One Magic Moment by Marie Force
We're off to a great start this week at the Wet Noodle Posse. Please help me welcome Contemporary Romance Author, Marie Sullivan Force! You can learn all about Marie at her website.Have you ever experienced “a moment,” one in which you were acutely aware, as it was happening, that you would never forget it? Sometimes it’s about falling in love, other times it’s an instant of crystal clear clarity.
I had such a moment two years ago, the first time my then-eleven-year-old daughter stepped onto the stage in a middle school production of High School Musical. Playing Ms. Darbus, the stern but comical drama teacher, she tore up the stage collecting cell phones from her wayward detention students as her mother’s mouth hung open in the audience. Despite sharing the stage with ten of her peers, she owned the scene. Chills chased up and down my spine as time slowed, the crowd around me disappeared, and I realized I was witnessing raw, pure talent—the kind that someone either has or they don’t, the kind that can’t be taught or acquired.
When I “came to,” I wondered if it was an aberration, one amazing scene to be followed by mediocrity. Those fears were soon put to rest. In scene after scene, she continued to produce sheer magic. Of course, I thought, every parent sitting here is thinking the same thing: my kid is special. But at intermission people we knew and many we didn’t sought us out to say the same thing: “Oh my God, your daughter is amazing! She’s stealing the show!” Even the director expressed amazement. “Wow,” he said. “I didn’t see any of that in rehearsals.” Watching that first show, I had a very distinct feeling that I was seeing her destiny, and I’ve never forgotten it.
In my new book, Love at First Flight, my hero, Michael Maguire, experiences a similar moment of clarity the first time he lays eyes on Juliana Gregorio in an airport gate area. Even though he’s engaged and thinks his life is all set, he takes one look at Juliana and knows with every fiber of his being that she’s “the one” for him. The feeling is deep and visceral and profound. And he knows if he acts on it, lives will be changed, hearts will be broken, and not for nothing, the object of his instant affection will think he’s a lunatic.
Ryan Sanderson, the hero of my first book, Line of Scrimmage, was a true alpha in every sense of the word. Michael is a true beta. He’s quiet and loyal and dedicated and sincere. It would never occur to him to be unfaithful to his fiancée, even if she and her manipulative parents are on his last nerve. So when he meets Juliana and has an instantaneous reaction to her, he files it away but doesn’t forget about it. Later, when he has the opportunity to act on it, he never loses faith in the love-at-first-sight reaction he experienced. Despite having good reason to give up, Michael trusts that first instantaneous gut reaction until he gets the happily ever after he deserves. By the time I finished writing Love at First Flight, I was more than halfway in love with him myself!
Oh, and my daughter? She’s since been the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, Frenchie in Grease, and was recently cast in her first leading role as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web.
Have you ever experienced a moment like Michael’s or mine? I’ll give away a copy of Love at First Flight to the commenter with the best story.
Love at First Flight will be available July 1, 2009. Pre-order your copy NOW!
Labels: Love at First Flight, Magic Moment, Marie Force
posted by Theresa Ragan @ 3:49 AM
23 Comments:
Marie,
Welcome to the posse! As I read your reaction to seeing your daughter on stage, I was nodding my head. I had a similar experience when my daughter, who is a dancer was cast as Clara. I remember sitting there and thinking the same thing--every parent must feel this pride. People still come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy her dancing because of her stage presence.
As to Love at First Flight, I can't wait to read it. Your beta hero sounds wonderful.
Hi Mo,
Sounds like you know exactly what I mean! It gives you chills, doesn't it, to see such raw talent coming from your own child? Emily is starting to talk about pursuing the performing arts as a career. As someone who has been through the ringer in a creative field, I fear for her sanity but I hope she gets to experience the pure joy of having a dream come true the way I have.
Thanks for your kind words about Michael. I adore him and hope you will, too!
Marie
Marie, I can't wait to read L@FF. I am finishing up another book and yours is next. I haven't written you yet, but my Emily finished your book in nearly one sitting spanning less that 24 hours! She gushed on through the whole thing, but when she finished her response was what we novelists dream of: She was teary eyed and speechless. All she could mumble out was, "It was so good."
