Katherine Center's Blog, page 2
July 8, 2020
WHAT YOU WISH FOR BOOK TOUR!
The WHAT YOU WISH FOR book tour has moved to virtual! No in-person hugs—but lots of online laughs. Come hang out and let’s celebrate this book about JOY ON PURPOSE!
JULY & AUGUST EVENTS
July 14 / BRAZOS BOOKSTORE
in convo with Taylor Jenkins Reid @ 7 PM CST via Zoom
NOTE: The first 50 people to pre-order via Brazos receive an exclusive link to participate and a Read for Joy Journal.
July 15 • 7:00 PM • BLUE WILLOW
in conversation with Team W [Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, & Karen White] via Facebook Live
February 25, 2020
The Lost Husband MOVIE opens in theaters APRIL 10 !!!! !!!! !!!!!
Watch the trailer!
The film stars Leslie Bibb as Libby, Josh Duhamel as O’Connor, Nora Dunn as Aunt Jean, and Sharon Lawrence as Libby’s mom, Marsha. More on the cast here.
Writer/Director Vicky Wight of Six Foot Pictures (read a Q&A with Vicky HERE) kindly invited me to come be an extra in the movie (in the farmers’ market scene), and here are a few shots I took on the day I got to visit the set:
(That’s O’Connor’s truck, by the way!)
The movie is slated to hit theaters in April of 2020. I haven’t seen the trailer yet, but when it’s up, I’ll post it here. In the meantime, here are a few stills from the film!
And yeah, that last one is me—attempting to act! Such a wonderfully trippy moment: Buying goat cheese at a farmers’ market from a character I created! Absolutely bananas. THE BEST.
Here are a few photos that the actors and production company put up on Instagram during shooting.
Announcing the project!
Josh Duhamel and director Vicky Wight on set in Texas!
Women getting things done! Producer Bridget Stokes, star and producer Leslie Bibb, and writer/director Vicky Wight on set.
Josh Duhamel takes a selfie with Callie Hope Haverda and Roxton Garcia, the actors playing Abby and Tank.
Goofing around at the farmers’ market set. L to R: Carly Pope, Leslie Bibb, Georgia May King, and Josh Duhamel.
Roxton Garcie as Tank, Leslie Bibb as Libby, and Callie Hope Haverda as Abby. How cute are these kids??!
Writer/director Vicky Wight, doing her thing.
Leslie Bibb, Vicky Wight, and Josh Duhamel, on the dance hall set for Aunt Jean’s birthday party.
This movie was definitely shot in Texas!
Hooray for female fimmakers! Writer/director Vicky Wight with producer Bridget Stokes.
The last day of shooting, I think? After the dance hall scene!
Here are a few short videos you can watch on Instagram!
Here’s a VERY COOL video that star and producier Leslie Bibb shot while filming the opening scene, as Libby and Tank and Abby drive into Atwater.
Director Vicky Wight and Josh Duhamel goofiing around—SO ADORABLE! Watch HERE!
Josh Duhamel learning how to do the Texas Two-Step on set. WATCH HERE!
. . . Aaaaaand that’s all I’ve got for now! Be sure to check back for updates!!
Read the novel before you see the movie!! Find it HERE!
The Lost Husband MOVIE!!!! !!!! !!!!!
The film stars Leslie Bibb as Libby, Josh Duhamel as O’Connor, Nora Dunn as Aunt Jean, and Sharon Lawrence as Libby’s mom, Marsha. More on the cast here.
Writer/Director Vicky Wight of Six Foot Pictures (read a Q&A with Vicky HERE) kindly invited me to come be an extra in the movie (in the farmers’ market scene), and here are a few shots I took on the day I got to visit the set:
(That’s O’Connor’s truck, by the way!)
The movie is slated to hit theaters in April of 2020. I haven’t seen the trailer yet, but when it’s up, I’ll post it here. In the meantime, here are a few stills from the film!
And yeah, that last one is me—attempting to act! Such a wonderfully trippy moment: Buying goat cheese at a farmers’ market from a character I created! Absolutely bananas. THE BEST.
Here are a few photos that the actors and production company put up on Instagram during shooting.
Announcing the project!
Josh Duhamel and director Vicky Wight on set in Texas!
Women getting things done! Producer Bridget Stokes, star and producer Leslie Bibb, and writer/director Vicky Wight on set.
Josh Duhamel takes a selfie with Callie Hope Haverda and Roxton Garcia, the actors playing Abby and Tank.
Goofing around at the farmers’ market set. L to R: Carly Pope, Leslie Bibb, Georgia May King, and Josh Duhamel.
