Reader Interview: Carey

Today I’m interviewing Carey S. from Texas. She has the most wonderful heart!

Lexi: How did you get into reading romance novels?

Carey: My grandmother used to read them, and I was interested from that. Then I got older and found some on my own. Now I’m a voracious reader, often reading 5 books per week. I read many different genres, and romance and romantic suspense are two of my favorites. 

Lexi: Wow, that’s a lot of books! Tell me about your pet.

Carey: I have a 16-year-old Collie/Eskimo mix that I rescued from the pound. He is an awesome dog and I know he won’t be around forever, but he has been such a gift to our family. 

Lexi: Oh, I bet he’s beautiful! What are you good at?

Carey: I’m good at reading, taking photos, camping, writing, traveling, listening, encouraging, smiling, finding joy in life, and exercising. 

Lexi: If you could name a character in a romance novel, what would you name him or her? Why?

Carey: Gevi Jon because way back in 1975, a teen magazine I subscribed to, put together pen pals for the bicentennial. I was given a pen pal from Michigan (I lived in Louisiana at the time). We wrote letters to each other for a couple of years, but never met. However, she said that if she ever had a boy, she would name him Gevi Jon, and for some reason, I’ve never forgotten that name. I’ve also never heard of anyone named with that name, but it always seemed so unique and interesting. 

Lexi: That is interesting. What makes you happy?

Carey: Simple things: a soft blanket when it’s cold; warm tea; listening to ocean waves rolling in; good friends; singing by a campfire; hugs; laughter; healthy, delicious food; being loved; feeling accepted; getting letters; unexpected surprises; being grateful;  helping to make something better.

Lexi: Tell me about your significant other.

Carey: My hubby is named Thomas. We’ve been married for 27 years. He is my best friend and we love to laugh together. He can fix nearly anything and is one of the smartest people I know. He loves to learn new things. He made it all the way to the astronaut interview selection portion (top 50 out of 8,000-10,000 total applicants) twice but was never chosen to become an astronaut. He’s an all-around good guy. He’s a scientist by training, but recently retired and is writing a book.

Lexi: Wow! Good for him! You are a lucky lady. What’s your favorite dessert?

Carey: German Chocolate Cake

Lexi:  What types of romances do you like to read?

Carey: Comedy, suspense, contemporary, and paranormal are 4 of my favorite types of romances. 

Lexi: What are you proud of?

Carey: That I’ve done some things to make the world around me just a little bit better. I started a science lab at our elementary school; I helped create a literacy lab at our elementary school; and I coordinated the effort of building a park in our neighborhood. 

Lexi: Those are fantastic accomplishments! You should be proud! What’s your perfect day look like?

Carey: My perfect day would be waking up in a camper or tent parked in a beautiful location where the air smelled clean and I could smell the forest around me. There would be a gurgling stream nearby and the temperature would be cool and crisp but not too cold. I would have a hot breakfast, then go hiking someplace beautiful and take lots of pictures. I would be with people I love, and the sky would be blue and clear. After hiking, picnicking, and enjoying our time outside, we would make dinner together and then tell stories and sing around a campfire until we got tired and then go to sleep. 

Lexi: You describe it perfectly. How many hours a week do you spend reading romance?

Carey: As many as I can! Some weeks are busier than others. On busy weeks, I read before bed. On non-busy weeks, I read whenever I can. 

Lexi: Who made the biggest impact on your life?

Carey: My dad and my best friend in college. My dad is a gentle soul who treats everyone with dignity and respect. He doesn’t talk a lot, but what he says has gravitas, and really matters. 

My best friend in college was Fran, and we communicated so well that we could almost read each other’s minds! I always know when I’d get a letter from her or when she was gonna call or when she wasn’t feeling good. We went to different colleges that were 2 hours apart. I vowed that I wouldn’t marry anyone unless I could communicate with them the way Fran and I communicated. So I held out until I met Tom as a 27-year-old, and it was the best decision!

