Sherrilyn Kenyon, also 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. Her childhood was marked by the challenges of her father's departure when she was eight, leading her mother to send her sons to live with family in Atlanta, Georgia, while she cared for her daughters due to her older sister Trish's severe cerebral palsy. After 18 months, the family was reunited in Atlanta.

Despite being severely dyslexic, Kenyon aspired to be a writer from a young age. Her first recognition came when she won a contest in third grade by writing an essay about her mother. At age seven, she wrote her first novel, and by 14, she made her first professional sale. Her passion for writing continued through school, contributing to newspapers and magazines.

Kenyon's love for the paranormal was influenced by her mother's uncensored movie choices, which fueled her imagination to write fantasy stories. In high school, she developed her Hunter-Leyends world, evolving into the Dark-Hunters, Were-Hunters, and Dream-Hunters series, a universe governed by rules known only to her.

She studied Medieval History and Classical Studies, earning additional minors in Philosophy, Psychology, and French. Her early career included selling articles and eventually books, but a series of personal and professional setbacks occurred, including her father's death and a difficult pregnancy. Despite these challenges, Kenyon continued writing and published "Fantasy Lover," which marked a turning point in her career.

Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor, she ventured into historical fiction with paranormal elements. Her works have sold over 70 million copies worldwide and regularly appear on bestseller lists.

Kenyon is musically inclined, playing the guitar, flute, piano, and drums, and has a keen interest in martial arts and sword-fighting. She resides outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her family and pets.