Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hooked on Happiness

Grace Elliot is a veterinarian by day, and author of historical romance by night. Grace loves the personal nature of Terry’s blog and has decided to share with you the things that make her happiest. And she's giving away a book to a lucky commenter, so be sure to read through to the end.

My family make me happy. I’ve been married 22 years this March and have two fabulous sons, who despite being teenagers, still love hugs with their mum (although don’t tell them I told you that!) My boys are chalk and cheese; from artistic Thomas with his nail polish, piercings and tattoo, to John who considers wearing a shirt without a tie to be dressing down. LOL, wouldn’t life be dull if everyone was the same!

Right up there with things that make me happy, are cats. I adore cats for their independent spirits and their gorgeous furry faces. They are a miracle of design! One of my cats, Pilchard, is a beautiful study in whorls and strips, her pattern perfectly symmetrical and more – each hair changes tone from root to tip. I could spend hours studying her! I’m a cat-a-holic and share the house with five moggies, each with their own foibles; from Widget with her TV watching habit to Gromit waiting on the street corner to welcome me home from work.



The Isle of Wight makes me happy. It’s a bolt hole, a retreat from the pressures of life. There’s something distancing about the ferry crossing the Solent that means you leave worry behind. On the Island there are breathtaking walks by the shore and no matter what the weather the sea has a beauty of its own, a magic that puts things in proportion.



Books! Reading make me happy. Stacks of books hide the walls, adding an extra layer of insulation to the house, although now I have a Kindle perhaps the wall paper might become visible once again- given time and the clearance of a substantial TBR pile!

Writing makes me happy. During the day I work as a veterinarian and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a vet, and yet my dream job can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be draining, at times, when you have to release an animal from suffering, and as an antidote I turned to writing.

This makes me happy because it gives vent to my creative side, and within minutes of settling at the keyboard my imagination takes wing and I’m off; galloping across Regency England or dancing at a ball with silk skirts tangling round my legs.



To find out more about Grace, visit: http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com
A DEAD MAN'S DEBT available from most eBook stores, Amazon Kindle and Solstice Publishing.


Grace is offering one eBook copy of A DEAD MAN'S DEBT – winner to be drawn from those who leave a comment. You'll have to check back to see if you've won. Winners announced on Friday. Good luck!

7 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Terry and Grace .. sounds an ideal life - doing something you love, where you love, with whom you love .. and releasing the strain with Regency novels - an ideal palate I reckon .. good to meet you from another Englander a 100 miles or so to the East - cheers Hilary

Grace Elliot said...

Hi Hilary, thanks for stopping by. Good luck with the prize draw.
Grace x
http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com

Lisa Lawrence said...

I can't wait to read this book! I don't have a Kindle so I don't think I can do the e-book, but I'll be FIRST in line for the hard copy! :)

Lisa

Jenyfer Matthews said...

I'd like to be on the Isle of Wight right now with a cat and a good book...and maybe some wine :)

Grace Elliot said...

Thanks Lisa x

Does sound good, doesnt it Jenyfer? Sigh x

Maryannwrites said...

Enjoyed the post very much. I'm a cat lover, too, and wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger. I did work as a vet tech many moons ago and loved it. And you are right about those heart-wrenching moments when you have to put an animal down. I remember every one I did.

Patricia Stoltey said...

I've never been to the Isle of Wight, but all the rest of these things make me happy, too, especially since we just adopted a kitten. I now think all writers should have at least one cat.