, psychoeducation, and most importantly, hope."
Irwin goes on to add that Greenhorn is an equally important book for parents of teens and young adults. Nic can be a reference point whose story can be an excellent conversation starter for increasing awareness and opening difficult conversations between parents and their children."
Greenhorn, which just debuted atop the bestseller list on Amazon, is told through the eyes of Nic, a whip-smart fourteen-year-old cowgirl from rural Colorado, who longs to grow up quickly and be somebody. When a summer tragedy spirals out of control, Nic blames the curse of the late Comanche chief Greenhorn - also a teen - who similarly faced unthinkable disaster when his homeland was taken and his tribe was massacred by Juan Batiste de Anza and his men in their conquest of the American West in the late 1700s.
Through Nic's and Chief Greenhorn's intertwined paths we explore adversity, redemption, and grace. The book addresses the loss of innocence and asks the question, "If you lose everything, who do you become?" This tale unravels amidst cheerleaders and peer pressure, rape and bulimia, love and loss, and ironically, hope. Greenhorn examines captivity and freedom; questions how far we'd go to get back everything we love, and is written for anyone who's yearned for the chance to rewrite the story of their life.
Literary Titan writes calls Greenhorn "An inspirational beacon, encouraging young readers to confront their most formidable challenges and inner demons." Midwest Book Review adds, "It's rare to see a supernatural saga turn into a life message that will draw young adults with intrigue and conclude with new empowerment possibilities. Greenhorn is all this and more-a vivid, enlightening story."
"Is it foolish to believe that a book can change lives?" Hunter asks, "Perhaps," she answers, "But in an era where there's a mental health crisis and mental health solutions are hard to come by, my hope is that it will. There's too much on the line not to take that chance." The ultimate goal? Readers young and old alike will find the solace and fortitude they need in Hunter's unexpected solution, Greenhorn.
ABOUT CRESTING WAVE PUBLISHING LLC
Take two dedicated readers: make one an English major with a serious knack for spotting solid writing, and make the other a former magazine and book editor with years of hands-on experience. The result is the team that founded Cresting Wave Publishing - whose mission is to entertain and even educate the reader, cherish and develop the writer, delight customers, focus on quality before quantity, and stand behind every word they publish. For more information visit www.gocwpub.com. For additional information, visit Cresting Wave Publishing on Facebook.
Contact:
Laura Neely
laurah@gocwpub.com
623-332-8910
SOURCE: Cresting Wave Publishing LLC
View the original press release on accesswire.com
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