Maxine Blake is of Jamaican descent and was born and raised in Wolverhampton in the UK. She taught and managed educational departments across the country for 37 years before retiring in 2020. She holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Sheffield, focussing on sport education.

In her retirement, Maxine has become a professional busybody and continues to scrutinise student work both nationally and internationally. She also sings with the Sheffield Community Choir and went on stage with Take That on their Greatest Hits tour. She dabbles in piano playing and, even after a decade of practice, still refuses to play for an audience of more than two.

Post-2020 madness and her travel writing has resumed, giving her more excuses to see the world… not that she needs one.

She currently lives in Sheffield with her husband.