Meet

Kelly Harrel writes the kind of stories that feel like conversations with a trusted friend—honest, vulnerable, and full of grace. Drawing from her own experiences with marriage, parenting, loss, and faith, she invites readers into deeply personal journeys of hope and healing. Through inspirational fiction, authentic nonfiction, and emotionally resonant Christian romance, Kelly’s work shines with the quiet, beautiful truth: even our hardest struggles can lead to deeper connection and life-changing encounters with God’s love.

Her acclaimed Lauren Drake series follows complex, modern women wrestling with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and the weight of faith in everyday life. Its spin-off, Once Lost, brings the timeless prodigal story into the present, exploring teen identity, rebellion, and the lasting impact of a parent’s faith.

Beyond the page, Kelly is a seasoned educator and speaker who regularly teaches at women’s events, writer’s conferences, and schools. With decades of experience in both education and ministry leadership, she blends storytelling with spiritual insight to reach hearts of all ages. Of all her accomplishments—publishing eight novels, leading multi-generational women’s ministries—she still counts homeschooling her children as her most meaningful achievement.

Kelly lives in Southern California with her husband, two young adult children, and their desert tortoise, George. She holds a California teaching credential and a PPS school counseling credential, and continues to champion emotional growth, spiritual healing, and authentic storytelling in every space she enters.