General Information on The Guardian

WHO

The Guardian is the first of Nicholas's novels that were primarily derived from his imagination. No family members inspired the story.

The Guardian is the story of Julie Barenson, Mike Harris, and Richard Franklin, three people who's lives cross in a small southern town. Written in third-person, it is a story told from differing character's points of view.

WHAT

The Guardian is a love story set against the backdrop obsession and danger.

The Guardian, Nicholas’s seventh novel, is approximately 130,000 words, making it Nicholas’s longest novel to that point.

WHERE

The Guardian was primarily written in North Carolina, but was finished while on a book tour in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Guardian is set in Swansboro, North Carolina.

WHEN

The Guardian was begun in May, 2001 and the first draft was finished in October, 2001. The novel required extensive revisions and was set aside until June, 2002, while Nights in Rodanthe was written. Editing began June, 2002 and continued through October, 2002. The novel was published in April, 2003, where it spent five months on the best-seller list. The paperback version publication date was set for April, 2004.

The Guardian is a modern novel, set in 2002.

THEME

Love and danger

GENRE / SUB-GENRE

Dramatic fiction/Love story