Jessica Keener

Jessica Brilliant Keener is the author of three novels, a story collection and co-author of a business memoir. Her newest novel, Evening Begins the Day (spring 2026), is an International Book Award finalist.

Her debut novel, Night Swim, was a national bestseller. Her second novel, Strangers in Budapest, was an Indie Next pick, a "best new novel" by Entertainment Weekly, and a Southern Independent Bookseller Assn bestseller.

Her collection of award-winning stories includes "Recovery" which was listed in The Pushcart Prize under "Outstanding Writers," and won Redbook magazine's second prize. Keener is the recipient of multiple writing fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist's Grant, Wesleyan, Brown, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and Omega Institute. Her feature articles (more than 100) have appeared in The Boston Globe; O, The Oprah Magazine, WBUR's Cognoscenti, Coastal Living, Design New England, Writer's Digest, and the award-winning anthology, Alone Together, Love, Grief, and Comfort in the time of Covid-19.