Jessica Keener is a nationally bestselling author known for her emotionally resonant fiction. Her debut novel, "Night Swim," explores themes of family tragedy and coming of age in 1970s Boston, reaching #9 on Amazon's bestseller list. Her short story collection, "Women In Bed," delves into intimate relationships through nine raw narratives, earning recognition from Shape Magazine and BettyConfidential.com as a standout seasonal read. Keener's critically acclaimed novel "Strangers In Budapest" was named a Best Book by Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, and Chicago Review of Books, while also becoming an Indie Next Pick and appearing on Southern Independent bestseller lists.
A recipient of prestigious literary honors, Keener has been recognized by the Pushcart Prize anthology and won second prize in Redbook magazine's fiction competition. She received a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist's Grant, a Wesleyan creative writing scholarship, and a fellowship from the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. National Book Critics Circle Award winner Edith Pearlman praised Keener as "a master of immediacy," highlighting her ability to craft compelling narratives. Beyond fiction, her journalism has appeared in The Boston Globe, O, The Oprah Magazine, and the award-winning anthology "Alone Together, Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of Covid-19."