My Books

"If you struggle with anxiety, READ THIS BOOK.

Must read!"

"I will be recommending it to clients of mine."

"If you struggle with anxiety, READ THIS BOOK. Must read!" "I will be recommending it to clients of mine."

Penny doesn’t stand out and she likes it that way, but when she has a panic attack in English class, suddenly, she’s very much in the eye of her classmates. To make matters worse, a classmate recorded it on Snapchat, which went viral around the school with “#PennyPanic.”

As the nickname is chanted at her in the halls, she clings to her friends but they all have their own struggles too. She feels alone and fears no one will understand her pain. She has Ms. Piece, a school counselor and a hippie Grandma, Betty, who guides her along the way to help normalize her anxieties. Penny begins to learn anxiety shows up differently for everyone; sometimes it's obvious and other times it's not.

When the worst thing imaginable happens to one of her friends, will she be able to rise above and reclaim her confidence or will the anxiety win?"

A Young Girl's Journey with Anxiety

Penny Panic:

When dead man’s travel journal found its way into Laura’s hands at a garage sale, a journey he never finished became hers to complete. This journey culminated in the writing of this book.

Spiritual Nomad is more than a travel memoir; it’s a guide to listening to your inner compass and embarking on your own journey within.

Growing up, Laura’s introverted nature and deep sensitivity often made her feel invisible. She was so reserved that teachers would sometimes mistakenly mark her absent from class. Beneath her quiet exterior was a rich inner world of daydreams and aspirations, but fear kept her playing small.

That all changed at 17 years old, when she received the educational opportunity to travel to Europe thanks to a high school teacher.The exhilarating experience of traveling solo opened her eyes to a new, vibrant way of being and gave her a newfound confidence to let her voice be heard. She learned that taking risks often opened her up to incredible opportunities, so she made a promise to herself to return to Europe someday and continue her journey. Unfortunately, life had other plans.Almost losing her brother left her riddled with debilitating panic attacks.It took immense strength and resilience to rise from this oppressive darkness and see the world again.

Laura’s hope in writing this book is to share with others that emotions are messages we should pay attention to, and that our greatest gift is our willingness to be vulnerable. Through her travels around the world, she has collected not only passport stamps, but inspiring life lessons from each destination and the people she met there, and she has subsequently used these lessons to fuel her on a journey of self-discovery and healing spanning over 10 years and 14 different countries.

As a “spiritual nomad,” she learned to befriend her anxiety instead of running from it, to give herself grace and accept the unpredictable journey of life – the good, the bad and the ugly.

A Journey Within and Abroad

Spiritual Nomad:

  • Licensed psychologist using this as timeless resource

    I’m a licensed psychologist, and this book was helpful both personally and professionally. It brings the impact of panic to life by weaving it into a story with well thought out and developed characters. Not only is this a relatable book, it ALSO seeks to destigmatize panic, other mental health challenges, and treatment. I have recommended this to clients, and clinicians alike. It is a great resource, and I know I will come back to it again and again. So well-done!

    Dr. Jen Wolkin @drjenwolkin | Penny Panic on Amazon

  • Must read!

    As a therapist, I love this book! It’s so relatable and easy to read. I recommend it to anyone who has suffered from mental health issues or anyone who has someone in their life that is struggling! It’s totally relatable for anyone who has experienced challenges coping with mental health

    Micheline Maalouf @micheline.maalouf | Penny Panic on Amazon

  • Spiritual Nomad Brought Me Back to Life

    Laura’s book brought me back to life. I didn’t even realize that I slowly let go of my dream of being a traveler/writer until I read it. I love that it’s self published. It makes it feel more authentic. She accomplishes that thing I absolutely adore about memoir which is that she really makes you feel like you’re her best friend living the experience with her. I read it in a week. I feel inspired to travel and to finish self publishing my own memoir. I feel closer to embracing my anxiety more than ever before. The part I took away from the most was the experience she tells about her brother and watching him overdose and how that affected her for years. I have such a similar story it’s crazy. So to see her bravely put her heart out there like that makes me feel like it’s possible for me too. So read this book. It’ll inspire you. One way or another. I promise. And if you buy it off her website she’ll wrap her book up and you’ll feel like you’re getting a present! ❤️

    Ana | Spiritual Nomad on Amazon

  • Life Changing!

    Seriously changing lives!!! This book is VERY impacting and life altering!!! MUST READ if you are going through any type of anxiety or depression!!!! One of the best books I’ve ever read!!!!

    Amazon Customer | Spiritual Nomad on Amazon

  • A very uplifting, encouraging book!

    I very much enjoyed reading this book. As someone who has lived and traveled outside the US, I love how Laura captures the adventure of travel and the thrill of pushing yourself to have new experiences. Her writing style is smooth and easy to read. I feel like I'm just chatting with a friend about their travels.

    With so much uncertainty in the world today, this book helped ease my anxiety and face what's going on with a much better attitude. Thank you, Laura, I look forward to your future work.

    -D.S. | Spiritual Nomad on Amazon

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