As fun as it is to learn about books and stories and authors, I think it’s equally as fun and interesting to learn about my fellow readers and those wonderful folks who follow Girl with Book Lungs here or on Facebook. So I invite you to take a few moments and Meet Your Reader.

Your name: Kathleen J. Kaminski, but I go by Kathy. I am also known as Katreader and I’m the Kathy behind the cozy mystery blog, Cozy Up With Kathy.

Where you are: Western New York  (And no, that’s nowhere near New York City!)

Currently reading: An advanced reader’s copy of Fudging the Books by Daryl Wood Gerber

Your first reading  memory: I have always been a reader. Both of my parents are readers and my dad managed a college bookstore. People were always reading to me and once I learned how to read, I never stopped! I remember always checking out a large brown picture book about a dragon from the school library. I wish I knew the title. I read all sorts of books and still have favorites from when I was a kid. I was reading Kazantzakis when I was still in grammar school and Steinbeck was my  high school favorite.

Some of your favorite authors: John Steinbeck, Yukio Mishima, Elizabeth Peters, Darynda Jones, and many current cozy authors.

Some of your favorite titles: My reading focus has been cozy mysteries for quite some time, and generally I read cozy mysteries. Instead of titles I’ll give you some of my favorite series in no particular order (and please know that I’m leaving out tons of fantastic series and authors I love!) The Witchcraft Mystery series by Juliet Blackwell, The Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle, The Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery series by Gigi Pandian, The Comfort Food Mystery series by Christine Wenger, the Hat Shop Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay, the Chef Maurice Mystery series by J.A. Lang, and the Merry Muffin Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton. And many, many, many more!

An author (dead or alive) who you would most like to meet: Yukio Mishima. He was such a fascinating man. I wrote my undergraduate dissertation about him. (Beauty and Evil as Found in the Noh Plays of Yukio Mishima). I was so immersed in him, he (or my subconscious disguised as him) came to me in a dream and gave me guidance.

How do you pick what to read next: If I have a book that I need to review, that goes to the top of the list. I also read in order of when the review is due if I have more than one upcoming review. There are so many books I want to read, I just don’t have enough time! I try to catch up in cozy series with which I’ve fallen behind…especially if there’s a new release coming out.

Anything else you’d like to share: Born in WNY I spend a year in Cleveland, OH and 10 in Austin, TX before returning to live in WNY. I have had an interesting life career wise. I started working in theatre, and, several unique and varied jobs later, eventually became a police officer. My undergraduate degree is a BFA in theatre with a minor in psychology. Several years later I got my master’s degree in human services, and I now work on the forensic unit of a psychiatric hospital. In addition, I write my cozy mystery blog, Cozy Up With Kathy, and sell home fragrance products as an Independent Consultant with Pink Zebra.

I have a house full of furkids. At the moment I share my life with 4 cats (Aleister, Calumet, Licorice, and Mariusz), 5 rats (Eros, Eccleston,TARDIS, Strax, and Alfie), and an OTTB (Harley who raced under the name Bad to the Bone) who I board.

In addition to reading, I have a myriad of interests including opera (I even run an opera group with my forensic patients), Utopian societies of the mid 19th century, and I’m currently learning the gong fu style of making tea. I’m also working with author Beverly Allen to form a local chapter of Sisters in Crime. There aren’t enough hours in the day!

Thanks for having me here. It’s been fun!

Wow, Kathleen! You are a fascinating guest! Thanks very much for being here.