Kennedy Cole is a speculative author born and raised in North Carolina. Her creative portfolio includes internships with Blair Publisher, ONLY POEMS, Lookout Books, and History Through Fiction, as well as an array of published poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Her debut horror novel, THERE USED TO BE PEOPLE HERE, will be published with Berkley at Penguin Random House in November 2026.

A graduate of UNC Wilmington, Kennedy lives by the beach with her partner and enjoys playing games, puzzling, sipping matcha, and collecting tattoos. Ask her about her favorite movies, recent meals she’s cheffed up, or whatever video game she’s fixated on. She’ll have plenty to say.

Kennedy is represented by Alex Land at Mad Woman Literary Agency, and Lucy Stille at Lucy Stille Literary.