Sherrilyn Kenyon, known as Sherri, was born on December 11, 1965, in Columbus, Georgia, USA. She grew up in a large family with eight brothers and one sister. When she was just eight years old, her father left the family, prompting her mother to send her sons to live with relatives in Atlanta, Georgia, while she took care of her daughters, as Sherri’s older sister, Trish, has severe cerebral palsy. After 18 months, the daughters moved to Atlanta to reunite with the rest of the family. At 20, Sherri experienced the loss of her brother Buddy.

Despite being severely dyslexic, Sherri had a passion for writing from a young age. In kindergarten, she expressed her dream of becoming a writer and a mother. Her first recognition for writing came when she won a contest in third grade with an essay about her mother. By age 7, she wrote and illustrated her first novel, a horror story. At 14, she made her first professional sale and continued contributing to school newspapers, yearbooks, local papers, and magazines throughout high school.

Kenyon attributes her fascination with paranormal themes to her mother, who loved such storylines and never censored the movies she watched. During high school, she began writing fantasy stories for herself. In the mid-1980s, while working for the science fiction magazine Cutting Edge, she was encouraged to write a long-running serial. This led to the creation of the Hunter-Legends world, later evolving into the Dark-Hunters, Were-Hunters, and Dream-Hunters series. Her works often explore an ancient "Pyramid of Protection" created by the Greek gods to protect humanity from supernatural threats.

Kenyon graduated with an interdisciplinary major combining Medieval History and language with Classical Studies. Her academic journey included minors in Philosophy, Psychology, and French, as well as a certificate in Medieval Studies.

She married young and moved to Richmond, Virginia, supporting her husband’s studies. During this period, she faced difficulties in securing employment but started selling books and won several awards. However, she encountered setbacks after her sixth novel, the death of her father, and her own health challenges. Despite these hurdles, she continued writing and eventually sold her fantasy novel, Fantasy Lover.

Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor, Kenyon penned works distinct from her previous creations. Her novels have achieved global success, with over 70 million copies sold in more than 100 countries, frequently appearing on bestseller lists worldwide.

Kenyon is also musically inclined, playing guitar, flute, piano, and drums. Her interests extend to martial arts and sword-fighting, having been a sparring partner for a Golden Glove boxer. She resides outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her family, including her three sons, a variety of pets, and her extensive sword collection.