How Anne McAllister Turned Her Own Memories into a Happily Ever After Story
23 Comments November 5th, 2009 in author, books, inspiration Posted by Amyby Anne McAllister, author of One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife (Harlequin Presents, November 2009).
Have you ever had a crush on someone? Ever spent far too much time staring at him from afar (or perhaps not so far). Writing his name and yours together? Writing your name with his last name? Daydreaming about what you would name your children? Ever known that if you could just spend time with him, something wonderful might happen?
Have you ever actually got to spend time with him, discovered that all that rapport you felt might exist actually DID exist? Were you absolutely convinced that the two of you would have a happily ever after if only…
If only the time was right… the situation was different…
I did. And it was out of that memory that the premise for One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife began.
Three years ago Natalie was utterly humiliated when handsome, debonair Christo Savas rejected her clumsy advances. Now, suddenly, unexpectedly she finds herself at Christo’s beck and call.
Natalie is older now, wiser by far. She won’t fall for him again — she hopes.
But Christo has other ideas now that the little firecracker has grown up. Now he is more than ready to take what she once offered. He wants just one night to satisfy his desire — But one night is never enough!
I never did what Natalie did, believe me!
But Natalie was a more determined woman than I was. Plus Natalie had more reason to believe that Christo shared her feelings. But even if I didn’t have the guts Natalie had (and thus never had to share my own version of Christo’s humiliating rejection), I remember those thin-skinned emotionally over-the-top days very very well.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine Natalie’s chagrin when level-headed Christo turned her down. Or her desire never to see Christo again as long as she lived (and even the hereafter might have been too soon!). The thing is, Christo didn’t forget her, either. And he wasn’t as indifferent as he had once appeared. In fact, it was all he could do to keep his hands off her when she ended up working for him again. And, parenthetically, it was all I manage do not to get him disbarred! If I hadn’t had my husband’s cousin, the lawyer, there vetting everything he did and every word he said, he might well have ended up there!
Fortunately for them both, she stopped working for him pretty quick.
To make sure I kept the emotions really strong I set the book in Manhattan Beach, California which is where I first had some of those emotions. Although, to be honest, I could and possibly should have set it in Santa Barbara where I went to college and all that emotional angst really kicked into overdrive. But MB seemed like a good idea because its the sort of place a man like Christo would live and thrive. A place where he could be a free spirit surfer one minute and a hard-driving intense lawyer the next.
I loved writing their story because it took me home again, both physically and emotionally. It allowed me to relive those days — in all their glorious angst — and give Natalie and Christo the happy ending I never got there. (Of course I got my own a few years later in Santa Barbara, so I’m not complaining!)
The joy of being a writer is that you can turn angst into books, relive your most dire moments and give them happy endings. Nothing is ever wasted on a writer!
Now that I’ve shared my early angst with you, share some with me. Did you have a crush? Local or long distance? Was he in your class or in a band or maybe he was Hugh-in-a-towel. Did you get a happy ending? C’mon, tell. I’ll pick my favorite and if you’re it, I’ll send you a copy of One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife.
Best,
Anne
23 Responses to “How Anne McAllister Turned Her Own Memories into a Happily Ever After Story”
- 1 Pingback on Nov 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Anne, the picture of that beach is so peaceful and serene, I could easily hibernate there. Here’s my story:
Years ago when I was in my early teens, my family spent the entire summer at my aunt’s house close to the beach. There I met a guy who was older and impressed me as being sooo mature.
We were together all summer and went swimming, had picnics, went to bonfires and parties on the beach, played baseball with my cousins and went on long walks.
I was in love and though we didn’t do the dirty, there was a lot of kissing and heavy petting going on. Did I mention this guy was French? No? Well, ooh, la, la. Could he kiss!
We returned home at the end of August and the romance died a natural death as most long-distance relationships usually do but I had stored up enough fantasies to last for a while, at least until the next man caught my eye.
