Elise Hart Kipness

Elise Hart Kipness is a USA Today bestselling author and former national TV sports reporter. She is known for the acclaimed Kate Green thriller series, LIGHTS OUT (2023), DANGEROUS PLAY (2024), and CLOSE CALL (2025), which has been optioned for television by Universal Television and Mary J. Blige’s Blue Butterfly.

Kipness has earned worldwide recognition, including Men’s Journal’s Top 10 Books of the Year, a Woman’s Day Must-Read Selection, and a Scripps News Beach Read Pick and has been featured on CBS Mornings+, CBS New York’s Club Calvi, People Magazine, and Newsday.

Like her fearless protagonist, Kipness chased marquee athletes at the US Open and stood beneath the blinding lights of Madison Square Garden, in her past life as a reporter for FOX Sports Network and WNBC New York.

Behind the Scenes

2001 US Open

I was really excited when I got to interview Venus Williams after she beat her sister in their first Grand Slam face-off. Venus was so nice and down to earth. I was six months pregnant at the time and she was very solicitous about how I was doing, especially in the heat. 

2000 National League Championship Series
Shea Stadium

I really enjoyed covering baseball, especially when it came time for the playoffs. There was something magical about being on the field under the lights in October. 

1998-99 NBA Lockout
Interviewing former NBA Commissioner David Stern

The NBA lockout was a “hurry up and wait” story where reporters spent hours waiting outside conference rooms. Moments like these inspire a lot of the situations Kate Green, finds herself in, and some of the creative ways she corners elusive characters.

2000 March Madness

Yes, covering March Madness is as fun as you would expect! I had the great luck to be assigned to report on Coach K and Duke Basketball. Here’s a little secret: As a petite (5’) reporter, I needed all the height I could get when interviewing players, which is why I always stood on a milk crate, unless I got lucky and we sat.

1999 Olympic Stadium, Montreal

This week I spent more time in the airport than on baseball fields. In addition to covering Tony Gwynn’s 3,000th hit in Montreal, I saw Sammy Sosa hit his 60th home run for a second year and Wade Boggs join the 3-thousand Hit Club.

1999 Raymond James Stadium

Covering the NFL was a blast. I got to report on one of the NFL’s star coaches, Tony Dungy, when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the team’s first division title in 20 years.