S.E. Bourne's writing is cut to the bone, covering the themes of childhood, the natural world, dreamscapes, and aging.

Bourne has worked as a waitress, cook, chambermaid, laundress, barker, and secretary. Much of her early 20s was spent traveling through the United States and living in hostels with foreigners.

She once hitchhiked from Valdez to Anchorage, Alaska, and it only took two rides. Oh, and one bear encounter.