is a writer and artist creating visual narratives in a variety of media. After more than a decade during which she earned a PhD and published books of literary fiction, Kelcey began to pursue new ways of telling stories through illustration, comics, and collage. Whether working on paper, a wood panel, or an iPad, Kelcey loves exploring the dynamic interplay of image and text.
Kelcey is the author of four award-winning books, including the graphic memoir, The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women’s Lives (Avery Books/Penguin), winner of a 2023 Ohioana Book Award and featured in the New York Times Book Review’s Holiday Gift Guide. Her three previous award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction are The Bitter Life of Božena Němcová, Liliane’s Balcony, and For Sale By Owner. She is co-editor, with Tom Hart, of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Graphic Literature. Kelcey’s work has appeared in The Rumpus, The Believer, Washington Post, Lit Hub, and elsewhere. She has received grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, the Sustainable Arts Foundation, and New Frontiers in Arts and Humanities at Indiana University. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and is a professor of English and creative writing at Indiana University South Bend. Kelcey writes and draws stories of the creative life at her illustrated newsletter, The Habit of Art.
