Kelley is a writer and psychotherapist. She studied in Chicago, earning a Master of Divinity at Chicago Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Later she completed a Ph.D. in religious studies at the University of Ottawa. Her nonfiction works include two books (When Women Become Priests and Creativity, Spirituality, and Mental Health) and over fifteen scholarly articles. Kelley’s fiction includes several short stories, a chapbook, and three children’s books. She is a member of the Ottawa Independent Writers and the Writers’ Union of Canada.