Kelly was born in New Zealand and moved with her family to Canada when she was young, then to Texas.
She has also written a series of Calpurnia Tate / Girl Vet chapter books for younger readers.
Kelly is represented by Marcy Posner at Folio Literary Management.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was adapted into a musical play by Omri Schein and Daniel Lincoln.
It premiered at the Lamb's Player Theatre in San Diego in 2024, where it received critical acclaim.