The question
What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
This morning. I had a typical day: got up early, took the dog for a walk, went to the gym for an hour, then wrote for four hours. That makes me a very happy person.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 December 2015 source ↗
When I had my catheter taken out, thanks for asking.
Happiness is the target one only has to aim at in order to miss.
When my kids were born.
When I was a kid with no responsibilities.
I had the benefit of some very good high school English teachers. One in particular when I was a senior in high school. I was a jock, okay. I was not a student. Although I enjoyed reading, that was about it as far as academics. But she forced us to read good books and good writers, particularly good American writers. We weren’t too thrilled to do it initially, but she taught us how to do it. Through that, I discovered some of my favorite authors, particularly John Steinbeck. Once I had gone through all of Steinbeck’s books, I realized that I had had a wonderful experience.
Drop 20lb and lower my cholesterol.
I don’t care – I won’t be here.
Having a stroke.
When my mom died, on 18 January this year.
Being able to write books that entertain people around the world.
Marian Keyes, Gok Wan, Julia Donaldson, Irvine Welsh, Salman Rushdie, Nora Ephron
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