Elise Hart Kipness

Elise Hart Kipness is a USA Today bestselling author and former national TV reporter. Her acclaimed Kate Green thriller series was optioned by Universal Television and Mary J. Blige’s Blue Butterfly Productions. Elise’s work has earned worldwide recognition as a Men’s Journal top-ten pick for Best Book, a Woman’s Day Must-Read selection, and a Scripps News beach read pick, as well as being featured by CBS Mornings Plus, People magazine, CBS New York’s Club Calvi, and Newsday.

In her past life, Elise covered major news stories for New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press, and reported on marquee sports events for FOX Sports. A graduate of Brown University, she teaches at Westport Writers’ Workshop while also serving as a board member of Friends of the Key West Library and cofounder of the Connecticut chapter of Sisters in Crime. She and her husband split their time between Florida, Connecticut, and New York.

Elise In the News

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.