Elizabeth Kelly was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada and worked as a journalist and magazine editor. Currently, she is an arts and entertainment editor.

She has several Canadian National Magazine Award nominations and awards to her credit and is the best-selling author of Apologize, Apologize! (Twelve), which was first runner-up for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, and shortlisted for the Rome Prize. Her sophomore work, The Last Summer of the Camperdowns was named a notable book of fiction in the Washington Post and was a finalist for the New England Society Books Award.

Her most recent published work was The Miracle on Monhegan Island, an Oprah Magazine Best Summer Read selection.

She lives with her husband in Eastern Ontario, and her beloved shih tzu, Archie and Bug, a Leonberger named Auda and a Pekingese of dubious character called Peabo. Also in residence is Polly, the cat.