Can you tell us a little
about your book? When did it come out and where can we get it?
Guardian
House, the 1st in the Curious Adventures series, follows a curious young woman
forced to uncover her past in order to pave the way for adventures in her
future. This urban fantasy mashup follows Alice as she learns she's involved in
much more drama than whether or not her crush likes her back. With the support
of her bestie, Dorothy, and her clique of misfit orphans-with-excess-baggage,
she ventures beyond her comfort zone to unlock the mysteries surrounding
Guardian House, the legend of the Red Queen, and her connection to the world
she doesn't remember. Peppered with magic and mystery,Guardian House is full of
snark & sass, and will leave readers curious for more!
It is available on
Amazon on August 14 in print and digital copies.
So, what inspired you
to write your book? How did you get into writing urban fantasy?
As a child, I loved hearing
stories about Alice in Wonderland & Dorothy in Oz, but as I got older,
wondered what they would be like in modern times, or if they were a little
older. I also felt that since they had similar experiences, they could probably
connect well. I know how difficult it is for teenage girls to fit in and find a
true friend, and decided that Alice and Dorothy would be a perfect platonic
match!
What, do you feel, sets
this book apart from other books in the genre?
Guardian House uses 21st Century
teenage issues such as fashion, flirting, and frivolity to attract young adult
readers. But it is also grounded in the myths and legends that today's adults
remember and love. This version of Alice and Dorothy combined with magic,
fantasy and mystery entice readers of all ages to follow them on their
adventures into adulthood, friendship, first loves, and the fears that have
since been dormant in Guardian House.
I'm sure readers are
curious about your next writing project. Can you tell us what you've got
cooking up now or is that a secret?
I'd
love finish up the sequel to Guardian House. And after that, who knows where
the Curious Adventure series may go!?
Curious. That’s the one word Alice uses to describe herself in her Group Therapy sessions. She thinks it has a nicer ring to it than the crazy her parents called her before they abandoned her at Guardian House with other unwanted misfits. Thanks to a childhood incident, Alice can’t remember if she actually visited the fantasy land that appears in pieces of her memory. But she knows her instincts are trying to tell her something is up at Guardian House, and she is too curious to avoid it.
After years of struggling to find her own kind of normal, Alice has found a sense of sanity with some of the patients, especially her best-friend-she’s-basically-family Dorothy, and her hunky crush Tim. Alice’s goal, aside from finding the courage to let Tim know how she feels, is to be discharged and leave Guardian House. That is, until mad Hattie reminds them of the legend of the evil Red Queen. Aided by quirky Therapy friends, secrets of the mysterious Dr. Wize, and a little magic, Alice must fight to save her friend’s lives – even if it means betraying the only thing she has grown to rely on.
Author Bio: Natalie O’Neil is proud to announce the publication of her
first novel, Guardian House, an urban fantasy mash-up of her favorite childhood
mischief-makers. Enticed by the bizarre, Natalie’s unconventional predilections
have been know to lead her down more than one path not frequently taken, and
she’s always up for the adventure.
Natalie is fascinated by the Victorian Era, Steampunk, and
alternate realities, allowing her to often romanticize about a time and place
that never actually existed, except for in her mind. This magical, whimsical,
and sometimes frightening imaginary world inspires both her writing and her
real life.
A graduate of Rutgers University, Natalie taught high school
English & Creative Writing for many years before becoming an innovator in
educational technology. As a Technology Coordinator, Google Certified Teacher
and Trainer, Raspberry Pi Certified Teacher, and Adjunct Professor, Natalie is
passionate about sharing the benefits of technology and the arts with educators
around the world.
When she isn’t traveling, Natalie can be found at home in
New Jersey with her husband, often spoiling her American Eskimo pup,
refinishing shabby chic home furnishings, or finding creative ways to entertain
and educate.
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