Hillary E. Peak
Hillary Peak is a recovering idealist. She became a lawyer to change the world and is still somewhat shocked that didn't occur. Now, her goal is to retire from practicing law and write novels that people love. She is currently a practicing attorney in the District of Columbia. She lives with her family in Alexandria, VA.
About Hillary E. Peak
Who is Hillary E. Peak?
Describe yourself in 5 words: Recovering idealist, lawyer, aspiring author
What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a book? Most of my jobs ended up in my first novel, Cappuccino is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction. In fact, I started writing because I quit a crazy job after two days. People would have tears rolling down their cheeks when I told them about it. I figured I'd write in down and send it into Reader's Digest -- instead, I wrote a novel.
If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be? Do something you love. You spend WAY too much time working to not enjoy it.
What do you enjoy most about life? I love to have fun. My mother once told me that wasn't what life was about, but I find that it is the only thing really. I love hanging out with my husband and our two year old. The joy she finds in things makes me so happy.
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? I don't want to know the future, so definitely the past.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? "A Search for Happiness."
What is one book everyone should read? The Great Gatsby -- it has so many levels.
One food you would never eat? Brains of any sort -- I think of this because it is the first thing Julia Child thought to try to make.
Comment on the writing versus publication process, in your experience: Writing is fun. Publishing and promoting is not -- it is HARD, HARD work!
What is your definition of "good writing"? Something I can't wait to get home to read. Anything where I'm thinking about it later.
Favorite place? England
Best Christmas present? I had my daughter 5 days after Christmas, so I consider her my present.
Favorite book? Harry Potter (I think the Sorcerer's Stone is my very favorite)
Favorite author? Too many. I love books.
Favorite smell? Hot chocolate
Favorite series? TV -- Vampire Diaries. Book -- The Hunger Games
Nickname? None
Favorite writing spot? My desk
Favorite movie? Meet Joe Black
Favorite dish? Sushi
Favorite color? Red
Favorite quote? "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." (Scarlett O'Hara)
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Caramel
Your best trait? I love to have fun.
Your worst trait? I'm very impatient.
I love pizza with mushrooms and olives
I'm always ready for shopping.
When I'm alone, I read.
You'd never be able to tell, but I played the piano really well at one time (i.e. I played Beethoven's Fifth Symphony for a recital).
If I had a halo it would be slightly tarnished .
If I could do anything, I'd go on Dancing with the Stars!
I can never relax because I'm constantly thinking about what else I need to do.
Books by Hillary E. Peak
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction — cover story serial fiction employment
Hillary Peak is a recovering idealist. She became a lawyer to change the world and is still somewhat shocked that didn't occur. Now, her goal is to retire from practicing law and write novels that people love. She is currently a practicing attorney in the District of Columbia. She lives with her family in Alexandria, VA.
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 2 — serial fiction employment
Sure, the job market is tight, but there's a great big world out there -- the perfect job is just hanging out, waiting for its perfect match to come ambling along ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 3 — serial fiction employment
Don't, don't, don't. Nothing like a boss who looks for reasons to say that word!
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 4 — serial fiction employment
Wasn't this supposed to be a job? How did it become a prison sentence?
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 5 — serial fiction employment
Sitting around doing nothing for an insane boss was horrible. Working hard and doing a good job -- this next job is just great by comparison!
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 6 — serial fiction employment
Success is wonderful, but does the job have to drive you nuts in the meantime?
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 7 — serial fiction employment
When you know you have been doing a good job, it's a bit insulting to find out that your boss didn't actually care about the work ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 8 — serial fiction employment
When the job market is so tight you can hear the "Help Wanted" ads squeak, almost any job will do ... and shopping is such fun, even when it's other people's shopping ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 9 — serial fiction employment
Back in the legal saddle, Jessica must bring her organizational skills to bear to keep up with a huge work load, and in the process learn what it means to be so very different from her co-workers ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 10 — serial fiction employment
A job can be hard work, a job can be frustrating, but when it becomes heartbreak after heartbreak, what is the solution?
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 11 — serial fiction employment
Simply the perfect job -- interesting work, wonderful co-workers, fun times ... wait, is that something on the horizon, or a trick of the eye?
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 12 — serial fiction employment
When the dream job starts to become a nightmare, what can you do? It's not like you can wake up from life itself ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 13 — serial fiction employment
If Jessica thought her last boss turned out to be a boob, wait until she sees her new boss's decor ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 14 — serial fiction employment
It was almost like a movie -- "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" would have made a great title, but the fact is, there just wasn't anything "Good" about it...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 15 — serial fiction employment
In theory, teaching is fulfilling, uplifting, and essential to human civilization. And in practice ...?
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 16 — serial fiction employment
People who go on and on about the destination being less important than the journey obviously haven't had a frustrating search for a decent job ...
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Cappuccino Is the Answer for Job Dissatisfaction 17 — serial fiction employment
Conclusion. Jessica knows that every job she has tried has given her one thing that was good -- and those new friends are still there for her.