Sierra Michaels was born in Cincinnati then moved to Los Angeles as a young adult. Because of her passion for culture, both past and present, she pursued a Master’s degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Archaeology. During her years in college she had the opportunity to travel widely and study culture first hand. She also realized that Los Angeles gave her a unique opportunity to observe the many subcultures within the city. It is one of these subcultures that inspired her to write Intimate Encounters.