Whether you are working on your first draft, editing your final piece, or just daydreaming about your next project, Asbury Book Cooperative’s Writer Café is an open space for writers of all levels and genres.
Come meet fellow literati for craft discussion, workshop your piece with peers, or even just come for a quiet, cozy space to work.
We know a good cup of coffee is key to spark the imagination and wake up the senses; Writers Café is proud to collaborate with local coffee shops and roasters to bring their blends to the literary community of Asbury Park.
We meet twice a month - once at ABC and once at our partnering coffee shop. All you need to bring is your preferred writing apparatus and your love for writing. We’ll provide the coffee, the conversation, and the collaborative space.
Check our calendar for dates, times and locations. Email cate.c@asburybookcoop.org for more questions.
About your coordinators
Cate Cooke (she/they), also known under alias Cate Thorn, is a writer, musician, and a self-appointed village witch from Ocean County, NJ. Passionate about the weird and uncanny, she pens tales about sad ghosts and magical folks in her own “New Jersey Gothic” style.
Cate graduated from Georgian Court University with bachelor's degrees in English and Digital Communications, and has taken her love for storytelling across various industries throughout her professional life. She has made her home in the literary world, proudly serving as Volunteer Coordinator at Asbury Book Cooperative since May 2025, and as a writing instructor with Project Write Now since February 2026.
When she’s not out haunting the shelves of her local library, Cate is at home curled up on the couch with a good ghost story and her dog, Athena.
Claire Pope (they/them) is a self-taught writer, photographer, and zine artist. Growing up in the greater Philadelphia area, Claire started as a music photographer and blogger, eventually working their way up through the DIY scene to photograph and interview everyone from local legends to internationally known artists like La Dispute and Pete Wentz.
Inspired by their roots in the raw, unpolished, unfiltered, and unapologetic DIY community, Claire’s work is focused on the tiny moments that make up our most sacred memories, and the intricacies of connection, identity, and community through the lenses of humor and grief. Claire is based in Neptune, NJ, where they work as a grant writer and serve as a board member, volunteer, and (sometimes) teaching artist at the Asbury Book Cooperative.