The Editor
Welcome to my site. I’m Natalie O’Neal and I cannot wait to hear about your book project. As a former university press senior acquisitions editor, I understand what it takes for an idea to become a successful proposal and for that successful proposal to become a published book. With nearly a decade of editing and publishing experience, I have helped shepherd many award-winning academic and trade nonfiction books to publication.
While I loved the publication process and selecting the cream of the crop from the hundreds of proposals I received every year, I found that my talent and heart was in developing and nurturing an author’s idea into a contract-worthy proposal and helping authors find the publishable book within their manuscript draft.
I enjoy working with first-time authors and my specialties include monographs, biographies, narrative nonfiction, and proposal development for both trade and academic publishers. As an acquisitions editor, I believed in transparency with my authors regarding the publication process—the subject area fit with the press, the monetary factors of publishing certain lengths and formats, the peer review process, and more. Publishing doesn’t need to be scary or confusing, but you do need to get in the door. I want to curate an experience that not only brings out the best in your idea or manuscript, but also elucidates what might come next.
Whether you have an idea that needs finessing, a dissertation that needs reshaping into a book, a peer-reviewed manuscript you need a second (or third or fourth) set of eyes on, or a final draft that requires a bit of high-level tweaking, I’m here for it. I look forward to working with you and your book!
Testimonials
It is with great respect and appreciation that I offer this testimony for Natalie O'Neal, whose contributions to our collaborative work with the University Press of Kentucky have been nothing short of exceptional. Over the course of several years, Natalie has played a pivotal role in the development and refinement of two major scholarly projects: An Introduction to Black Studies and Full of Faith, Full of Hope: The History and Legacy of the Underground Railroad in Kentucky’s Border Lands.
Natalie’s editorial insight, organizational acumen, and unwavering commitment to scholarly excellence have been instrumental in shaping both volumes. Her ability to navigate complex historical narratives and support the integration of diverse scholarly voices has enriched the quality and depth of these works. In particular, her support during the editorial process of Full of Faith, Full of Hope—a volume that brings together essays from historians, educators, and cultural commentators—was vital in ensuring the coherence and accessibility of the manuscript.
Moreover, Natalie’s professionalism and collaborative spirit were evident in our meetings and communications, including promotional planning and editorial sessions for An Introduction to Black Studies. Her thoughtful feedback and strategic guidance helped us navigate both the academic and public-facing dimensions of the project, ensuring its relevance to students, educators, and community stakeholders.
Natalie exemplifies the best of publishing—bringing rigor, empathy, and vision to every stage of the editorial process. I am deeply grateful for her partnership.
Sincerely,
Eric R. Jackson
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor of History
Northern Kentucky University
✳✳✳
During her tenure as a senior acquisitions editor at the University Press of Kentucky, Natalie O'Neal guided our acquisitions team through hardships and triumphs. Her patience and kindness as a leader and editor created a supportive and productive working environment that has benefited my career and, more importantly, will positively impact the publishing houses where she has worked, the writers she has guided through the publication process, and the readers who will learn from the books she has edited for years to come. I've had the good fortune to learn from her careful and insightful expertise, and I highly recommend her editing services to anyone who dreams of publishing a book.
—Abby Freeland, Senior Acquisitions Editor at University Press of Kentucky
Interested in working together?
Send me a note and tell me about your project. I’d love to hear what you’re working on!