Roxton Garcie as Tank, Leslie Bibb as Libby, and Callie Hope Haverda as Abby. How cute are these kids??!
Writer/director Vicky Wight, doing her thing.
Leslie Bibb, Vicky Wight, and Josh Duhamel, on the dance hall set for Aunt Jean’s birthday party.
This movie was definitely shot in Texas!
Hooray for female fimmakers! Writer/director Vicky Wight with producer Bridget Stokes.
The last day of shooting, I think? After the dance hall scene!
Here are a few short videos you can watch on Instagram!
Here’s a VERY COOL video that star and producier Leslie Bibb shot while filming the opening scene, as Libby and Tank and Abby drive into Atwater.
Director Vicky Wight and Josh Duhamel goofiing around—SO ADORABLE! Watch HERE!
Josh Duhamel learning how to do the Texas Two-Step on set. WATCH HERE!
. . . Aaaaaand that’s all I’ve got for now! Be sure to check back for updates!!
Want to read the novel before you see the movie?!! Find it HERE!
June 18, 2019
BOOK TOUR for Things You Save in a Fire!
Things You Save in a Fire goes on sale Tuesday, August 13, 2019—and I’ll be touring Texas and the south for two weeks to celebrate!!
Here’s the current book tour schedule! Please come see me—or send your friends who live in or near these towns!
Things You Save in a Fire book tour!
WEEK 1
MONDAY, AUGUST 12 – LAUNCH: HOUSTON, TX
Brazos Bookstore @ 6:30 PM
2421 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 – HOUSTON, TX
Blue Willow Bookshop @ 7:00 PM
14532 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
**Event withNew York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins**
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15 – DALLAS, TX
Half Price Books @ 7:00 PM
5803 E. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 – AUSTIN, TX
BookPeople @ 7:00 PM
603 N Lamar, Austin, TX 78703
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 – GEORGETOWN, TX
Lark & Owl @ 7:00 PM
205 W 6th St Suite 101, Georgetown, TX 78626
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 – SAN ANTONIO, TX
The Twig @ 5:00-7:00 PM
306 Pearl Pkwy #106, San Antonio, TX 78215
WEEK 2
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 – FAIRHOPE, AL
Page & Palette @ 6:00 PM
32 S Section St, Fairhope, AL 36532
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21 – TALLAHASSEE, FL
Midtown Reader @ 6:00 pm
1123 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 – ATLANTA, GA
Barnes & Noble Buckhead @ 7:00 pm
2900 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 310, Atlanta, GA 30305
**Event with New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews**
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 – WINSTON-SALEM, NC
Bookmarks
Two library events—one afternoon & one evening:
High Point Library @ 2:00 pm
901 N. Main Street, High Point, NC
Reynolda Manor Library @ [Time TBD] – evening
2839 Fairlawn Dr. NW, Winston-Salem, NC
ADDITIONAL FALL EVENTS:
TBD: THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL in Decatur GA
August 30- September 1
READ MORE about Things You Save in a Fire HERE! CHECK BACK for more events!! Several additions still to come!
*****And be sure to join the mailing list HERE so you never miss the scoop!
April 10, 2019
Meet writer/director Vicky Wight!
Vicky is one of my favorite people. She’s gracious and lovely with a wry sense of humor and a tenacious bravery that I so admire. Every time I’m around her, I wish I could just stay right there. She adapted my novel The Lost Husband into a screenplay, filmed it last fall, and is now in the final stages of editing and sound production.
What was it about The Lost Husband that made you want to adapt it into a movie? How did you know this was a project for you?
I read The Lost Husband at the behest of our mutual friend, Maria Zerr. In fact, she left it on my doorstep. I read it in two days and immediately wanted to make a film. In my heart, I knew how to bring the characters and the setting to life. That’s the intrinsic beauty of your writing. You create characters we see or want to see in our daily lives. So, this was an instance of a project finding me. I usually work from an original idea, but the world you built was undeniably appealing on so many levels. I had to take the leap and make the film.
You adapted the novel The Lost Husband into a screenplay. What was that process like? What was the hardest part? What was the easiest?
I love writing in any capacity. I had not adapted from a novel but found the experience really satisfying. The only sad part about adapting a novel for the screen is that you really have to streamline. I had to rework storylines to fit into a limited amount of time and rework them again while editing the film. The film is different from the novel in many ways. It still has the essence of every character and the structure of the novel’s story arc, but we did lose a few funs scenes. The heart of the story is there however.
What was the casting process like? How did you know who would be best to play those characters?
Getting a film made is akin to conjuring a miracle! Casting is no less stressful than fundraising, producing, writing, or selling a film. It is a constant and focused effort for months, days, and sometimes even the hours leading up to the first moments of production.
