Interview with Michael Conte, Author of Route 80
Get to know this new author, the man behind the story
Based on true events, Route 80 published in June 2025 and has since delighted readers with its action-packed story, memorable characters, and heartbreaking lessons.
But who is the man behind the story?
To learn more about Michael Conte, read the following questionnaire and connect with him at michaelconteauthor.com.
When and where were you the happiest?
I am the happiest at the present. I believe there always better days ahead so I’m always looking forward.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to have the talent to paint.
Where would you like to live?
Italy
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My family, and with the help of my wife raising courteous and kind children.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Hearing the laughter of my children.
What is your current state of mind?
Content but always striving to do and be better.
What is your favorite occupation?
Helping people with their finances and investments.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife.
What is your favorite journey?
Traveling to Europe, and Italy is my favorite.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Loyalty.
What is it that you most dislike?
People who are disingenuous.
What is your greatest fear?
My wife’s and children’s health and happiness.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My home in Long Island NY.
Which living person do you most despise?
No one. That’s too much negative energy!
What is your greatest regret?
I have none.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
I believe not maximizing the opportunities that life offers.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Beauty and a strong sense of independence. Someone who is capable.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
People who gossip about others they know and like.
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty.
Whose are your heroes in real life?
My Mom.
Which living person do you most admire?
I admire anyone who is honest and straightforward.
On what occasions do you lie?
I don't.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
At the end of the day.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To be a better listener.
How would you like to die?
Peacefully and content.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
It sounds funny, but me, because I would have life experience to do better.
What is your motto?
Stand strong with your convictions.
Through razor-sharp storytelling, raw emotion, and true Italian flair, Route 80 explores the cost of loyalty, the weight of legacy, and the road not taken. This is a story of survival, of choosing one's own fate, and of breaking free from the gravitational pull of the past.
But in the end, can you ever truly escape where you came from?
