I love to make people happy.  I also like to find out exactly how to do it.  So when I decided to give away a beach bag filled with goodies from my major characters in Happiness Key, I asked you to comment on any blog with “Happiness” in the title and let me know what makes you happy. 

I received nearly two hundred terrific responses.  Some comments brought tears to my eyes, because it seems bursts of happiness and gratitude can sometimes come in the midst of tragedy.  Of course some comments made me laugh, since a good sense of humor seems to be a prerequisite for visitors to this site.  I noted themes emerging and so your answers were tabulated to share in another blog. Stay tuned.

Now it gives me great pleasure to tell you that in a random drawing of all commenters who entered, Patricia, of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania won the beach bag and all its contents. 

Here’s what Patricia said in her comment:  “Being with my husband and our good friends makes me very happy. Other happiness bringers include reading, photography, crafts/sewing, walking, swimming — in short, life is good.”

And of all the themes, that last was the one I took away from your wonderful responses.  “Life is good,” really summed it up, even, for some of you in the midst of difficult situations.

Mary, of Fort Mill, South Carolina won a follow-up prize of a signed copy of Happiness Key and a pewter Happiness Key chain.  Mary said: “What makes me happy is having a good book to read and when I finish to have a quilt to work on. Also, traveling with my husband to “parts unknown” in our camper, spending time with granddaughter and daughter.” 

Mary’s comment very much mirrored others, with books, crafts, family, and travel high on the happiness list.  I couldn’t agree more–and I was glad to see a quilter among the winners.

We have another follow-up winner, who has not yet responded.  So be sure to check your email, just in case. 

Next up, winners of the Facebook contest, to find which Happiness Key character you were most like.  I’ll post that next time, but we’ve sent emails to the winners.  “Alice” and “Wanda” have yet to respond.  Again, check email, just in case.

This was so much fun.  Thanks to all of you for responding with such enthusiasm.  I feel like a winner myself.  After all, I’m the one who read every single comment. 

Remember the popular movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan?  Well, I don’t.  At least not much, just two things, really.  One, Field of Dreams was a baseball movie, and while I enjoyed Little League games when my sons were younger, then Cleveland Indian’s games when I lived in Ohio, I prefer my baseball in real life, not on the big screen.

The second thing I remember is: “If you build it, he will come.”  The phrase was catchy enough to enter our lexicon, and now we pull it out from time to time when it suits us, although often changing it slightly to serve our purposes.

Apparently “If we build it, they will come,” is the Facebook motto.  Because Facebook is supremely fond of building ”applications” to enhance the pleasures of their members, sell more ads, and generally assume worldwide control of cognitive functioning. 

I actually love my Facebook page, and love the generous wealth of applications, as well.  I’ve only just begun to explore the possibilities.  But last week, my assistant and I couldn’t resist trying the quiz application. 

The result is a new quiz titled: Which Happiness Key Character Are You Most Like? 

Here’s the fun part.  All you have to do is answer eight questions–and the quiz is multiple choice with no wrong answers–then Facebook will determine which character you most resemble, and as a thank you, send you a description of the character along with a color photograph. 

But the fun never stops around here.  In addition to finding out a bit more about the novel, if you take the quiz and email me your result, then you’ll be entered in a giveaway.  In early October we’ll do a drawing for each character, and the winner in each category will receive an autographed copy of Happiness Key, plus a key lime pie candle in a glass lidded jar. 

So find out if you’re most like Tracy, Wanda, Janya or Alice.  And if you don’t want to take the quiz on Facebook, email me and I’ll make sure you get a copy.  It won’t be quite as cool, but it will get the job done.

Oh, did you notice that the subject line of this blog has “Happiness” in it?  That means you can comment on this blog entry to enter the other contest for Happiness Key, all details on my contest page.  I told you the fun never stops.  Now, do you believe me?