[1] Cates attended Bryan Adams High School in Dallas.
A Far-Fetched Story (Greenwillow Books, 2002) was noted for its quilt-like appearance in multiple reviews.
[5] A Publishers Weekly review said, "Newcomer Cates follows a successful folktale formula to a T with a no-nonsense grandma and her catchy refrain".
[7] The Secret Remedy Book (Orchard/Scholastic, 2003) was called "a gentle story" in Kirkus Reviews, which also noted, "solace, ritual, simplicity, tenderness, and care for the natural world are offered on each page as naturally as breathing".
[8] It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which noted, "the leisurely pace of the text" and that the book "reflect[s] a faith that all will be completed in a timey way, without rushing".