Lexi: If you could go on an all-expense paid vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

Carey: I’d go to New Zealand, with stops in Alaska, Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Greece, Micronesia, and Australia, along the way. It would have to be an around-the-world trip, as many of those places are far from each other. 

Lexi: LOL I like the way you think. How many books do have in your “To Be Read” pile (means you’ve bought them but still need to read)?

Carey: Probably over 200! But since I read over 200 books a year, I’m chipping away at them little by little. 

Lexi: If you could give someone what they wanted most, what and who would it be?

Carey: I would find a cure for depression to help everyone who suffers from it. It is very real and very misunderstood and it seems to be getting more common among people in their early 20’s. I find that very sad. 

Lexi: I agree. How many romance authors are on your auto-buy list?

Carey: Probably about 10. When I find an author I love, I read everything that they write. I do a combination of buying books, buying kindle versions, getting books from KU, getting them using my Audible subscription, and borrowing them from the library. 

Lexi: What kind of car do you drive? If you had your choice, would it be that one or a different one?

Carey: I drive a Honda mini-van (3 kids—2 still at home). If I had an unlimited budget, I’d love to drive a Tesla! 

Lexi: How many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren all total do you have?

Carey: We have 3 kids: one is independent; one is still in college; and one is in high school. 

Lexi: Oh, empty nest is around the corner. What do you do for fun (besides reading romance novels)?

Carey: I spend time with people I care about; I learn new things; I take photos; I travel and camp; I cook; I write; I find things that I’m passionate about and donate my time to them. 

Lexi: That’s great! What did you think you’d be when you grew up?

Carey: An interior decorator or a DJ. Ha!

Lexi: That’s quite a pair of careers! What don’t most people on social media not know about you?

Carey: I’m an ambivert: I have some extrovert tendencies, but I also crave silence and need to ‘recharge’ my ‘batteries’ at times.

Lexi: What’s your favorite holiday? Why?

Carey: Thanksgiving because I believe gratitude is super-important, and it’s all about family, friends, and memories. 

Lexi: What mistake have you made that you learned the most from?

Carey: That my perception isn’t always the whole picture. 

Lexi: I can relate. What color eyes do you have?

Carey: Brown

Lexi: How old do you think is perfect for a hero

Carey: Since I’m getting older (although I’m still in my late 20’s in my mind!), I like flawed heroes who are in their 40’s and even 50’s.

Lexi: What are you afraid of?

Carey: Bees and wasps. 

Lexi: What are some of your favorite movies?

Carey: Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter. The Wizard of Oz. The Color Purple. Fried Green Tomatoes. Out of Africa. Twelve Angry Men. 

Lexi:  Oh, good ones! Okay, time for the quickies. Dark-haired hero or light-haired?  

Carey: Dark

Lexi: Vanilla or chocolate? Carey: Chocolate

Lexi: Hot and spicy or sweet and chaste?  

Carey: Hot and spicy

Lexi: Spicy food or not spicy?  

Carey: Spicy (I put cayenne pepper in my smoothie!)

Lexi: Beard or no beard?  

Carey: Beard-if it is neat, not scruffy.

Lexi: Hot weather or cold? 

Carey: Cold

Lexi: Chest hair or no chest hair?  

Carey: Chest hair

Lexi: Morning person or night person?  

Carey: Morning

Lexi: Rich hero or blue-collar hero?  

Carey: Both

Lexi: Coffee or tea? Carey: Tea

Lexi: Beach or mountains? Carey: Mountains

Lexi: Cats or dogs? Carey: Dogs

Lexi: Hero with long hair or short? Carey: Short

Lexi: Rent or own? Carey: Own

Lexi: Working or retired? Carey: Retired

Lexi: Blonde heroine or brunette? Carey: Redhead

Lexi: City or town? Carey: Out in nature

Lexi: Cook or eat out? Carey: Cook

Lexi: Tattoos or no tattoos? Carey: None

Lexi: Pajamas or naked? Carey: Pj’s now; before children—naked

Lexi: Thank you for chatting with me, Carey. It was a pleasure to learn more about you 💗