You've done it girl. :)
Sorry I'm late to the party! Love your post, Marie.
Mo and Marie, my daughter was a dancer for a while and I felt such pride seeing her up there on the stage. Both my girls love being in the limelight...something I dread! So, they must be their father's daughters.
I do love that magic moment you talked about when your hero sees your heroine the first time in your book! Gave me chills...
Can't wait to read Love at First Flight. Thanks for being here!
Marie,
Loved your blog. Thanks so much for joining us at the WNP.
My story moment is about my boyfriend, Don. I hadn't seen him before I met him, and was resistant to dating a man who was 17 years older. I was used to dating men my age or younger. Finally, I agreed to meet for lunch, thinking we'd become friends. At the restaurant, I took one look at him, and thought, "Oh! I like him!" That lunch lasted 3 hours, and we just celebrated a getaway weekend in San Francisco for our 3 year anniversary.
Love your story, Marie! I actually had that weird moment of clarity when I met my husband. Well, not RIGHT when I met him. I was at college at a party, he was on Spring Break from the Naval Academy, and though I thought he was adorable I figured he was just looking for a night of, um, "fun." Meaning I ditched him quickly so as not to be tempted to get my hopes up about another stupid college boy, LOL. Then, Monday morning, I had an email in my inbox from him, just a few short words letting me know he'd really like to talk to me again. I was the only Kendra at the college (which was in NY), and his roomate down in MD had managed to find my email address. Ten minutes with me, and he was THAT determined to find me again. And I just...knew. This was the guy I was going to marry. It sounds hokey (and believe me, I had this revelation with equal parts excitement and horror, being a pretty free spirit at 19), but that's the truth. Eleven years of marriage and three kids seem to have proven my intuition right!
I reeeeally want to read this book!
Hmm, my moment of clarity....must have been the first time I saw my DH. He was an orderly and I was a new graduate nurse. He leaned over the desk and asked if we needed help with anything--and I couldn't think of a thing! Of course, I have no problem with that now!
I'm currently reading LAFF and enjoying it very much!
Wow, Kendra! Your story gave me chills... love that you just KNEW he was the one!
And Debra, I had no idea Don was 17years older! He doesn't look it and you guys make a really nice looking couple! :) Congratulations on three years!!!
Debra, Don's wonderful. I'm so glad you're happy, and I love the way you smile when you talk about him. :-)
Marie, I have no human children and my furbabies don't lend themselves to this kind of thing (LOL). But I once had a kind of opposite experience--a gut reaction that was absolutely convincing. Sometimes the subconscious just knows.
I'd just mailed a written acceptance for a job as a college professor on the other side of the country, because that's just what you did when offered one of the scarce jobs in a competitive field. As I was driving home and the sun was shining in a gorgeous blue sky over my adopted state of CA, I instantly began to cry. I didn't want that job and I didn't want to leave. I knew right then that I had to shift my life in a completely different direction. I did, and I've never looked back.
Thanks for the reminder of all the good things in life. :-)
I went to lunch and the posse went wild! Thanks for coming by everyone!
I love all the stories about magic moments. You people must be romance writers!? LOL! Debra, your Don sounds like he'd be lovely at any age and Kendra, I never knew you had such a shazam meeting with Brian! How cool! Maybe you should write that story sometime?? You could find a way to get the spooky in there, right?
Cheryl, I've never heard that story of how you met Budley before. Love it!! You went stupid!! HA!
Cate, I love that story and had something just like it happen to me. I was trapped in a bit of a love triangle just before I got married and I remember hearing Rod Stewart's Have I Told You Lately on the radio. I pulled over to the side of the road because I couldn't see through the tears. I was realizing that the one I was getting ready to marry was the right one. That was our wedding song (the much cooler Van Morrison version) and my DH still doesn't know why. :-) If I told him, I'd also have to mention the triangle was a little more "pointy" than he probably suspected... DOH! Let's hope he doesn't read this! Oh well, after 17 years, he's stuck with me!
this happened to me when I was at church choir practice with a new friend who sang in the choir; in walks this guy, rather hurriedly as he was late,and instantly I felt compelled to find out more about him. We ended up dating, getting married(lasted 8 yrs.) and then that's where the magic wore off. He divorced me but the start of me seeing him was so overpowering I can't explain it.
