Have You Ever Included Real-Life Anecdotes in Your Novels?

I'm not sure if I ever used real-life anecdotes in any of my work, but I probably did. I'd have to re-read those books to confirm, and that's not happening. Generally, if I want to include something embarrassing to the main character, I can easily draw from personal experience.

The other day I was thinking about a nefarious character I once crossed paths with, and I began to wonder whether she'd make a great villain for a story. She's the only person in my life I have a hard time forgiving, even though the last time I saw her was more than 30 years ago. Does everyone have someone like that, or is it just me? I once even looked her up on Facebook to find out what she's up to now, and to my disappointment, she seems to be living a happy life. (But it's Facebook, so who knows? People lie.) 

I suppose if I incorporated her into a story, it would have to be a psychological thriller. 

My other blog (the music one) contains quite a few personal stories, and I'm pretty sure I wrote about this incident there, albeit many years ago. I think I need to look that up. However I wrote it, though, it obviously didn't purge those emotions, or else I wouldn't still be reminded of her from time to time. And here's the thing: I want to be done with it once and for all. 

I'm considering either doing a series of Substack posts or more likely, writing the story here. I supposed I'd need to use a pseudonym for her, so she doesn't sue me for...telling the truth. I know how litigious people can be. She'd probably claim emotional damages, which would be rich, given the circumstances. 

An area ripe for exploration would be the way one person's actions can devastate another person, yet the instigator moves on with their life, serene and oblivious, and never gives their victim a second thought. I'm pretty sure that if someone was to mention my name to this woman today, she'd ask, "Who?" How galling. I'm not even a blip in her memory? 

Have you ever had anyone like that in your life? Did the memory still hit you at random times years later? It must be how PTSD feels. Did you deal with it somehow or keep brushing it aside? 

It's far too early to give away my story, so I'll just say, stay tuned.