Meet Kaitlyn!

1. Cradle Catholic, Convert or Revert?

I’m a somewhat recent convert, actually! My husband and I were both raised in Protestant families and we converted together after our first daughter was born -- so a little more than 5 years ago.

2. You recently suffered a miscarriage. I am so sorry.  Could you tell us what has helped you cope with this loss?

Thank you so much. It feels so bleak to say, but the way grief weighs on you after the loss of a child is so heavy, and for a long time there wasn’t anything I could really do to help myself cope. It’s been over a month now, and the days have become easier -- but this isn’t the kind of pain that will ever leave me. That being said, there were a few things that carried me through. First, whenever I was able to leave the kids with my husband, I would run to our parish’s perpetual Adoration chapel. It felt, to me, like running to the emergency room when everything is crashing down. I also feel like reading Tolkien helped a lot because grief is one of the primary themes of his work and so seeing his understanding of it, and his depiction of hope amidst grief, was encouraging. I also don’t know what I would’ve done without my husband’s help, my mom friends locally, and the prayers of the Catholic Twitter community online. Just knowing I wasn’t going through this alone, that my baby was known and grieved over, that I was prayed for and taken care of -- these small things helped more than I think people could imagine.

3.When did you first discover J.R.R. Tolkien and was it love at first hobbit?

I’ll admit that my first introduction to Tolkien was one of the Lord of the Rings movies! One of my dad’s friends had given him one of the movies for his birthday and when I saw the DVD case, I was instantly intrigued. After that, I began reading the books, teaching myself Elvish (this was junior high and I totally don’t remember it anymore unfortunately), and immersing myself in Middle-Earth to the point where everyone around me thought I was weird (and they probably still do hahaah).

4. Beside Tolkien, are there other authors you really enjoy? If so, which ones?

I just finished reading Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset and she is incredible! Every so often there would be a passage that just took my breath away or pierced my heart. And the way she weaves the story of a family helped me understand my own family better in a lot of ways.

5.You're obviously a talented writer, what skill do you struggle with the most?

Staying organized! I feel like everything is always all over the place, both physically (as in, my house is always chaotic) and mentally.  

6.You have three little ones, you are active on social media, you wrote a book, you have a (beautiful) website AND a podcast, how do you balance your life? In other words, how do you make it all work for you?

While mothering and marriage are my primary vocations, I feel like what I’m doing with Tea with Tolkien is truly what I was born to do. It brings me so much joy whenever I am able to sit down and write something or come up with another idea or book club, that all the late nights and busy days are worth it. I’ve been blessed over the past few years to have my best friend living nearby and we’ve taken turns watching each other’s kids for a few hours each week -- so that’s been when I’ve been able to get a lot of work done. On top of that, my husband usually comes home with a few hours of work every night and so staying up late getting some of my own work done while sitting next to him is also one of my most productive times.

7. What book (s) are you currently reading (to your kids and for yourself)?

Well like I mentioned before I just finished Kristin Lavransdatter, and so right now I’m switching back to Tolkien and prepping for our autumn book club where we’ll be reading The Silmarillion. And I’ve been reading the Little House on the Prairie books with the kids lately as well!

8.You have a podcast, are there podcasts you like to listen to? If so, which ones?

I *love* podcasts! I spend several hours driving everyday because we live somewhat far out in the country, so I’m almost always listening to a podcast. My favorite ones are: Fountains of Carrots, Roman Circus Podcast, The Word on Fire Show, CNA Newsroom, Clerically Speaking, Every Knee Shall Bow, The Electric Waffle, Pints with Jack, and The Tolkien Road. And my kids love Catholic Sprouts!

9. Tolkien is coming to your house for a dinner party you are hosting; name three other people you would 'admit' on 'party business' ?  

Can it be anyone?! Ever since I learned that Padre Pio and Therese of Lisieux were alive at the same time as Tolkien, I always wish I would’ve been able to see them interact. So them, and then also maybe Bishop Barron? THANK YOU KAITLYN!