Stephen Holgate is a fifth-generation Oregonian whose diverse career spans diplomacy, politics, and the arts before establishing himself as an accomplished novelist. His debut novel, "Tangier," drew from his diplomatic experience in Morocco and won the Silver Medal in Fiction from the Independent Publishers' Group. This was followed by "Madagascar," which earned a starred review from "Publishers Weekly" and was nominated by "Forward Review" as a best book of the year. Both novels were listed among the top ten indie mystery/suspense novels of the year by critic L. Dean Murphy.
Holgate's writing blends suspense with richly drawn international settings, informed by his Foreign Service postings in France, Madagascar, Morocco, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. His third novel, "Sri Lanka," has been widely praised as his finest work, while "To Live and Die in the Floating World" draws from his firsthand experience as a barge crew member in France. His most recent novel, "The Goddess and Martin Dayson," explores themes of redemption and personal freedom in 1950s Oregon. Holgate continues to expand his literary repertoire with "A Promise to Die For," a Paris-set thriller scheduled for publication in April 2025.