Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

Why do you write the genre that you write?
I have been fascinated by crime and why people do the things they do since I was a kid. I love being able to create stories that explore the darkest parts of ourselves.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Leopard Man on Daybreak Island wears leopard gear from head to toe and walks around the island speaking in Shakespeare.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I used my grandfather’s last name, Conte, and chose a first name that was short and sweet and fit well with it.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I have been writing for a very long time and knew I wanted to be an author since I was little. I went to grad school for writing and publishing, wrote my first novel, then when I graduated turned my attention to writing mysteries.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I have been a journalist, a marketing and communications executive, a consultant (still am), and currently a creativity coach. Back in the early days I had jobs ranging from produce wrapper to bank teller to cashier!

How many books do you have published?
My 18th will be out this summer! Shock and Paw, the 8th Cat Cafe Mystery.

Where do you write?
Usually at my desk with the view of the ocean!

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Potato chips

Who is an author you admire?
Just one? LOL! Dennis Lehane, Tana French, Elle Cosimano, I could go on and on!

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Crime, thriller, mystery, suspense…of course!

What are you reading now?
Hurt Mountain by Angela Crook – an author I met at Left Coast Crime.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Herbal tea.

What is next for you?
I’m working on Cat Cafe #9, and a suspense novel I’ve been rewriting for WAY too long.

Where can we find you?
On my website at cateconte.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram. I also have a podcast called Get Writing.

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate, vanilla, or another flavor
Chocolate chip

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream

Fruits or vegetables
Fruit

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Dinner…or breakfast

Dining in or dining out
I love eating out.

City life or country living
City

Beach or mountain
Beach, 1000%

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Summer and fall

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert

Early bird or night owl
Never thought I’d say it but early bird

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
I love Shawshank Redemption. It’s the one movie I’ll stop and watch every time.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
My dogs (does that count as two?), coffee and my favorite crystal

My bio:
Cate Conte writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in the Boston area with her rescue pals.