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

Why do you write the genre that you write?
If the “write what you know” thing can be flipped around a bit to be “write the kind of books you’ve been reading for most of your life,” then there’s the answer!

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Eddie (the cat’s) penchant for the destruction of paper products has to be way up there.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I’ve always like the name Laura (and it’s derivations), and the last name of Cass came from…you know, I honestly don’t remember, but I knew I wanted it short!

Tell us how you got into writing.
Very, very slowly. As a kid, I always wanted to write, but it wasn’t until I was in my mid-thirties that I grew brave enough to try. Eleven years and six and a third unpublished books later, I got my first contract.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
Fresh out of college, I worked for civil engineering/survey companies for twenty-odd years. When the recession hit, I was kicked to the curb like so many others in the construction business, but I eventually landed in local government administration.

Where do you write?
So many places! My handy-dandy laptop and I work at the dining table, in the car, on the bed, outside on the porch or patio, even on the couch when my husband is watching football.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Whatever my husband decides to put in front of me!

Who is an author you admire?
All of them. Anyone who has the courage to put their creations out into the world is a hero to me.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Depends on my mood, my fatigue level, and whether or not I’m writing a first draft. If I’m writing, I stay away from reading anything remotely close to what I’m writing, which right now results me reading fantasy, biographies or Young Adult. If I need a comfort read, I tend to go back to D. S. Stevenson books. If I feel the need for something different, I’ll ask friends for recommendations.

What are you reading now?
Just finished rereading Folly by Laurie R. King and reading Madame Pommery by Rebecca Rosenberg. Next up is either The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen or Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh, a book I figured I’d already read at some point in my life, but the first page didn’t ring any bells, so either my memory is worse than I thought, or I’m even more behind in my reading than I thought.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Either a glass of wine or a mug of hot chocolate.

What is next for you?
Edits for bookmobile #12, No Paw to Stand On, out August 6, 2024.

Where can we find you?
My email is bookmobilecat @ aol.com; but the fun place is my Laurie Cass Facebook page. Every Friday features a new photo of the extremely dorky–but way lovable—Wilbur the cat

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate if plain, vanilla if I get to dress it up with caramel sauce, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry.

Cake or ice cream
Ice cream, every time.

Fruits or vegetables
Generally fruits, but if you cook the vegetables in a little bit of butter then add some brandy and/or maple syrup, I’m all over it!

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch is typically just fuel for me to keep going, so it’s a tie between breakfast and dinner. My new favorite breakfast is my husband’s brioche bread French toast with caramel sauce and sliced bananas. So good. But now I’m thinking about the primavera pasta with shrimp we’ll be making tonight, and I’m glad I don’t have to choose a favorite.

Dining in or dining out
Out, every chance I get. I don’t mind cooking, but the clean-up chores at the end aren’t my thing.

City life or country living
I like to visit cities, but it’s the country life for me!

Beach or mountain
Beaches. Mountains are gorgeous, but I’m more comfortable with a distant horizon.

Summer or winter
Up here in northern Michigan, summer is that much sweeter because we know that winter is never that far away; winter is a much-needed respite after summer’s flurry of activity. I wouldn’t want one without the other.

Short story or full-length novel
I enjoy short stories, but there’s nothing like diving into a nice fat novel.

Extrovert or introvert
On a regular basis, I pass as an extrovert during meetings/conferences/parties—and I enjoy doing so—but the effort tires me. Call me introvert and proud of it.

Early bird or night owl
I take after my dad, who was an early bird.

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
Quadruple tie between The Sting, Notting Hill, The Princess Bride, and the movie released in 1977 that I will always call Star Wars.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Three huge piles of To Be Read books!

My bio:
Laurie Cass grew up in Michigan and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in the 80’s with a (mostly unused) Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Currently, Laurie and her husband share their house with two cats. When Laurie isn’t writing, she’s working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or falling out of tree pose.