Strangely enough, we met up again years later, both of us divorcees, and had a wild night together. But it was definitely not in the realm of my dreams all those years before. Sometimes, it’s better to let the fantasies survive, even if the romance doesn’t. Oh well, at least now I know ‘what could have been’ and I would probably still be divorced. LOL
Oh crushes – all that yearning for ‘ the one’, the one you know will be just perfect for you if he’ll only look your way, speak to you, notice you! I had a huge one on a boy in my school when I was 13 or so and he was a couple of years older – he was always an altar boy at a particular mass on Sundays so my Mother was really impressed by the sudden devotion to religion I had developed! And no, he never noticed me – in fact he married someone else as soon as I went to university. I’m sure the two weren’t linked – it just felt that way!
Strange thing is – my ‘crush’ looked amazingly like my husband did at 15!
And please – can I visit Manhattan Beach with you one day?
Lorraine,
Thanks so much for sharing your story! It sounds as if you had a summer to remember. And that interesting little ‘years later’ ending is pretty much how I think a lot of our ‘first loves’ often end. Neat that you got to see him again and share that together — even if in the long run it wouldn’t have worked out. I feel much the same about mine (though I never got the ‘last night’ you did!)
Kate, Ah, yes. The sudden devotion to religion! I remember it well. It was 8:30 mass for me. And yes, sure you can come to MB with me someday. Love to share it with you. The Prof and the Babe Magnet can walk for hours talking on The Strand and we can ogle the volleyball players!
Oh boy. Yes one very strong crush. Brainy math type. He actually had a tattoo of a math symbol on his back (It was a very nice back).
He was part of the “summer gang” for one year between my sophomore and junior year of college. We all went everywhere together so it’s not like we had any real alone time.
But I fell so hard. He was smart, sweet, funny, interesting. He was the kind of man who felt comfortable around women and really enjoyed their company. He didn’t see women as just obstacles or potential sex partners. Which was good b/c I didn’t feel comfortable around most men, but I trusted him completely.
Nothing ever came of it, physical or otherwise. I went to Spain for Junior Year Abroad and didn’t hear from him for a very long time, so I wrote an angry post card (don’t ever do this!) and when I got back from mailing it he had written me the cutest e-mail. I e-mailed him back, but it was too late. He never really spoke to me again.
About a year later I heard he got engaged and I have to admit I bawled.
But I met my now husband about a year after the crush’s engagement and I knew this time when I liked someone to “just go for it.” So everything worked out for the best in the end!
Jill,
What a great story — even with a moral! Thank you for sharing it with us. And I’m very glad to hear you had a happy ending with the right man!
Good for you.
Cheers,
Anne
Oh dear, crushes!
I had a serious crush on a gorgeous boy in my class for years, from age twelve through to sixteen. But I was painfully shy.
One school dance, he came over and sat next to me. I was so nervous I couldn’t manage to even look at him, let alone squeak out a “Hi” in return. We sat in complete silence for what felt like forever, until he gave up and walked away. He ended the night going steady with another girl.
I still wonder what might have happened if I’d been brave enough to smile!
I used to live close to Manhattan Beach, and seeing that first picture made me remember how my best friend and I used to take walks there and pretend to watch the ocean waves, when really I was watching the scores of alpha-type, good-looking men playing beach volleyball. Good times.
Mulberry,
Thanks for sharing your tale. It’s sort of a ‘cautionary tale,’ isn’t it? That we need to actually learn to smile at people or they might think we aren’t interested. It sounds like you’ve taken the lesson to heart. One thing about crushes is that they seem to teach us something about ourselves even if they don’t end happily with the man in question.
Joan, I used to do that, too! Great place to walk, The Strand, isn’t it? I have been away from there for a lot of years now, but every time I go back, that’s the place I always head for. The ’scenery’ was always amazing — and not just the waves and the sand and the pier!
ps: I wrote a Harlequin Presents called Out of Bounds about a Manhattan Beach volleyball player once! Another trip ‘back home’ again.
