Kaetrin is another of my Twitter friends. I don’t know when we first met online but I do know that she has been one of the people who often get caught up in spider and snake discussions with me along with our obigatory romance discussions. We met in real life at the Australian Romance Readers’ Convention in Canberra in 2015 and she is lovely. I stand back in awe of Kaetrin – her reading and writing output is phenomenal. I feel as though every time I look online she has listened or read another book and she is posting reviews here, there, everywhere. And she is a font of knowledge! She remembers titles and always has a recommendation at the ready.

Kaetrin

Blogger and tweeter @ www://kaetrinsmusings.com or https://twitter.com/Kaetrin67

Can you describe yourself?

Reader, blogger, audiobook lover, all about the HEA. Talking about books on Twitter is one of my favourite things to do. Also wife, mother, baker and eater of cake (though not as much as I’d like).

What is your main reading medium (books, blogs, games, news, etc) and how much time do you spend reading a week?

I mainly read books but Twitter does take up a lot of my time – and I read more news since the Trumpocalypse happened. These days I mainly read on my Kobo reader – I read a paperback recently and it was hard work! No backlight, no highlight function, no dictionary and I needed two hands to hold the book while I turn the page instead of swiping with a finger. I hadn’t realised how much I preferred ebooks until then. LOL

Also I’m a keen audiobook and podcast listener so I’m most always reading one way or another – either in my ears or with my eyes.

What or who is your joyful reading (guilty or otherwise) pleasure? 

No guilt here! I read romance and the HEA is always a joyful pleasure. Even when I read (rarely) a sci-fi book or a thriller (even more rare) I am looking for a satisfying ending. If the crime isn’t solved and the villain brought to some form of justice, if the quest isn’t achieved, if the spaceship hasn’t flown off to another adventure, I’m an unhappy Kaetrin. I don’t mind going through some rough times in a book but if the end isn’t optimistic, I’m O. U. T.

Do you have a favourite storyline or plot? And do you have one you will not read?

I am ever and always a sucker for the rescue trope. I suppose it’s not very feminist of me because damsels in distress are a problematic representation – but I do tend to prefer when, in true Pretty Woman style, the heroine rescues the hero right back so maybe that counts?  Allied to that, I love hero in pursuit books. When the hero is ALL. IN. and the heroine isn’t sure? Catnip.

My least favourite trope is the Big Misunderstanding – I want my main characters to be smart. So many times, Big Mis plots rely on the characters not being smart – because a simple conversation would sort everything out. That’s not attractive to me.

On a more personal note, I try to avoid pregnancy loss storylines and I dislike miracle baby epilogues.

Why do you/don’t you use a public library?

I have a library really close to my house (in fact the paperback I read recently was a Lisa Kleypas from the library) so it’s super convenient. Also, since South Australia opened its ebook and audiobook library online, I’ve been using it more and more often. I’m always recommending ebooks for the library to buy – always romance of course!

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

Not really. I’m not a big drinker so it doesn’t really come up. But if I am a bit tipsy I’m more likely to watch tv because focusing on words is too hard!

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

On my couch in the evenings for reading with my eyes. As for audiobooks or podcasts – whenever I’m moving around and can only read with my ears – if I’m driving, cooking, walking, having a shower or doing housework I’m usually listening to something.

Toilet reading: 

Doesn’t everybody read in the loo? (In my defence, I don’t think I’ve borrowed a paper book except from a library in forever. And I wash my hands.)

Romance fiction of the Happily Ever After (not the love tragedy) kind – are you a Lover or a Hater and why?

MUST HAVE HEA. (I include HFN – happy for now – in that as well. If there’s no HEA it’s a wallbanger and I get upset. It doesn’t say “Gimme HEA” in my Twitter bio for nothing!

What would you give up reading for**?

I can’t see myself ever giving up reading. Unless I physically couldn’t, I will always read.

Can a romance/crime/super/etc hero be the driver of a hatchback?

Of course. Quirky works for me just fine. I’m pretty sure Deadpool would be prepared to drive a hatchback.