Interview with Anastasia Alexander, Author of Loving Mr. Impossible – NewInBooks

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

Years ago, I attended a Tony Robbins event where thousands of us were gearing up to walk barefoot across hot coals. I was terrified and pretty sure I wasn’t going to actually do it. I liked my feet and didn’t want to mess with them. Tony was having us dance, getting us pumped up to walk over hot coals. I am not shy about really going for it on the dance floor, but then I stepped on someone’s purse, and I was down. I ended up crawling out of the room, unable to walk, to be greeted by some local gang members walking by, ready to help me.

So instead of walking barefoot on coals, I did something even scarier and survived the LA ER. When I made it home, I had knee surgery; it was that or no dancing ever.

I did faithfully torturous PT and all those exercises, ice, and crutches. My knee didn’t come fully back, so I ended up in a yoga class. I found a little yoga studio tucked away in the mountains with wood floors, giant windows, pine trees outside, and beautiful yet alignment-insistent teachers. Through those windows, I could watch the pine trees, birds, and sunlight while I practiced. Two years later, my knee had regained full range of motion, and I had developed a passionate love for yoga. I wanted to set my story in a healing center like that one and explore what happens when we don’t listen to both our physical and emotional scars. Then, because I write romantic comedies and apparently can’t leave well enough alone, I added a love potion.

The result became Loving Mr. Impossible—a story about healing, taking chances, and discovering that sometimes the things we think are impossible are closer than we realize.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

This is such a fun question! For my heroine, it is hands-down “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba. She is the ultimate resilient soul—life knocks her down, but she always gets right back up, dusts herself off, and keeps moving. Mr. Impossible is a bit of a twist. He’s a handsome, well-connected video producer who is used to everything going his way. For him, I’d pick “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison.

On the surface, he’s the perfect, flawless rose, but he has his own hidden depths and vulnerabilities. He’s “impossible” to her simply because she can’t hide from him—by his mere presence and the authentic way he lives his life, he gently encourages her to stop hiding and step into her own light.

But if you want their joint anthem, it’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran. Not because anyone is hunting, but because they both share that fierce, high-energy drive to grow their careers and refuse to settle for a mediocre life. Her anthem is about surviving the hits, and his lifestyle is the ultimate inspiration for her to finally shine.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I used to think I read everything—until I married my current husband. He reads really, really old math books to go to sleep, and he has some really boring mechanical books he reads. So nope. I don’t read math or mechanical books, but he does make a strong argument that the history of math is fascinating, so maybe someday. While I write contemporary romance, my reading habits are a bit different.

I absolutely love to read suspense thrillers, though I don’t write them and would never be able to figure out how to plot one. I also always love a good, emotional women’s fiction book. Ironically, I very rarely read romance. The funny thing is, on my book tracker—where I track how many books I read a year to compete against my former year—this year I’ve read almost 50% nonfiction and 50% fiction so far. Who knows how that will affect what I write about next.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have a confession: my TBR pile is a revolving door because I am highly impatient. I will start a book, and if it doesn’t grab me, I will ruthlessly toss it aside. But right now, the books competing for my attention perfectly reflect my 50/50 fiction and nonfiction split.

On the fiction side, I have Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz, and the classic The Master and Margarita. On the nonfiction side, I’m diving into Start with Why by Simon Sinek. We will see which ones actually make it to the finish line on my completed list.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I don’t know if “favorite” is the right word, but the most profound scene to write was Lizzy’s big reveal. It was incredibly emotional for me. I sat at my desk with tears literally pouring down my face as I wrote. It’s the moment where we finally learn why Lizzy is so haunted by the scars she carries and what has really been holding her back from embracing life.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

When I am working on a blog post, a newsletter, or any kind of marketing, I have a very specific routine to get into the zone. First, I go to YouTube and put on some peppy Celtic music to completely sweep me away. Then, I grab my favorite green tea drink and hop into a virtual WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writers Association) co-writing session with other authors. There is something about that combination that completely transports me into the muse of just getting it done.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I strive to listen to my soul, do no harm, and go for it full out to see what is actually possible.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I want readers to walk away realizing that they can live in closer alignment with who they really are and that things truly can get even better.