This week we are joined by Katherine Center! Katherine Center is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes deep, nuanced, laugh-and-cry rom-coms that brim with hope and healing. The movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners became a Netflix movie in 2023 and hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband hit #1 on Netflix in 2020. Her May 2025 book is The Love Haters. Katherine has two almost-grown kids and lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband and their fluffy-but-fierce dog. Join her mailing list at KatherineCenter.com!This week, Katherine Center shares her experiences as an author, her love for public speaking, and the joy of connecting with readers. She discusses her unique blend of introversion and extroversion, her humorous family dynamics, and the importance of uplifting stories in literature. Katherine emphasizes the value of rom-coms and the permission to enjoy predictable narratives, highlighting how her books resonate with readers during challenging times. She reflects on her own experiences with reading and writing, particularly during her middle school years, and how those experiences shaped her as a writer. Katherine shares insights on the anticipation that drives narratives, the challenges and joys of adapting her books into films, and the importance of thorough research in her writing process. Give this episode a listen!Recommendations From this Episode: To All The Boys I’ve Loved BeforeLoud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You DeserveCrash Landing On YouFollow Katherine Center: @katherinecenterFollow Carly: @carlyjmontagFollow Emily: @thefunnywalshFollow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpodPlease rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.