Although she was born and educated on the south coast of England, life choices have gradually moved Sheila Claydon and her family northwards across the UK. At present she is lucky enough to live on a stunning stretch of wild coastline in the northwest of the country where she finds walking her dog an enjoyable if necessary counterweight to the sedentary life of a writer. Interspersed with her writing is a long and varied career in health, education and employment and she likes to think she is a better writer because of those experiences. She also admits that a few of her heavily disguised characters are based on people she has met or worked with in the past.