Kelley holds a PhD in religious studies. She taught for fourteen years prior to transitioning to the mental health field, where she was employed at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre for fourteen years. She now works part-time as a psychotherapist. As the author of two nonfiction books, several short stories and three children’s books, Kelley gravitates towards characters who are different, don’t fit in, don’t do what they’re supposed to, or feel like they don’t belong.