Raleigh, NC – September 15, 2010 – Local author Stephanie Silberstein is known to 500+ fans on Facebook as the author of Shades of Gay, a coming-of-age novel featuring gay and bisexual teenagers that is coming out later this month. What most people aren’t aware of, however, is that Silberstein suffers from Aspergers Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism.

Aspergers, a neurologically based disorder that affects communication and social skills, affects everybody differently. In Silberstein’s case, it could potentially interfere with her ability to attract customers or promote her work. “Basic networking skills such as making small talk and exchanging business cards don’t come naturally to me,” Silberstein says. “But I am determined to be as successful as I possibly can, Aspergers or no Aspergers.”

Silberstein entered the world of independent publishing two years ago with the publication of her first novel, Winter’s Silence, which featured a family dealing with their son’s autism. Despite her difficulties with networking, she feels far more comfortable as a writer and publisher than at a traditional job. “At a regular job, you have to follow everybody else’s rules,” she says. “Plus you have to devote time to doing things that have nothing to do with what you’re really passionate about. As a writer, I have the freedom to be myself.”

Shades of Gay will be published through Silberstein’s independent publishing label, Narrow Path Publishing. Narrow Path Publishing’s mission is to fulfill the Jewish ideal of tikkun olam (healing the world) through writing literature related to social issues. Shades of Gay focuses on feelings of alienation and depression among LGBT youth. Silberstein hopes the novel’s publication will help lower the suicide rate among LGBT teenagers and young adults. Currently, gay and lesbian youth are four times more likely than their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide.

For more information, please visit http://www.narrowpathpublishing.net or http://www.facebook.com/shadesofgay.