Nothing too exciting - saw my husband for the first time at The Emprire State Bldg and knew he was the one.
Rose G.
P.S. Would really love to win this book.
Cate, I thought you were going to say you were crying because you were so happy!!! But you were sad...How smart of you to know that the job wasn't right and to stay right where you were!!!
Also, I know what you mean about that special connection with animals. I have a dog and a cat and they are cute, but my sister's dog, Diego, looks at me like a person would. One day a lady I didn't know was walking Diego on a path I don't often take...and this dog was staring at me as I passed by and I had no idea who the woman was...but I glanced over my shoulder to look back and Diego was glancing over his shoulder looking at me (but he wasn't wagging his tail or anything and he had been shaved) and I said, "Diego?" and he start whimpering and crying and the lady said, "yes, it's Diego, I'm taking care of him this week." Anyhow, it was that one look that told me it was Diego! :) I'll never forget it!
Cheryl, that's a great story. You met your husband and you were instantly speechless!!
Rose, that sounds like a big deal to me! The Empire State Building?! And then he asked you for your number? Were you both from the city?
I would love to win this new book.
Anyway, I was supposed to go with my friend to a club and tried to cancel out; she wouldnt let me - and my hair looked really good that nite - lol. My now husband was there; he had just returned from visiting Yellowstone and was all excited to tell someone about it. He saw me, there was just something clicking there; the next night he took me to dinner and the rest is history. We now have a wonderful 7 mo beautiful granddaughter.
Pat L.
Yes, when my baby girl was born 7 mos. ago. What an experience - one that I will never forget (like all mom's) - she is such a joy!
Karen T.
Thanks to everyone who came by tonight. I've been having connectivity issues tonight--of course--so just a quick thank you for all the great stories. I loved them all! It was great to be here today!
I have and i can remember it to this day it was an on going deal but started when i was 12 I met the man im now going to marry he was soo "hot" as a twelve yr old would say but so silent and when i first seen him my heart spead up and i was at aloss for words we became friends almost imidiatly mainly because i didnt know how to do the flirty flirty i want i want thing where the other girls were throwing their selves on to him the first day he spoke a few words to me it was that looks heavey do you ever use your locker at the time see i carried around all my stuff so i was never late becoming fast friends didnt last he moved away 2 months later i figured my crush was gone till i saw him again at 17 the air wooshed out of my lungs seeing him snow boarding at a tourny talk about a woah deal that was it seeing him nearly crash and hurt him self i stood and stared and stared once again tho i disappeared because i figured he forgota ll about me 3 yrs later online i met someone who we began exchanging chats and emails about a week or so later we exchanged pictures and talked on the web cam lo and behold it was my friend and person i now love talk about a stomach twister i was tongue tied and studdering from that day on we have been close ever since now we have two children and are planning on gettin married next april
ty for taken the time to listen to my story
When I read about the moment that you had with your daughter it gave me chills. I recently had the opportunity to watch my 14 year old give a speech in front of 1700 people during her 8th grade commencement. She was so calm and poised and it gave me just a glimpse of the young lady that she is becoming and the woman that she will be one day. It was all I could do not to cry.
Can't wait to read L@FF - sort of reminds me of Sleepless in Seattle when Tom Hanks sees Meg Ryan in the airport and follows her - not knowing who she is.
Hi Marie, I can't wait to get my copy of this book and read it. The story sounds so good.
ROSE G. is the WINNER of Marie's newest release, Love at First Flight!!! Thanks to everyone who responded.
Rose, please send your address to Marie at mforce@cox.net to get your copy of Marie's book!
Thanks to everyone for stopping by and sharing your stories!
I cannot wait for Love at First Flight. My fingers are crossed.
Helen L.
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