Linda Michel (nee Treharne) was born in Cardiff in 1951. She moved to the valleys when she was 11 years old, as her parents became pub landlords, first in Pontycymer, and then Penrhiwfer. Linda attended Tonyrefail Grammar School until she was 16 and left with two O Levels. Linda had a few office jobs before she became a post office telephonist from 1969 until 1971 when she left to have her first child. She went on to have two more children and started a career in social care in 1994 where she went on to become a service manager in Mental Health Services, Domestic Violence Services and Homelessness Services. In 2015, Linda attained an Open University Degree in Social Care after many years of studying. Linda retired in 2016 and joined the RCT Creative Writing Group in 2017. She also joined the Labour party and became a Community Councillor.