Had to chime in on this one. The summer I turned fifteen I spent a week cruising the Virgin Islands (oh the irony!) with my parents. I met a guy who worked on the cruise ship singing and playing his guitar in the band. He was twenty so, of course, I lied and told him I was sixteen, cuz everyone knows being 16 is better than being 15, right? Anyway, he was funny, smart, and had a wickedly sexy voice, and I fell like the proverbial ton of bricks. It was the first time I was attracted to a man, not a boy, and I could seriously sense the difference. Every moment he wasn’t working we were hanging out, enjoying each other’s company. I don’t know if he was just being a gentleman, was influenced by the fact that, heck, I was JAIL BAIT, or if he just wasn’t that into me but, other than several toe-curling make out sessions, he never touched me. But the real reason for this longwinded story? On the final day, I went to hang out by the pool and he was there, singing with his band. The minute I appeared, he broke out singing (She was) Only Sixteen. He was looking at me and laughing and, I swear to God, to this day, I can still remember the feeling . . . fantastic!
Amy
Oh, Amy! Great story. Thanks for sharing it with us. What a great memory to have. Never had a shipboard romance. But it sounds like you had a great one.
Anne, I really enjoyed hearing the backstory of your book. Thanks for sharing it with us. And I loved hearing everyone’s crush stories. Like Amy’s – wow, what a moment to have him singing just to you, in front of everyone!
Thanks for a cool post, Anne.
fThanks for stopping by, Jennie. Great to see you here. I enjoyed reading your piece on the Christmas places, too!
Anne, this is a great post and just thinking about crushes has me sliding under my desk with embarrassment. I had a crush on my first boss. And he knew, because I’m rubbish at hiding anything. So, so embarrassing. The happy ending was that he didn’t fire me. Loving the sound of your new book, can’t wait to read it and the pictures of MB are gorgeous.
Anne – great post as usual!
I have a sad, sad story! I fell in love with a younger man (he was only thirteen, I was fourteen) in debate club in highschool. I pursued him unrelentlessly until he finally asked me to the ball when I was seventeen (and he was sixteen). We ”dated” – well, like highschoolers do – for 5 months and then I had a hissy fit and dumped him over something silly. Regretted it five minutes later. Still remember the exact words we exchanged ”you’ll always be my bestfriend” he said! Hah!! I loved him for another four years before I finally moved on!!
Was it time wasted? Hell no!! I feel that angst like it was yesterday… hopefully I can get it right in a story one day soon!
Rach!
Sarah, Totally understand the cringe-making feeling of having a crush on the boss! Glad you didn’t get fired. Yes, MB is lovely. It was a great place to be growing up when I did. It’s probably got plenty to recommend it now — but it’s quite different.
Rach, a younger man! Oh, you daring woman! Yes, the angst never goes away. And it’s always terribly useful to writers. You’ll find the right time to dredge it up. Guarantee it.
Oh god yes – crushes galore! And one in particular who used to be a cyclist and live in my grandmother’s town. It was only when I realised that he shaved his legs that my crush started to wane…
great post, loved the book!
xx Abby
Abby, His name wasn’t Eamon, I trust! Glad you loved the book. Thanks for saying so.
Thanks to everyone who has shared their crushes. I loved all the stories – and winced through several! Lots of fodder for great books, here. We must all have lots of emotions to mine for those unrequited love stories.
Lorraine, you’ve won a copy of One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife!
If you will go to my website (click on my name above and I think it will take you there) then go to the very bottom of the page, there is a link there that says, “Contact Anne.” If you’ll send me your snail mail address, I’ll send out a copy of the book.
Anne, nice try, NO his name was not Eamon…! x
Anne, thank you so much! I’ve never won anything in my life! I’ve sent the email with my mailing address. I’m sure I will enjoy reading ‘One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife!’ Thanks again.
Anne, Abby said he *shaved* his legs, not that someone sheared them.
I had a crush on a man who used to catch the same train I took to school. I was 15, he was… dunno, 30? It was always a mad rush to catch the right train, get into the right carriage, get the right seat. Never said a word. I doubt he even knew I existed.
Crush? More like stalking, come to think of it. LOL
Anne, I don’t think it was stalking unless you followed him OFF the train and to his house — over and over!