We are thrilled to host the book launch for former-news-correspondent-turned-sports-broadcast-journalist Elise Hart Kipness and her debut novel LIGHTS OUT(Thomas & Mercer; November 1, 2023). Elise will be joined in conversation by author Tessa Wegert (the Shana Merchant mysteries).
LIGHTS OUT is a fast-paced thriller that follows a sports reporter’s journey off the court and into a world of deception and murder. Elise spent years in the Northeast covering “if it bleeds it leads” stories of murder and misdeeds from deserted streets to the gilded halls of the wealthy and powerful before becoming a member of the early wave of women assigned to cover men’s sports both in and out of the locker room.
Inspired by her experiences chasing marquee athletes through the tunnels of Madison Square Garden and standing before glaring lights reporting to national audiences, LIGHTS OUTtakes readers on an adrenaline-pumping ride to uncover the truth. This propelling and entertaining novel is ideal for fans of Ruth Ware, Harlan Coban, and Rachel Hawkins.
This event is free, but we ask you to RSVP here for planning purposes. Books will be available in-store for purchase and signing.
About LIGHTS OUT
In LIGHTS OUT, former Olympic athlete and sports reporter Kate Green isn’t sure how much more tumultuous her life can get. Just as she’s put on temporary leave from her job, NBA superstar Kurt Robbins is killed and the prime suspect is none other than his wife, and Kate’s best friend. Kate knows that Yvette’s marriage wasn’t exactly stable, but her friend isno murderer, and Kate is determined to prove it with her own investigation. While she tries to salvage Yvette’s life, Kate’s own continues to unravel. Her career is in limbo. Gossip columns speculate about her future. Her children are battling their own demons. And her estranged father suddenly reenters her life as a detective assigned to Kurt’s homicide case. As her worlds collide―exposing secrets, lies, and ulterior motives―Kate may have to choose between the games she can play and the one she might lose.
About Elise Hart Kipness
Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned crime writer. Her debut mystery, Lights Out, the first in a series, will be released in the fall of 2023 by Thomas & Mercer. The novel is based on Elise’s experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV. Like her protagonist, she chased marquee athletes through the tunnels of Madison Square Garden and stood before glaring lights reporting to national audiences.
In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, NY, and the Associated Press. She is currently Co-President of the newly formed Sisters in Crime Connecticut (SinC-CT). A graduate of Brown University, Elise has two college age sons and lives on a hobby farm in Stamford, CT with her husband, three labradoodles, chickens, ducks and one very cantankerous turkey.
About Tessa Wegert
Tessa Wegert is the author of the popular Shana Merchant mysteries, which include Death in the Family, The Dead Season, Dead Wind, The Kind to Kill (a Strand Magazine Top 25 Mystery Novels of 2022 pick), and the upcoming Devils at the Door. A former journalist, Tessa has contributed to Forbes, HuffPost, Adweek, and The Economist. She grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she studies martial arts and is co-president of Sisters in Crime CT.