BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, The Bodyguard, and her newest, Hello Stranger. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron. The Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul nourishing way.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
The movie adaptation of her novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix. Her novel Happiness for Beginners is in production now as a Netflix original starring Ellie Kemper—opening summer of 2023. Katherine’s summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, was an instant New York Times bestseller and a People Best New Books pick. Also, Book of the Month Club nominated the book for Book of the Year. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “a shot of pure joy.” And bestselling author Helen Hoang calls it “a perfect feel-good rom-com.”
Speaking Engagements
Since her debut novel in 2007, Katherine has spoken to hundreds of book clubs and dozens upon dozens of luncheons, breakfasts, fundraisers, conferences, galas, writing groups, womens’ organizations, chambers of commerce, and beyond. Katherine tells hilarious stories to get at the meaning of life—always trying to balance comedy and wisdom. Her speaking style is warm, conversational, personal, and laugh-out-loud funny. She’s done keynotes all around the country from the Colorado Gold Writers’ Conference in Denver, to the Trinity University Women and Girls’ Leadership Summit in San Antonio, to her closing talk to 1400 people at TEDx Bend. Katherine is never happier than when she’s making a big room full of people laugh and think about life in a slightly new way.
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 The glorious new novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called “My perfect 10 of a book” (Emily Henry) and cheered for their “speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles” (People).
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Katherine Center's The Bodyguard is “My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms, but with Center’s signature heart-tugging depth. I wish I could erase it from my mind just to read it again for the first time. A shot of pure joy.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers
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From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about courage, hope, and learning to love against all odds.
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From Katherine Center, New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away, comes a short story, The Guy at the Wedding.
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"The story’s message, that people should choose joy even (and especially) in difficult and painful times, seems tailor-made for this moment. A timely, uplifting read about finding joy in the midst of tragedy, filled with quirky characters and comforting warmth."—Kirkus (starred review)
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An exuberant novel in which a thirty-something year old woman embarks on a wilderness survival course and discovers that sometimes you have to leave things behind in order to find yourself.
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From Katherine Center, New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away, comes a short story The Girl in the Plane, featuring Cassie Hanwell, the courageous female firefighter at the heart of Things You Save in a Fire.
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From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes the instant New York Times bestseller (May 2018), an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.
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How to Read for Joy In her warm, accessible, laugh-out-loud style, New York Times bestselling novelist Katherine Center takes a deep dive into how stories work, why they matter, and how following your own compass to find the right story at the right time can enrich your life beyond measure. Katherine uses personal stories, findings in neuroscience, theories of human evolution, and a deep, nuanced, honed-over-decades understanding of how stories work to help us harness their power for good.
How Love Stories Can Save Us All We live in a culture that rolls its eyes at romance—but New York Times Bestselling author Katherine Center is here to stand up for love. Sharing the warm, laugh-out-loud story of how she discovered—and fell madly in love with—romance novels, Katherine makes an impassioned and wise argument about how the pro-social values embedded in romance novels and the blissed-out, oxytocin-laden, delicious feeling of hope they provide are a cure for cynicism that we all—and the world—could really use.
Learn more about Katherine at her website.
— Katie Gordon, Events and Alumnae Relations Manager, Girl Scouts Of San Jacinto Council
“Katherine Center kept the attention of all members of the audience (including several reluctant male attendees) as she told the story of her writing career. She is not an author who looks down her nose at interested readers and listeners; instead, she makes us realize that we all have similar self-doubts and misgivings. Our story and her story become the same, and we are delighted with her success.”
- Jenice Coffey, President, Friends of Sterling Municipal Library
“Katherine was the keynote speaker at our Pink Partners luncheon. She not only has a gift as a writer, but she is an incredible speaker, as well. She is so talented at spinning a story—engaging and witty—I would have listened to her all afternoon.”
- Susan Rafte, Executive Director, Pink Ribbons Project
“Katherine recently spoke at our Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day Luncheon. She was a huge hit! Her wonderful, easy going speaking style and the great stories she told about writing books had everyone smiling and really appreciating their own jobs (which was an unanticipated bonus for the supervisors!) Katherine is a local jewel who we are proud to have heard speak. She inspired us all!”
- Karen Daly, Assistant City Manager, City of Sugar Land, TX
“Katherine Center uses stories to illuminate the hidden hopes and dreams that we so often put on hold for motherhood or some other selfless service. Her wisdom and empathy shine when she addresses a group, and her skills as a raconteur make every minute enjoyable. Hearing Katherine speak is much like the experience of reading a great novel; she leaves the audience feeling enlightened, engaged, and completely satisfied with the well-crafted happy ending.”
- Lucy H. Chambers, Editorial Director, Bright Sky Press
“It is so much fun to hear Katherine speak. Her great warmth, keen humor and carefully plotted story-telling abilities just pull her audience right in. You feel like she is speaking directly to you…and are delighted to be spending time with her.”
- Susan A. Lieberman, Ph.D.
“After having Katherine at our book club, we are spoiled rotten. By the time she left, we felt like she was one of our dearest friends and we can’t wait to have her back. . . . Our book-club will never be the same and I mean that in the best of ways. She made us want to be better readers, better listeners and better friends.”
-Wyn Bomar
“Katherine has the innate ability to take the mundane, crazy, and complicated lives of women, especially moms, and turn it into beautiful prose. Her writing develops her characters into people you truly care about, and hearing her speak about them brings them even closer to your heart. Katherine’s story of success is just as wonderful to hear–it’s like when you crawl into your pj’s and get to sit with your best friend and really get down to talking!!! She is a rare gift to all those lucky enough meet her.”
- Gina Angulo
“Katherine talks about her path to publication with the same humor and laugh-out-loud anecdotes that her readers love in her novels. Her tone is easy-going and confiding, as if she’s just visiting with close friends over a cup of coffee.”
- Rachel Gillett
“Katherine Center is an entertaining, fabulously witty speaker, with the ability to pump life and energy into the smallest of stories. She was a hit at our book club!”
- Selvi Ramirtha
“With her honey-hued voice and warm personality, Katherine Center mesmerized our audience. She brought such humor and compassion to her talk that the many funny and touching moments were well remembered after the evening drew to a close. Thanks to Katherine, we laughed through the tears, and she left us greatly anticipating her next reading.”
- Andrea N. Richesin, Editor of BECAUSE I LOVE HER and THE MAY QUEEN