Katherine Center is the author of two novels—The Bright Side of Disaster and Everyone Is Beautiful—and has two more on the way. Her books and essays have appeared in Redbook, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Real Simple, the Dallas Morning News, and the Houston Chronicle, as well as the anthology Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers on the Mother-Daughter Bond.
Kirkus Reviews likens her second novel to the 1950s motherhood classic Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, and says, “Center ’s breezy style invites the reader to commiserate, laughing all the way.” Booklist calls it “a superbly written novel filled with unique and resonant characters.” BookPage named Katherine one of seven new writers to watch, and her first novel was optioned last fall by Varsity Pictures.
Katherine’s third novel, Get Lucky, goes on sale April 2010, and she is at work on her fourth. She lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband and two young children.
For more about Katherine (and baby photos!), please visit the “about” page of her website!
Dear Katherine,
I loved The Bright Side….. and am delighted that your new book is out. Of course I will buy it and reminiscence about my long gone “baby days”. Here is a picker-upper for those “beaten” days:
I am too blessed to be depressed
I am too annointed to be disappointed
I am good enough
I love myself, my family, my friends, my life
When shit happens it makes me stronger
It it hit’s the fan I take measures, then a shower
Chocolate takes care of the bad taste
Red wine takes care of the stress
Girlfriends take care of the disappointment
My dogs make me laugh
Life is good
Have wonderful time savoring the fruits of your labors
Kind regards,
Birgitt van Wijk
Thanks, Birgitt. You always perk me up.
I recently discovered your books. I read each of them in a less-than-24-hour frenzy. I laughed, I cried…what can I say. My baby is only 18 months old and emotions about all this mom stuff still run high. I hope the next book is already on it’s way, because I can hardly wait!
P.S. Does the public have access to all these fantastic short stories, or is that just a dust-jacket tease?
Shelley
Hi Katherine,
I met you on the reading organized by your sister Shelley. I am the one with the “fun” pink glasses.
I read your book “Everyone is beautiful” the following friday and on saturday my second son was born…So I have now a pretty “avant-gout” of what life is going to be with only boys at home….
Also I have to thank you. Shelley recommended me the midwives of Women’s hospital and I just had the best birth experience ever with Theodora.
All the best for your work and looking forward to your next novel.
Fabienne
Dear Mrs. Center,
I will begin by telling you that I work for a library and second, that I’ve never finished a book entirely, in my life. I’m college educated and managed to skate through most of the papers by reading most of the books but never the whole book. How terrible is that?
My reason for writing this comment is to say, I have officially read both of your books cover to cover and enjoyed them more than you could imagine. I smiled, I related, and I couldn’t put them down. You’re a brilliant writer and I’m thankful your imagination and creativity exists. Thank you for showing me how to “escape” into a fiction book. It was a great vacation from single motherhood and broken heartedness, even if just for a few hours late each night.
I look forward to reading more of your novels. Keep them coming. You’re truly an inspiration.
Many Blessings and Peace,
Megan DiPrimeo
Currently, “Everyone is Beautiful” is my top book of 2009. I am an “amateur” reader but also a book-aholic who loves to read fiction that deals with relationships and growing as individuals. I am 49 and my kids are 23, 20, 18 and 13 so long out of the physically demanding stages that you write about in this book. The book vividly protrays human frality and beauty through Lanie’s growth as a photographer. Your ability to capture what woman feel as mothers, proud of what we do but insecure about what we don’t, really stuck with me even months after I finished reading. I have been recommending this book to my mom’s book club, my daughter’s book club, etc. I wish you continued success.