About Viv Hamilton

Let’s start with my first name, Vivienne. It’s the French spelling, however, most people refer to me as Viv, the palindrome version.

I was born in the UK and raised in Australia. I also have a bunch of relatives in the US and have traveled back and forth to both countries, and many others, over the years.

I’m a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister, a girlfriend a…cough splutter…young grandma and I’m a tad obsessive about every one of my womanly roles. The latter is the reason I write women’s fiction, as well as my love for exploring their humanity, emotions, strengths and vulnerabilities.

I’ve worked as a waitress, a data processor, receptionist, a professional singer and a band manager.  I’ve sung to an empty room and bar staff one night and in front of over 20,000 screaming punters the next. I’ve happily served food to friendly patrons and regularly shed tears, standing at a sink, surrounded by towering stacks of greasy plates. I’ve had my heart broken, only to end up marrying the real love of my life. I understand life’s failures, successes, grief and sadness, euphoria, disappointments and blessings.

I consider myself a positive, happy and fortunate soul.

Before my mother passed away, I asked her where do we find peace and how do we know what our true passion and purpose is in life. Without any hesitation she said, “Vivienne, look to your childhood, that time before life got in the way. What made you happiest? Answer that question and you will find your peace and your purpose.”  There were also many times my mother would say, “Vivienne, you need to write books.” 

I grew up with my nose firmly wedged inside the pages of a book. I was the child sitting in class staring out of a window, eyes glazed…daydreaming. I remember a time when my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Wilson, mouthed the last line of my short story. He looked up at me, frowned, smiled, then scribbled a mark at the top of the page. The last line read…The little girl stepped forward, careful not to crush the yellow peopled grass beneath her feet, careful not to leave a trace of her existence. It’s the only part of the story I remember, that and the A+ he gave me. Oh! I also remember how good looking Mr. Wilson was and the enormous school girl crush I had on him.

Finally, in 2012, I became driven and determined to follow my real passion…writing. The final edit was finished in early 2016. Due to life changing circumstances, it was no longer possible for me to wait for that elusive, traditional publishing deal. Gracie’s Girls is now launched and self published. Read on to find out why…

Below is an update pasted from the ‘Author’s Note’ that appears in Gracie’s Girls which is available at Create Space.

Author’s Note

I believe the writing of Gracie’s Girls was the universe’s way of helping my family and myself to deal with what turned out to be a classic example of ‘life mimicking art’.
When I first started plotting and outlining in 2012, I had no idea Gracie’s predicament would become my own – a woman in her 50’s being given a terminal diagnosis and her desperation not to leave her loved ones.

Losing my mom to a terminal illness in 1998 had a profound effect on myself and all who knew her and, like my main character, Grace, it happened at a time when her family needed her the most.

Gracie’s Girls is intended to be the first in a three part series. It remains to be seen if Book Two – Katie’s Gift and Book Three – Sophie’s Legacy are written. The latter, like many things, will be largely out of my control. Still, I’ll keep writing while there is breath in my body and if I finish them, great, if not, at least I will have died doing what I love and what makes me happy.

Many of my life’s lessons and the influences of the people I’ve surrounded myself with, are steeped inside the pages of this book. I believe Gracie’s Girls holds important messages about happiness, acceptance and the possibilities both here and beyond.

I started out wanting to write a book that was entertaining, a page turner that would make you laugh and cry. I hope I’ve achieved that and more. It is, indeed, my legacy to family, friends and readers and a reminder to all of us that ‘anything is possible’.