I remember you and I had a conversation a year before the film started shooting and you were worried the film might never go. It was totally reasonable to be worried about that because the movies that do get made take years and years and years to make! TLH was no exception! I always stressed that I wanted to develop the film until I could find the right cast. It wasn’t easy, but once Leslie Bibb (who I have loved since her days on Line of Fire) said yes, we were off to the races. She was an integral part of the process thereafter, helping attach Josh and really going to bat to get Sharon Lawrence and all the other cast attached. I had worked with Nora Dunn on another film and knew she was right for the part and I had always wanted to work with Isiah Whitlock Jr.! Working with him was a dream come true for me. Same with Herizen Guardiola, Kevin Alejandro, and, of course, Josh and Sharon! The wonderful child actors (Callie, Roxton, and Stone) were all cast in Texas.
Vicky on the set of the dance hall scene with stars Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel.
What was your favorite scene to film and why?
This is such a hard question.
All of them. Truly. Every single one! I absolutely love the dancehall scene. It’s a bit different than it was in the novel but no less romantic.
This was a big project! How many people worked on this movie—a hundred? What’s it like to manage so many different details/elements at once? Do you have to be a pretty great multi-tasker to direct a movie?
We had over 100 people working on the film from pre-production, production, to post-production. Making a film for me is both the most creatively challenging and creatively rewarding experience imaginable. I love my crew and believe in having a very positive, fulfilling, and happy set. The crew is the bedrock. Without them, I’m nowhere. Same with my actors. I love them and I’m willing to go to great lengths to make them feel comfortable in their environment so they can do the work their way.
You do have to successfully multi-task to be a good director but you have to find a real balance juggling a hundred things at once while being able to focus on the art and performance and also make the right and/or best decision at any given time. The intensity of that is invigorating. I love creating with the actors in rehearsal and on set. I love improvising with them and letting them take their character where they feel they should. I also love the process of building a shot and pushing myself technically when it comes to lenses and composition.
Vicky goofing around with Josh Duhamel.
To that end, my goal was to open the film with a sort of love letter to Texas. One of my favorite shots in the film happens very early. It threw everyone for a loop when I initially described what I wanted to accomplish. In short, I wanted to push through the window of a moving car past the lead actor (who was driving over a bridge) out the closed passenger-side window up and out over the Brazos River. Working together, we did.
What’s something about directing a movie that most people don’t know?
It’s very taxing on your body. You stand, run, and walk ALL day and/or night. Your day lasts anywhere from 14 to 18 hours or more!
What was it like to work with stars Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel?
They are both sublime. They had excellent chemistry – a gift when you need your characters to have something unspoken happening between them!
How did you pair songs with particular scenes for the soundtrack?
Music to me is basically as important as picture. I worked with an extremely talented composer, Sherri Chung, to find the right themes. Her work is really something to behold when paired with the imagery of the film. As far as soundtrack, I love Bob Schneider’s melancholy melodies* as well as his more upbeat compositions. I licensed many of the songs I had listened to for inspiration while adapting the novel into the screenplay a few years ago. I was also lucky to license music from an excellent local musician, Andy Stepanian of Wrinkle Neck Mules.
Vicky with producting partner Bridget Stokes and star (and producer) Leslie Bibb.
Were there any great scenes that wound up on the cutting room floor?
Yes. Sadly. Always.
What’s it like, being a director? What’s a day in your life like?
Honestly, I’m mostly a writer in my day-to-day life. I love directing, but I don’t get to do it very often! I’m always developing a project or working on a script. I’m constantly writing, rewriting, and rewriting more.
What stage is The Lost Husband production in now?
We are currently mixing sound and music so we are very close to having a final film.
We’ve all heard about how women in Hollywood face discrimination. What can we do to support women working in the industry?
Go to movie theatre and see films made by women. Watch them on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon – anywhere it will make a dent in the numbers. If you’re watching a film made by a woman or have paid to see a film made by a woman in a theatre, she might get to make another movie down the road. If we’re making money, we’re making movies.
***Follow Vicky on Instagram HERE!
And see THE CUTEST video ever of Vicky and Josh Duhamel goofing around HERE.
*And here’s a Bob Schneider song, if you’d like to hear one! I have no idea if this one is in the movie, but after Vicky played it for me, I became obsessed with it, and I spent many weeks driving around with this song on repeat in my car.
October 19, 2018
COVER REVEAL! Things You Save in a Fire
Let me introduce you to my NEW BOOK!
It’s not on sale until August 2019, but you can PRE-ORDER here!
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s a total pro at other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.
