Many years ago, when Twitter was young, Anna Cowan and I would chat regularly. We would always talk romance fiction, or laugh at some bizarre world event. We didn’t have much of a chance of meeting as we live in cities that are 8 hours away from each other. And then, one day, Sarah from Smart Bitches came to a high tea in Sydney, and Anna surprised a whole lot of tweeps by hopping on a last minute flight to Sydney to join us. SHE FLEW TO SYDNEY TO MEET US!!! HOW CAN I NOT LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!! Suffice to say, we have met up on several occasions since, either when she has been in Sydney or I have been in Melbourne, and our meet ups are always, just absolutely always an absolute scream.

Anna Cowan

diary of a(n accidental) housewife

@annacowan

Can you describe yourself?

Name: Anna Cowan, occupation: Writer, description: Anna is a writer and mum who lives in the hills outside Melbourne. She dreams and watches the weeds overgrow her garden at an alarming rate.

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

I suppose the very honest answer to that is: Subtitles of TV shows on my phone, and some shameful number of hours per week. 12? 15? I am an avid watcher of Korean TV, and when I say avid I really mean addicted. Why are they so good at TV? My attempt to get everyone else in my life addicted too isn’t bearing much fruit, but then no one listened when I told them to read Twilight, either. I look forward to saying I told you so.

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

Harry/Draco fanfiction. Seriously, when done well these two just break my heart in all the best ways.

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

I’m a total sucker for a fake relationship – especially if it’s under contract. For me fated soulmates falls somewhat into this category as well, because there’s an external force working to bring them together faster than their emotions dictate. What I love is the trappings of intimacy separated from the feelings of intimacy, and how the distance between the two just fills up with longing. Really, is there anything better than longing in a romance?

Hmmm no plot lines are immediately occurring to me as a dislike, but I’m not hugely into spies. Unless Jo Bourne is writing them, obviously.

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

OMG public libraries are the best. Just – the best. I will never forget the glee of borrowing ALL THE BOOKS as a kid/teen and bringing the stack home and getting to choose which one to read first. These days I borrow about forty kids’ books to every one adult book, but that is so awesome, too. Going to the library is a great outing with kids, and a stack of new books makes reading new and exciting for them every week. (The only downside is they will invariably love the one terrible book in the lot and make me read it until my brain starts leaking out my ears.)

I also spend three days a week writing at my local library. I can’t write at home because the dishes, and the library is free, bookish and the appropriate level of hush. Libraries are the best.

Do you RUI*. If so, what?

I don’t…think so? Honestly I don’t get much opportunity to be under the influence these days, but I think I’d be more likely to watch TV. Oh, I guess I do read Twitter when drunk.

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

Bed, or lying on the couch. General prone-ness.

Toilet reading: 

    a) Never do it

    b) Only my own books/phone/tablet/ereader

    c) Anything goes – library books, friends books, cornflake packets.

    d) I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

    e) Other _________

I guess b) with a tiny bit of c) if it’s like a stack of magazines or second hand books that are obviously there for the purpose. I saw my first proper (old-school!) porn in a magazine that was casually lying around the toilet of my older brother’s share house.

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

Love it for the swoopy, humming feelings in my tummy when I’m feeling the romance, for the happiness that can fill my whole body when the conclusion hits home.

What would you give up reading for**?

 Nothing? Well, TV.

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

Oh, definitely. And the less he’s bothered by it the more heroic he becomes. (That being said, I could totally go for an arsehole hero who has lost his wealth and status and is cringingly ashamed of his hatchback and maybe becomes an Uber driver and like ends up picking up his old arsehole friends coincidentally.)