An Evening with Katherine Center
New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center tells the Cinderella story of her butterfly-esque transformation from a miserable braces-clad pre-teen writing fan fiction to a bestselling author with ten novels, fans all over the world, and two movie adaptations of her books. Self-deprecating, hilarious, and warm, Katherine shares the agonies and ecstasies of the journey—including meeting actor Josh Duhamel on the movie set and panicking so much at his handsomeness that she forgot how to speak—as well as all the wisdom she’s gathered along the way.

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.

Katherine Center on How to Fail as a Writer from Katherine Center on Vimeo.

Intro – How to Get Better Instead of Bitter from Katherine Center on Vimeo.

Katherine Center’s The Rom-Commers is featured in multiple must-read lists including in USA TODAY‘s “New Romance Books for a Steamy Summer“; BETCHES‘s “Summer 2024 Books to Read“; Parade‘s “Best Summer Beach Reads of 2024“; TODAY.COM‘s “What to Read This May“; and Goodreads’s “Readers’ Most Anticipated Summer Books” among others.

Learn more about Katherine at her website.

Praise for Katherine Center

“Thank you so much again for being our keynote speaker! You were such a joy to listen to and to meet! Many of our guests and staff members have been telling us that you are the best speaker we’ve ever had at our luncheon (this was our 13th year doing it!). So congratulations to you!”

“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.”

“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.”

“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!”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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 to meet her.”

“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.”

“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!”

“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.”

Praise for The Rom-Commers

“Winsome and charming, Center’s latest is that perfect blend of romance and overcoming life challenges that her readers treasure.”

“Center, the prolific author of many romances, clearly understands what it takes to create a winning romantic comedy and puts Charlie and Emma through many of the most delightful rom-com tropes (enemies to lovers, forced proximity). But the book, like all of Center’s work, doesn’t completely eschew darkness—both Emma and Charlie are dealing with trauma and grief. A winning romance that deftly balances heft and humor.”

“This rom-com about a rom-com offers a pretty predictable storyline, but the enjoyment comes from the tongue-in-cheek commentary on its own genre. As Center writes, ‘If you’re surprised by the ending, somebody wasn’t doing their job. We all know where it’s headed. The fun is how we get there.’”