I am one of the two Kathryns who spells our name with a “y” (clearly the correct way if we own 50% of the Kathryn market share here at Bookly). I currently live in Washington Heights (NYC) with my husband and daughter (soon to add another tiny human!). After years of working in public relations for corporate clients, I left to pursue a new career and am now lucky enough to hold my dream job. I teach a 4s/5s class at a school for children with special needs – primarily language-based learning disabilities. Every day is an adventure and I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my days! When I’m not at school, you can usually find me at one of our favorite neighborhood spots (Fort Tryon Park is our backyard), with family (particularly my husband’s sisters), or friends. When I’m at home, I’m usually reading (mostly baby books right now), catching up on my favorite shows (New Girl, Game of Thrones, to name a few), or just relaxing. We hope you’re enjoying reading with us and we look forward to reading with you in the future!

 

Where do you live and where do you call home?
I live in New York City, and though I have lived there for almost eight years, I still can’t help but say I’m from Ohio! I’m a northeastern Ohio girl at heart, and I guess you’d say I have two “homes” because of that.

How do you make money?
I teach preschool at a school for children with learning differences in New York. This is my second career (the first being public relations), and I love it so much!

Favorite book series
I have a problem with series, because once I start, I cannot stop, even if it’s terrible (case in point: 50 Shades of Gray). Not loving a series, though, is quite rare. At this point, I would say my favorite is Game of Thrones.

What book(s) are you ashamed to have read AND loved?
I have read and loved every book ever written by Nicholas Sparks. I will continue to read, and likely love, every book that Nicholas Sparks ever writes.

Favorite cocktail
There was a delicious cocktail that the other “Kathryn”s and I used to make in college called “The Hills.” It’s orange and grapefruit juice with vodka, Midori, and then topped with champagne. It’s amazing, and meant to be consumed one at a time.

Your favorite book(s)
My all-time favorite book is Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman. Published in the 1940s, the book tells the story of a young girl who moves to Canada for the fresh air to help her lungs. She meets a Canadian mountie and moves to northern Canada with him. Her life is incredibly difficult, she proves her physical and emotional strength time and again, lives a great love story, and, oh yeah, her name is Kathryn Mary. It was the last book my mom read before giving birth to me, and ta-da! I was named after her.

What’s one thing you will never do?
I will never smoke. I have never even held a cigarette in my fingers, and I can say without a doubt that will never change.

What fictional character do you have the biggest crush on?
Jon Snow.

What was the last book you really loved?
I really loved World War Z, though I suspect if I answer this question after I finish the next two books on my list (Yes Please and All the Light We Cannot See) the answer would change.

Is the glass half-empty or half-full?
The glass is always half-full, even when it’s not!