Forthcoming Debut Novel

Tendril

A biotech science fiction novel set in a drowned future.

Tendril is an adult undersea biospheric science fiction novel with body horror and a romantic thriller core.

Kelly Dern writes science fiction about uncanny worlds, intricate worldbuilding, and small magic. She was born in France and grew up in the United States, with stints in London, Germany, and New Zealand. She lives in the mountains of Colorado under a pile of books with her family and wolf dog. During the harsh light of day she designs mobile apps and writes during the early hours when everyone else is asleep.

Updates & news

  • 2027

    Attending Milford Science Fiction Writers' Conference and Retreat.

  • 2027

    Attending the Novel in Progress writing retreat.

  • 2026

    Attending the Futurescapes writing retreat.

  • June 2026

    Drafting Chapter 14. The bees keep showing up in scenes I didn’t plan for them. A short essay on revision and patience is up on the newsletter.

  • April 2026

    Tendril has a working comp set and a finished outline. Onward.

Writing

  • Tendril

    Novel ✴︎ in progress

  • My Lovely Substrate

    Novella

  • A Hunger at Lethe Landing

    Novel ✴︎ in progress

  • Wildfight in the Myst

    Short fiction ✴︎ Winner ✴︎ 2026

Field notes by email

Monthly-ish letters on the work, the world of Tendril, and the small magics of writing a first novel.