About Keely

Want the short version?

Keely Stephens grew up reading her mom’s (not very spicy) Harlequin books on summer afternoons, at a time when she couldn’t imagine a happily ever after for a shy, nerdy introvert like her. Though it took Keely a while to find the courage (and time) to write her own happily-ever-after books (both spicy and not), she’s thrilled to have found how much she enjoys writing them. She hopes to always write strong, capable characters (of all sorts) that view sex (of all sorts) positively. Keely still reads romances on summer afternoons when she has the time, which, admittedly, is limited, thanks to all that her own happily ever after has afforded her.

The long version, well, it’s a little longer . . .

Keely Stephens indeed grew up reading her mom’s (not very spicy) Harlequin books on summer afternoons, at a time when she couldn’t imagine a happily ever after for a shy, nerdy introvert like her. To this day, she’s not sure if her mother ever knew about her reading those books, though now that she’s a mom herself (with those eyes in the back of her head), she’s pretty sure her mother knew. And that’s fine with her. Because if she hadn’t been introduced to different types of stories by her mother (directly and indirectly), then she wouldn’t be where she is today.

Which is writing books.

For other people.

Wow. What a life!

Aside from reading and writing, Keely also loves nature, mismatched socks, warm sweaters, puppies and kittens, Mary Oliver poetry, and ice cream. She’ll take a hike or a run over television most days but will stop what’s she’s doing to admire any animal she encounters. She has two sisters, Rowan and Jane, who you’ll hear more about than you probably want to, and she’s passionate about social justice and hopes to right some injustices in this world. With her writing? Maybe, maybe not. She’s a feminist and proud to be one. Her past experiences are varied, so what you see in her books might be ripped from her headlines, or it might not.

You’ll just have to guess.

Or ask her.

That works, too, because she’s an open book.

Feel free to contact her through her form or at keelystephensauthor (at) gmail.com