We Went “Between the Lines” with N.C. Author Katherine Bitner
Katherine Bitner is a pro at romanticizing North Carolina. Seriously, she is a contemporary romance author who just released the third book in her Hometown Series, which is based in North Carolina. Katherine is a big fan of early 2000s romcoms and knew she wanted to stick to that genre when she began writing her first book. “It’s a genre I’ll never run out of stories for,” she says.
Her most recent novel, “Between the Lines,” is a forbidden summer romance that takes place in Wilmington. Main character Fia is a ray of sunshine but she’s also a bit of a damsel in distress. She is a single mom who manages a coffee shop and lives with her toddler in a 100-year-old house that constantly needs repairs. The latest? A new roof. She’s determined to fix her problems on her own until her grumpy boss steps in. He offers his guest house as a temporary solution while her roof gets fixed. It’s not as simple as he thought it would be and as time goes on, the pull becomes harder to ignore.
Without giving away any spoilers, Katherine says her favorite scene in “Between the Lines,” is when the characters sail to Masonboro Island. “It’s very funny and sweet.”
Each of Katherine’s books in the Hometown Series can be read as a standalone, though she recommends reading them in order if you plan to read them all.
As for how steamy her writing is, Katherine believes it’s all subjective but she would rate her books as having “mild spice.”
Knowing she wanted full control over release timelines and designs, Katherine went the self-publishing route. Her first book debuted in 2022. “Publishing a book is a full time job – but in a good way,” she says, “Writing the book is just 5% of the process.”
The author isn’t originally from the state, her love for the Carolinas stretches back far. She grew up vacationing in the outer banks with her family. “As a kid North Carolina was a destination I always wanted to end up in,” she says. Now she writes that sense of enchantment into her books.
Katherine has five books published, all set in the state. She currently lives in Raleigh but her favorite small town is *drumroll* Southern Pines. She put that on her Instagram and everything. Which means we definitely asked if a future book would take place here and we’re delighted to report that we got a solid maybe.
Even more wholesome? Each of her books feature a rescue pet inspired by her own, a dog named Wilbur. “He’s always next to me when I’m writing,” she says. While most of her stories feature a dog, the latest actually features a cat. Since she is so passionate about rescues, she donates 10% of her book proceeds to animal rescues around the state.
Katherine is currently on a mini book tour through North Carolina and plans to stop at Bella Filati in Southern Pines on Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a book signing.
