https://www.kepneragency.com/literary-agency-blog daily 0.75 2025-11-14 https://www.kepneragency.com/images daily 0.75 2018-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1527656900120-VYYBYF65F4AL7QE6H5YN/TheKepnerAgency_EmailSignature65.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1527656900120-VYYBYF65F4AL7QE6H5YN/TheKepnerAgency_EmailSignature65.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1527657210259-7C18JK54GXNJ3AK01KEH/TheKepnerAgency_EmailSignature450p.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1527657391742-XR6GOMPJ3HPG9YN9T4XN/TheKepnerAgency_EmailSignature100h.png Images https://www.kepneragency.com/news-insights daily 0.75 2026-05-14 https://www.kepneragency.com/landing daily 0.75 2017-06-05 https://www.kepneragency.com/home-3 daily 1.0 2024-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1507872630102-4KXV7UADXOL21WGBPDHW/TheKepnerAgency_TwitterBanner.png The Kepner Agency https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1508479208624-SV4OAMJE37SCDP8SLO8Z/the-kepner-agency-literary-agency The Kepner Agency https://www.kepneragency.com/contact daily 0.75 2018-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1508479352420-CR6PILCX3M2SJ81F61WT/chris-kepner-literary-agent-kepner-agency Contact The Kepner Agency https://www.kepneragency.com/query-guidelines daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/1508394279565-20GYNL9SAPAHR1CBQA8D/literary-agency-the-kepner-agency The Kepner Agency Query Guidelines https://www.kepneragency.com/internships daily 0.75 2026-03-10 https://www.kepneragency.com/about daily 0.75 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/aaad725d-188d-415c-a7bd-aa3a7a1dd010/Chris+Kepner+literary+agent.jpg Meet the Agents of The Kepner Agency - Make it stand out Chris Kepner I’ve been working in the publishing industry since 2008. As a literary agent and director of international rights, I’ve negotiated hundreds of book licenses all over the world, and I couldn't be more excited about building this agency. All of the agents you see to the right are just brimming with talent. If you're an author seeking representation, please review our query guidelines. My personal focus at the moment is adult non-fiction, but I’m not the best fit for memoir unless it’s platform-driven. I live with my amazing wife, daughter, and two cats in New Jersey, a half-hour west of Manhattan. I’m originally from the lovely Buffalo area and still visit family and friends there at least twice a year. I’m a lifelong Bills fan, but I promise you don’t have to pretend to be one in your query to get my attention! I studied English and business at Notre Dame, and I’ve been in love with music and skiing for as long as I can remember. My daughter and I play tennis and climb ropes courses together, and I rarely turn down a golf invitation. Our lives can seem meaningless when you take a broad space-time perspective, but this world we all share is pretty special. Let's cherish it, and one another, while we can. Be at ease. Be confident in who you are. Be mindful that everyone else is their own universe of thought and feeling, and be forgiving. chris@kepneragency.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/0d3074db-bc28-4dc1-b5a8-61287c11eef7/20240524_060642.jpg Meet the Agents of The Kepner Agency Alyssa Santoleri Previously working in the editorial department at Dumbo Press, an indie publisher of experimental literature, I’ve handled a diverse range of genres, voices, and styles before coming to The Kepner Agency. I studied English and CW (Publishing), Theatre, and Media Management at the University of Iowa (a challenge to see how many words can fit on a diploma). When I’m not hunched over my computer reading, you can find me hiking a mountain I never intended to with my phone on 15%, checking flights for nonexistent travel plans, and more than likely, anxiously baking a loaf of bread I still think won’t rise (sourdough scares me). As far as what I’d love to see in my inbox? Send what you have! I’m often surprised by the kinds of books I can’t put down. Specifically, I love stories where tangible and flawed characters drive the plot. Strong narrative voices and well written, realistic dialogue are a huge plus. I have a soft spot for any genre fiction including (but not limited to) fantasy, soft sci-fi, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and women's fiction and am always looking for anything with romance. Unfortunately, I’m not a good choice for any faith-based or Christian stories, or books with a plot that centers a sentient AI system. alyssa@kepneragency.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/bd547a78-f18e-48e4-beef-677b460d3f8d/Erin_Gray_Headshot4.jpg Meet the Agents of The Kepner Agency Erin Gray I studied English and Creative Writing (Publishing) at the University of Iowa, and I now live in Cedar Rapids and work as Advancement Communications Coordinator for Coe College, in addition to my role as Associate Literary Agent. I am originally from Illinois, and I make plenty of trips home to see my family and our lovable pitbull, Chaya. When not writing alumni newsletters or diving into the latest batch of queries, I spend my time reading (most often literary fiction, twentieth-century short stories, or nonfiction about the Romanov dynasty), writing my own fiction, assembling puzzles (500- or 1000-piece), and hosting PowerPoint Nights with my friends. I’m interested in your adult literary, upmarket, historical, and survival fiction; family sagas; Westerns; mysteries, crime novels, and thrillers; narrative nonfiction; novellas; and short story collections. I’ve been known to enjoy grounded science fiction and fantasy, as well as folk/gothic horror, too. If your book has complex characters, a setting that functions as a character, and/or engaging pacing, send it my way! My favorite books include The Nix by Nathan Hill, The Birthday Party by Laurent Mauvignier, and Table for Two by Amor Towles, and I’m always looking to find their successors. erin@kepneragency.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/0ee629f8-f693-42ae-a7d5-5d45e18c1152/portrait.jpg Meet the Agents of The Kepner Agency Claire Lee I enjoy big dogs, cold brew, dark lagers, and tulips. One of my greatest aspirations is to attempt to pick up a pigeon and succeed. While I love all things art and storytelling, I hold three things especially close to my heart: poetry, tabletop RPGs, and Richard Linklater films. I'm a graduate of The George Washington University with majors in Creative Writing and American Studies, and currently pursuing my MFA at Brown University. When it comes to manuscripts, I am most interested in acquiring character-driven literary and upmarket novels, novellas, and short story collections. Though I love any good story, I'm partial to road-trip novels and Westerns, grounded sci-fi and speculative fiction, magical realism, or anything with a particularly humorous, surreal, or even absurd note. I am also open to compelling memoir. In a sentence, I'm always looking for writing with something to say. Some of my recent favorite reads include Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, The Vegetarian by Han Kang, and Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, and I'm happy to receive any book recs! claire@kepneragency.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f6c2cbd1758e4e9eb45467/f968c9ff-340c-4981-bcfb-d07073636c69/IMG_7168.jpg Meet the Agents of The Kepner Agency Ella Miller I graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Creative Writing and a minor in Publishing––so being a literary agent is a total dream job! I live in the Albany area, where I also work as an Admissions Counselor at Excelsior University. When I’m not sorting through queries, I spend my free time utilizing my movie theater subscription, trying new cafés, writing fiction, strength training, and reading pretty much anything I can get my hands on. Some of my favorite books are The Idiot by Elif Batuman, The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I’m interested in fiction manuscripts in the following genres––literary fiction, upmarket/book club/women’s lit, grounded genre fiction (like Project Hail Mary or Sea of Tranquility), contemporary romance (literary leaning, like Normal People), and humor/satire––but I’m open to anything with an exciting plot and a strong voice. As for nonfiction, I’m interested in stories about 60s-90s band culture, medieval history, and cults. I am not interested in anything (fiction or nonfiction) related to AI. ella@kepneragency.com