L.A. Confidential author James Ellroy explains how he found happiness at 71

"It’s poignant in that this isn’t forever there. This wild ride that we know as life."

This week on Ireland Unfiltered Dion Fanning was joined by L.A. Confidential author James Ellroy. From discovering alcohol at a young age to the tragic murder of his mother, Ellroy's life has been as dramatic and eventful as the novels he has written. The pair discussed God, coping with his mother's death, and how he found freedom from the misery. But Ellroy also explained how he has finally found happiness after 71 years of searching.

"I’m happy in my core, you know? I’m God’s child. I should’ve been dead in a gutter a long, long time ago. I’ve always believed, I’m a native believer. I was born to believe, I was born to carry the cross. It’s just the case. It’s just what I am."

Ellroy, whose mother was murdered when he was just 10-years-old, told Dion that making peace with himself and his acceptance of the belief that life is only temporary has been the key to finding happiness at his age. He explained: "This is the best time of my life, I swear. I’m seventy-one and I feel great. I've got ten tonnes of energy. It’s poignant in that this isn’t forever there. This wild ride that we know as life. But c'est la guerre, so be it. Nobody gets out of here alive. And I’ve made peace with myself and in a great many ways." The turning point for him was removing alcohol and drugs from his lifestyle and it was the catalyst to his happiness. "Way back when, I had to quit drinking and using drugs. That’s a very good idea if you’re an alcoholic and drug addict like me. It is very sound advice. And that’s the bottom line there. You’re not going anywhere worth a shit until you’ve got that in check." You can check out the full episode on what Ellroy had to say below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTroJgHnVug Ireland Unfiltered, brought to you in partnership with Carlsberg Unfiltered, will be available everywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube every Tuesday.