Ask Me About My Interests!

Interviewing can be awkward, uncomfortable and generally a burden for those on either side of the table, but I’ve found when a group of designers have special interests to chat about, it enlivens the conversation, and, dare I say it, even becomes … fun!

So, let’s get to it! What are some of my favorite things? What are some of my hobbies? What gives me goosebumps and shivers down my spine?

The written word

I’m an avid writer and reader. Before she passed and for many, many years, my grandmother told me my calling was to write. I’ve since written for games, but that’s not been my focus, as I’m a generalist at my core, and my passion is leadership.

What do I like to write?

I wrote a couple of screenplays in college, but I mostly write fiction, and I’ll say “heightened non-fiction” about my life where details are a bit embellished. Memories are fleeting and sometimes you need to fill in the details. I used to love poetry and have a huge collection, and I hope to share some of these poems within this blog, as well as stories I wrote long ago. I also enjoy posting musings on blogs, social media, and journaling. I’d love to publish a work one day, and have entered several writing contests along the way, but unfortunately have yet to win because my fiction and poetry tends to be a bit … dark.

What do I like to read?

My favorite author of all time is probably Chuck Palahniuk, although I don’t know if I could marathon all his books now-a-days. I just finished the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas and enjoyed it quite a bit (especially A Court of Silver Flames). I enjoy game design books, leadership books, and plenty of non-fiction to help me be a better designer and person. I plan to re-read the Game of Thrones series soon, as I’ve only ever made it through the third book. Some other books I’ve read this year are The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, Fairy Tale by Stephen King, User Story Mapping by Jeff Patton, The Shining by Stephen King, and Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. Please recommend your favorite books to me! Fiction or nonfiction!

Toy Collecting

As a shy child I often felt alone. I’d sit in my windowsill and wish the Care Bears would come rescue me from my loneliness. I’ve always been that kind of gal. Wanting to believe there’s magic in the world. Thus started my life-long obsession with Care Bears and toy collecting.

What do I collect?

I collect Care Bears, the plush kind mainly. My favorites (as I’m often asked) are Cheer Bear and Grumpy Bear, and for the cousins, I always loved Brave Heart Lion. Such a fearless leader with an epic roar!

I’m also a huge My Little Pony fan and Escape from Midnight Castle (the first episode of MLP) probably set me up to love D&D, roleplaying games and all things fantasy. I kept a lot of the ponies from my youth, all in a variety of conditions, but almost every single one has that nasty tail rust (if you know, you know). Banking on nostalgia, Basic Fun put out a line for the 35th and 40th anniversary and I have tried to collect all of them. I will not share how much I have paid for a single pony because it’s embarrassing.

I fell in love with Cutie Reveal Barbies this holiday season, and so now I’m collecting Barbies again. I’ve always been a Barbie collector and have some of the Star Wars collection. I have most, if not all, of the Barbie the Movie collection and the box design is A++.

I have a fondness for owls and people used to give me owl things as gifts, so I have an immense owl collection.

Fashion

I need a new closet stat!

If you’ve met me, you know I have a unique sense of fashion. My partner says I like to make people stare, but I honestly wear what I like and don’t really care what people think. I believe that’s how fashion should be. Each person should be allowed to have their own unique style.

What are your favorite brands?

I love Dolls Kill (mainly for the collabs), Selkie, Teddy Fresh, Moschino (although I own none, I do have some Jeremy Scott Adidas items), By Samii Ryan (for the sweats …), Di$count Universe (RIP?), Blackmilk Clothing, and anything that is funky … I could go on and on listing brands. I also occasionally make my own clothing or upcycle things and remake them. Thrifting is also a super fun pastime!

Radio/Television/Film

I am an RTF major with a theater minor, so therefore, I must love music and cinema, right!

Music

I’ve been a fan of punk rock music since I was in middle school, and all sorts of alternative and metal. I love NOFX, NIN, The Dollheads, The Toadies (shout-out to Fort Worth), MXPX, but I’ve been on a musical hiatus a bit since my grandmother passed. Music for me brings forth great swells of emotion, and I’ve found myself lately listening to game soundtracks of LoFi Medieval Beats.

