Jacklyn Brady is a pseudonym used by the acclaimed American author Sherry Lewis. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brady spent her early years in Montana, which she considers her true home. From a young age, she had a passion for writing, but her journey to becoming a full-time author was not straightforward. She held various jobs, including working as a Christmas tree decorator, keyboard player, secretary, vocalist, convenience store manager, poinsettia dresser, and administrative assistant.
In 1993, Brady's perseverance paid off when she sold her first three novels to the Berkley Prime Crime publishing house. The following year, she sold her first romance novel to Harlequin Books. She has since written numerous novels across various genres, including mystery, thriller, contemporary romance, and time travel romance. As Jacklyn Brady, she writes the bestselling Piece of Cake mystery series, which is set in New Orleans and features cake artist Rita Lucero. Under the name Sammi Carter, she writes the Candy Shop mystery series set in Paradise, Colorado, featuring candy maker Abby Shaw. As Sherry Lewis, she writes the Fred Vickery mystery series and various romance novels.
Alongside her writing career, Brady has been teaching writing workshops for over 20 years through Dancing on Coals Workshops for Fiction Writers. Originally from Montana, she spent several years living at the base of Utah's Wasatch Mountains. She now resides a block from the beach along Florida's Emerald Coast, where she continues to write and teach. Despite the challenges of her past, Brady has built a successful career as a author, demonstrating the value of perseverance and determination.