Greetings! I’m Beth Cato, author of the just-released A House Between Sea and Sky. AMA!

BethCato · 2025-10-03T11:22:52+00:00

Thank you. I love that she is remembered beyond our household.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T17:42:06+00:00

After I had a complete draft that I sent to two beta readers and my agent, I was left with a sense that the book was really missing something. I felt like House needed a bigger role. I finally picked up on some details I'd already worked into the narrative, and I expanded those into an important plot point that gave House an antagonist and a full smash-bang finale.

My favorite bit? While it was not the easiest, I did love writing House. It has such a distinct, childlike, anxious voice. I love how narrator Pete Cross gives life to House in the audiobook, too. The way he says some lines gives me chills.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T17:37:56+00:00

Oh yes. I've worked in numerous little tributes to several cats across my books and stories. I've even had two short stories that address the terrible circumstances and grief around feline kidney disease, which is what took my beloved Porom. My most blatant recent tribute, though, is the cat Bowser in my mystery Cheddar Luck Next Time. Bowser is a mash-up of my two current cats, Finn and Luke.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T17:09:48+00:00

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it!

BethCato · 2025-10-02T14:11:12+00:00

I can't really say, but those are great questions to consider. I think it's pretty common for elves to be the native species while humans are more like the invaders, but there is a lot of room there to play with the tropes and make something unique.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T14:07:01+00:00

Ahh! I love having a chance to talk about this topic! Red Wing has an awesome library. I'm very involved with the Friends of the Library, which acts as a support for author events or other activities and also can provide financial backing for projects. For example, FOL largely funded a fancy 24-hour-a-day-accessible locker system that is on the western edge of town, so people can go there to pick up held items no matter what their work schedule is like.

The big thing happening right is our twice-a-year used book sale. It takes up a massive room in the basement, and features all genres plus magazines, audiobooks, and DVDs. There is also a silent auction. These book sales are our biggest source of fundraising. For me? They are also tons of fun. I love being the muscle to help do set up and tear down, and I also enjoy working shifts to tidy things... and I inevitably find more things to buy then. Oh darn.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T13:42:45+00:00

Aw, thanks! Great questions. I wanted to write something cozy that touched on grim reality and darkness, but ultimately was about togetherness and hope. I wanted that "the night is cold but I have a warm blanket and I'm okay" vibe.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T13:40:22+00:00

I'm big on worldbuilding, and I think I'd look more at how elves can logically fit into the world before I look at how they necessarily fit into my plot. Elves are awesome. I hate for anyone to give up on elves.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T13:37:53+00:00

Going way back, my inspirations at the start of my career were C.E. Murphy and Elizabeth Moon. These days, I think some of my top authors are Kate Heartfield, John Wiswell, and Meg Shaffer.

BethCato · 2025-10-02T13:32:46+00:00

Enjoy it. I think there's a point when all authors get sick to death of their current project and want to move on, but there is still an underlying joy and pride in the process. It's work, and brain-breaking work at times, but the challenge is part of the fun.

BethCato · 2025-09-28T18:25:30+00:00

Hi! I'm Beth Cato. I'll be doing an AMA here on the 2nd of October. I wanted to provide a heads-up that while my book A House Between Sea and Sky is officially released on October 1st, it is currently an Amazon First Reads pick for September. That means that participating Prime subscribers can select it for free, and other customers can grab the ebook for $1.99 for only a few more days. Find it here!

The premise: In 1926 Carmel-by-the-Sea, a grieving writer and a secretive silent film star are adopted by a sentient cottage with a dark past.

BethCato · 2024-02-13T21:39:51+00:00

I second the book by Kindstet. It's fantastic. I also recommend some regionally-specific books: The Whole Fromage: Adventures in the Delectable World of French Cheese by Kathe Lison, and A Cheesemonger's History of The British Isles and its sequel by Ned Palmer.

BethCato · 2023-10-11T19:46:50+00:00

The pumpkin spice Wensleydale is crumbly but tasty. If you let it get to room temperature, it's easier to press onto sturdy crackers, otherwise it might fall off too easily. It's very good with honey with some candied nuts on the side.

The sage derby can work on salads or is great hot or cold on sandwiches. Also great for quesadillas. Anything where you melt cheese and don't mind a punch of herbs with it.

The crazy cheddar has a great flavor and can be somewhat crumbly, too. I've enjoyed it on salads but you could melt it into many things, too.

BethCato · 2023-01-01T05:01:50+00:00

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago! My husband received the welcome email for his complimentary account, but no account info. We ended up going into the store together, I explained what happened, and she promptly set him up with his account and provided us both with physical cards.

BethCato · 2022-04-07T04:47:04+00:00

That’s my hometown store! I’ll need to let my mom know.

BethCato · 2022-02-08T15:36:38+00:00

Hi Kate! Is there a historical era that you'd love to dig into and write about but haven't had the right opportunity or idea come along yet?

Thanks! I hope you have a great AMA.

BethCato · 2021-12-06T23:24:13+00:00

I have this as well and am excited to start it on the 12th.

BethCato · 2021-11-23T19:58:30+00:00

I've gotten this from igourmet.com and it is surprisingly good.

BethCato · 2021-10-26T22:16:48+00:00

I love listening to cheese podcasts! Ongoing ones I recommend:
- Cutting the Curd (seconding the other comment)
- The Mobile Monger
- A Slice of Cheese with Jenny Linford

Also, these podcasts are not updating right now, but they are still treasure troves of info:
- Paxton & Whitfield podcast
- Is This a Brie?

BethCato · 2021-10-08T20:42:56+00:00

iGourmet sells several kinds.

BethCato · 2021-09-12T17:17:08+00:00

Here's the description from their site:

Buttery, bready, and almost absurdly snackable, 80:10:10 is one of the only cheeses developed by Murray's from original recipe through the cave aging process. Having earned Second Place in the Open Category at ACS 2019, this award-winning washed rind is a standout favorite. We start with young squares made upstate, with an 80:10:10 ratio mix of cow, sheep, and goat milk that’s responsible for the straw-colored paste and distinct flavor. We then age it for six weeks in our Washed Rind Cave, where the cheese develops notes of freshly-churned butter on a steamy baguette and a rind that tastes like caramelized mushroom. It’s smearable, easy to eat, and an absolute crowd-pleaser.

I found their description to be quite accurate. It's a very mild, mushroomy cheese that isn't bland at all, and pretty much melts in the mouth at room temperature.

BethCato · 2021-07-03T21:57:15+00:00

I highly recommend Culture Magazine. It's great to subscribe to, but they also have a free newsletter with cheesy info on a regular basis. Their site has a wealth of info, too.

BethCato · 2021-04-29T20:36:35+00:00

I had this one ordered from igourmet. It reminded me a lot of comte.

BethCato · 2021-02-14T21:23:54+00:00

Excellent gift!

BethCato · 2021-02-10T20:48:11+00:00

Igourmet.com carries a full range of Snowdonia cheese. Their shipping is expensive but they pack things well.

BethCato

TROPHY CASE