Laura E Hunt
Evidence-informed, deeply human writing about mental health,
I am developing an original adult fantasy novel set in a world trapped in an artificial, generations-long winter. Ancient volcanic infrastructure once distributed heat across the land, but a powerful ruler seized the volcanic stronghold and redirected its warmth toward elite settlements. Now survival itself, heat, food, shelter, and movement, is controlled by those in power.
The story follows Solene, a practical and risk-averse young woman forced to leave the safety of her settlement after her brother is selected in a deadly emergency lottery. Carrying journals connected to the original heat network, she joins a dangerous expedition to uncover the truth about the winter and restore the stolen warmth.
For this project, I am developing the novel’s plot, characters, mythology, geography, political systems, survival rules, and extreme-cold environments. My work includes long-form fiction, narrative structure, character development, immersive worldbuilding, scene planning, and research into Arctic survival, geothermal systems, cold-weather settlements, and human behavior under scarcity.
At its core, the story explores concentrated power, the hoarding of survival resources, learned helplessness, grief, hope, vulnerability, and the conflict between safety and freedom.
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A criminology research presentation examining how perception, interpretation, and professional viewpoints can shape understandings of justice-related issues. Presented at the American Society of Criminology conference in New Orleans.
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Public health research related to HIV prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with particular attention to stigma, access to care, and effective health communication. This project required accuracy, sensitivity, and the ability to communicate complex and potentially stigmatized health information responsibly.
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I translate complex mental health and behavioral science research into clear, accurate, and compassionate content that readers can understand and trust. My clinical background as a licensed mental health counselor and researcher allows me to combine evidence-based information with an empathetic, human-centered voice.
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