Television

I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan and, yes, I also watch House of the Dragon. I love old school Care Bears, My Little Pony, Jem and the Holograms, and many, many more cartoons from the ‘80s and ‘90s. I have an embarrassing reality TV obsession and can talk to people for hours about Vanderpump Rules and no one has a clue what I’m talking about. I’m sitting here wearing a “One shot away from tequila Katie” shirt and I almost lost it when I got to go to Vanderpump Cocktail Garden in Vegas recently. The cocktails are amazing!

I also got sucked into Summer House from Vanderpump Rules, have been watching Real Housewives … forever, and love Rupaul’s Drag Race and have watched every season and some of the international seasons.

Trixie Mattel and Katya are amongst my favorite queens and if I’m ever feeling sad or need a background show, I put on their YouTube channels or “UNHhh”.

I’ve gotten back into Anime recently and am watching Fruits Basket on Netflix. I didn’t want to until I read all the manga, but I have no money to buy them, and nothing to watch … so I’m watching it.

I watch far too much TV to the point where I’m bored of it currently!

Movies

My favorite movie of all time is probably Clueless. Since it came out, I’ve watched it to help me get to sleep, when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m lonely. It’s like that best friend that comes over to snuggle and make you feel better. I also love Mean Girls, Showgirls (I know … it’s camp … and so deliciously good), American Psycho, The Barbie Movie, and my all-time favorite, “I’m sad” movie is Rules of Attraction.

I could also go on and on about movies. I’m a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, and love old Hollywood cinema, and early Italian cinema.

Yes, I did go to film school!

Games! I almost forgot games!

My favorite game of all time is Final Fantasy VII, the original version. I do like the remake, but FF7 will always have my heart. I love The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but I’m horribly bad at it, Baldur’s Gate OG, Baldur’s Gate 3, and ESPN Extreme Games, if you know what it is, will always have a happy spot in my heart.

I’m currently playing Baldur’s Gate 3, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Persona 3 Reloaded, The Sims 4, Little Kitty, Big City, Palworld, and I play PopSlots to get MyVegas points and to relax before bed sometimes when I don’t want to read.

Other games I’d love to discuss: Another World, Jumping Flash, Doki Doki Literature Club, Life is Strange: True Colors, WoW, Diablo 4, E.T. the Extraterrestrial (on Atari), Wizard101, Pirate101, NBA 2K (thoughts on all these are welcome, even though I worked on them, I love feedback). If not listed, mention it! I might know it. I know some strange games!

So, what do I like to do for fun? What are my hobbies?

Living in Texas, in the summer, you can find me in my own pool, my friend’s pool, tubing or on the lake …

I love a good morning walk, yoga, and some occasional weight training. I’m always striving to be fitter and eat healthier, to always feel my best and most confident.

I used to enjoy hanging out at the breweries in my neighborhood, but many have closed, and it’s not the same, and given my age, drinking is no longer my favorite pastime. Waking up with a headache the next day after one beer is peak 40s. I still do enjoy the occasional beer, wine, or cocktail, especially when trying out new places around town.

I love to draw, doodle, and paint. I love to call my creations “slightly off” because they all have a unique signature charm and never look quite like my reference. It’s endearing to those I gift them to, and if you own one, you’re likely to have a Katie original (I’ve never done prints … but may soon!).

I like picking up random crafting and never quite committing. The longest running crafting I’ve done is sewing. Recently I picked up jewelry making and beading and had several of my pieces fall apart in Vegas. I need more practice!

If I could travel and write/YouTube about my travels, I would. I was lucky enough to take two trips to Vegas recently. One for Punk Rock Bowling and the other to celebrate my friend’s daughter turning 21. I love the Caribbean, but Ireland is so beautiful, and I hope one day to travel to New Zealand and maybe Japan!

What else … there’s gotta be more, right?

These are just my dialed in interests and a jumping off point. I believe in soaking up as much life experience as possible and if it’s not listed, that doesn’t mean I don’t know about it, or I don’t want to learn about it. I almost always write down game suggestions, or other suggestions I get in interviews to go explore.

My favorite thing recently is being able to talk to almost anyone about Baldur’s Gate 3. When people have something collectively in common, it makes us less nervous and apprehensive. It makes us giddy and excited to share our own experiences.

In sharing the above, I hope I’m now more approachable. That there’s more of a human connection and if we meet we can have a great time discussing our varied interests!