The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.
Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.
EARLY PRAISE for Things You Save in a Fire:
October 4, 2018
THREE GOOD THINGSI’ve just added an “archives” section to...
THREE GOOD THINGS
I’ve just added an “archives” section t...
July 20, 2018
How to Walk Away Playlist
This summer I did a fair bit of road-tripping, driving to bookstores and book events, and as I sang along to songs on my iTunes, I found that certain songs just SOUNDED like moments in How to Walk Away. So just for fun, here are some of them. If I were in charge of the soundtrack for How to Walk Away, these songs would be on it.
This is the Song — The Punch Brothers
Maggie waking up in the ER.
Don’t Let Me Down — Joy Williams
Maggie, in her hospital room, after she gets the very bad news from chip.
Treat You Better — Shawn Mendes
When Ian sees Chip kissing Maggie.
Hello My Old Heart — The Oh Hellos
On the rooftop, after Ian busts her out of the hospital.
Let It Be — The Beatles
This is the song that gets Maggie singing again. (And one of my own all-time faves ever).
Whistle for the Choir — The Fratellis
When Ian thinks about Maggie.
Girl, Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
Kitty and Maggie hanging out together.
Get Down On It — Kool and the Gang
Working out at the rehab gym.
Little Trip to Heaven – Tom Waits
Walking in the pool with Ian.
Better Together — Jack Johnson
Ian and Maggie canoeing at the Lake.
Our Lips Are Sealed — The GoGos
Driving back from the lake with Kitty.
Let It Be Me — Ray LaMontange
When Ian finds Maggie after hours in the rehab gym.
Best of My Love — The Emotions
This is the song Maggie sings for Karaoke at the non-Valentine’s Valentine’s party.
Say Something — Postmodern Jukebox
When Ian says goodbye at Maggie’s house.
I Feel It All — Feist
Taking off on the plane to fly to Europe.
Quelqu’un M’a Dit — Carla Bruni
When Maggie is alone in Bruges.
Love It All — The Kooks
When Ian sees Maggie again in Bruges.
Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer
Closing credits
*Whenever possible, I’ve tried to post the upload of the original artist. If you love these songs, too, support these folks and go buy the songs!!
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
March 27, 2018
LAUNCH EVENTS for HOW TO WALK AWAY
Things are ramping up for How to Walk Away! It’s gotten starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, and Publishers Weekly calls it “a heartfelt guide to living the fullest life possible.” It’s been chosen as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection.
We’re having two launches that week in Houston:
The next week, I’m traveling around Texas:
I’d love to see you, your friends, and your friends’ friends there! Send ’em all! Let’s celebrate!
OTHER EVENTS
I’ll be visiting the utterly charming Macdonald Bookshop in Estes Park, Colorado, in July. Dates TBD!
BOOK CLUBS!
Bring your book club to the launch! Make it a girls’ night out, and head out for margaritas afterward! Make it a twofer if you like, and I’ll circle back around at a later date to discuss the book with your group!
And even if you can’t make one of these launch events, or if you don’t live in Texas, I can “visit” your book club via Skype! I do this all the time—hang out with book clubs in Milwaukee or New York or Florida or LA while sitting at my kitchen table. So fun and so easy. Email me for details!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 31 — TEDx BEND — [ALL DAY] — Bend, OR
Thursday, April 5 — Texas Library Association Conference — Dallas, TX
APRIL 10 — National Charity League SPEAKER — Houston, TX
MAY 24-26 — BOOK EVENTS in NYC!
Photo credit: NY Post
May 2-4 — Mom 2.0 Summit — [[SOLD OUT]] — Los Angeles, CA
MAY 8 — GUEST SPEAKER — iWrite Houston Youth Club — Houston, TX
TEXAS LAUNCH EVENTS
Tuesday, May 15 — Central HOUSTON LAUNCH — Brazos Bookstore — 7 pm
2421 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77005
713.523.0701
Thursday, May 17 — West HOUSTON LAUNCH — Blue Willow Bookshop — 7 pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77079
Phone: 281.497.8675
Tuesday, May 22 — DALLAS Reading/Signing — Half Price Books — 7 pm
HALF PRICE BOOKS
5803 E. Northwest Hwy
Dallas, TX 75231
214-360-0833
Wednesday, May 23 — SAN ANTONIO Reading/Signing — The Twig — 5 pm
THE TWIG
306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 106
San Antonio, TX 78215
210-826-6411
twig@thetwig.com
Thursday, May 24 — AUSTIN Reading/Signing — BookPeople — 7 pm
BOOKPEOPLE
603 N. Lamar Blvd,
Austin, TX 78703
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
