Keira Shae was raised by an uneducated, single parent in poverty, and was placed in foster care at age fifteen after her mother had embraced methamphetamine addiction and prostitution. Her foster parents encouraged her to obtain higher education, and provided her with structure and skills for life. She was the first in her family to graduate high school, let alone college. She earned a Master's in Educational Psychology from Utah State University.

During her undergraduate degree at Utah Valley University, she composed the "Dear American Taxpayers" Letter and the letter saw national success as its contents inspired journalists to interview her and wire the story to various newspapers.

Later, Shae published her best-selling memoir, “How The Light Gets In” with BCC Press in 2018.

She now tours the country as a professional public speaker on topics such as resilience, foster care, women and education, dysfunctional families, and youth at risk.

Foster Care, Adoption, Higher Education, Resilience Education, At-Risk Youth, Youth Development, Authors, Bestselling Author, Overcoming Adversity, Poverty, Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Women, Writing,