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Pinellas Park teen channels her loneliness into a published fantasy novel

"Not My Imagination" by Natalliah Bowdoin
Natalliah Bowdoin
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PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Natalliah Bowdoin is surrounded by dozens of kids who all want to meet her.

The students at Pinellas Park Middle School also want the 13-year-old’s autograph. It wasn’t always like this for the 7th-grader.

“It was very hard for me to make friends,” says Natalliah. “I didn’t really have a friend that I could tell things too.”

For a long time she was lonely, unable to make lasting friendships.

RELATED: Study: Loneliness rising in young Americans, more than seniors

Natalliah channeled those feelings into a novel, "Not My Imagination," published by Tampa-based Brooklyn Publishing. You can purchase the book on Amazon.

The novel is about another shy young girl who meets fantastical creatures that help bring her out of her shell.

Writing the book was not always easy.

“There were days when I was like, ‘Can I just be done? I don’t feel like doing this!’” says Natalliah.

She eventually finished and is now autographing the book for fellow teens who waited in line to meet her.

Natalliah hopes her book about conquering loneliness helps others, too.