S L Shields was born in Upper Norwood, South London in 1968. She has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in Literatures in English, and is a travel diarist with interests in language, poetry, art, nutrition, walking, and off-grid lifestyles. She has written for Bradt Travel, Telegraph Travel, Titan Travel (SAGA), Luxtripper and Cool Places and has lived in Gabon and Oman. She travels extensively with her partner in a self-converted campervan, experiencing the continuous life journey.