Chris Kepner is a founder-agent at The Kepner Agency who casts an unusually wide net across both commercial fiction and nonfiction, positioning themselves as a champion for storytellers across nearly every major trade category.
In brief
The Kepner Agency is a boutique operation founded and run by Chris Kepner, meaning writers deal directly with the decision-maker from first query onward.
The stated genre list is exceptionally broad — spanning literary and commercial fiction, genre fiction (mystery, thriller, romance, fantasy/sci-fi), children's books, and a sweeping range of nonfiction from cookbooks to technology to sports — which makes Kepner one of the more generalist agents currently accepting queries.
Because no confirmed individual deal records are available, writers should treat the wide genre mandate as an invitation to query but should research recent sales independently before assuming deep category expertise in any single niche.
Submission requirements are email-only with sample pages pasted into the body — no attachments, no online portal — a less common format that writers must follow precisely to avoid an automatic pass.
Query status was observed as open in April 2026; always verify against the live agency contact before submitting.
Lately
The agency's public statement frames storytelling as a near-essential human need and describes writing as 'one of the most noble pursuits' — language that suggests Chris Kepner is drawn to writers with genuine conviction in their craft, not just commercial calculation.
What Chris is looking for
Chris Kepner welcomes broadly conceived adult fiction across the commercial spectrum. The agency's founding philosophy — that stories are as essential as water — suggests a genuine appetite for emotionally resonant narratives rather than a narrow niche focus.
Genre fiction anchored by mystery, suspense, and thrillers appears prominently in the mandate, consistent with their strong commercial orientation.
Romance is listed as a sought category; no specific subgenres are highlighted, so writers should lead with the emotional core and heat level of their work in the query.
Speculative fiction — both fantasy and science fiction — is within scope. Given the breadth of the list, SFF writers should demonstrate strong commercial hooks alongside world-building to stand out.
Children's books and juvenile fiction are explicitly listed. No distinction between picture books, middle grade, or young adult is specified, so writers should clearly identify their audience and age range in the query.
Biography and narrative nonfiction are on the list. A compelling platform or a distinctive, well-documented story angle will be essential given how competitive this space is.
The agency accepts proposals in business, investing, finance, computers, and technology — a relatively rare combination for a generalist literary agency, suggesting Chris Kepner may have a personal interest or professional background that touches these fields.
Wellness-oriented nonfiction — including health, mind/body/spirit, lifestyle, and cookbooks — rounds out the nonfiction slate. Writers in these categories should bring a demonstrable platform or unique angle.
History, science, sports, and travel are all listed, indicating an openness to narrative and prescriptive nonfiction across a wide subject range.
African-American interest titles — in both fiction and nonfiction — are specifically called out, signaling intentional attention to this market segment.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Chris
Paste your query letter and the first three chapters (or approximately twenty-five pages) directly into the body of the email — do not attach any files, as attachments will not be opened.
Address the query to Chris Kepner by name; as a solo founder-agent, there is no routing ambiguity.
Lead with genre, word count, and a one-paragraph pitch before diving into the manuscript's details — the agency covers a huge range and a clear genre label helps orient the reader immediately.
If your book fits more than one genre (e.g., a mystery with strong romantic elements), name the primary genre first and note the secondary element briefly rather than leading with a hybrid label.
For nonfiction, include a platform paragraph: who you are, why you are the right person to write this book, and what audience you can reach.
The agency's philosophy emphasizes bold, necessary storytelling — a sentence or two in your query about why this story matters and why you had to write it can resonate with that ethos.
Do not expect an acknowledgment of receipt; per the submission guidelines, a response will only come if they are interested in moving forward.
Verify the query email address against the live agency contact page immediately before sending, as contact details for boutique agencies can change.