More than a guidebook, Ship Life is a collection of journeys, memories, lessons, and experiences from people whose lives have been shaped by the sea.

From first contracts to lifelong careers, from cargo ships to cruise ships, these stories offer a rare glimpse into the realities of living and working at sea.

Inside Ship Life

Through personal stories, reflections, and insights from crew members around the world, Ship Life explores many aspects of living and working at sea, including:

⚓ A Day in the Life Of…
Step into the shoes of crew members from different departments and discover what life onboard is really like, both on and off duty.

⚓ Perception vs Reality
Explore the myths, misconceptions, and surprises that many people encounter when they first join a ship.

⚓ Safety, Security, Accidents & Emergencies
Gain an insight into the responsibilities, procedures, and challenges involved in keeping ships, crew, and passengers safe at sea.

⚓ How Life Has Changed
Hear from seafarers with decades of experience as they reflect on how shipboard life and the maritime industry have evolved over time.

⚓ What Next? What Now?
Discover what happens after life at sea, from career changes and settling ashore to the lasting impact that ship life has on those who experience it.

⚓ Relationships at Sea & Beyond
From friendships and family life to meeting partners and building a future ashore, explore the human side of life at sea.

⚓ First Contracts & Lifelong Careers
From nervous first-timers to those with over 40 years of experience, follow the journeys of people whose lives have been shaped by the sea.

And much more…

Whether you’re considering a maritime career, preparing for your first contract, reconnecting with your own shipboard memories, or simply curious about the world beyond the horizon, Ship Life invites you aboard.

⚓ Signed Paperback Edition

Own a personally signed copy of Ship Life and discover the stories, experiences, and memories of people whose lives have been shaped by the sea.

£14.99 GBP
Including UK postage and packaging

Click here to pay now

Every copy is personally signed by Michelle Shaw.

Ready to Come Aboard?

Simply click here  to place your order and provide the address where you would like your copy delivered.

Your book will then be carefully prepared, signed, and sent on its way to you.

Purchasing as a Gift?

Ship Life makes a thoughtful gift for aspiring crew members, maritime professionals, cruise enthusiasts, and anyone who loves stories from life at sea.

If you’re ordering on behalf of someone else, simply include their name and any personal message you’d like Michelle to write inside the book, and she’ll be delighted to personalise it for you.

OUR MISSION

To share the real stories behind life at sea.

Through the voices of seafarers from around the world, we aim to provide an honest, balanced, and human insight into living and working onboard cargo and cruise ships.

Our goal is not to persuade people to go to sea, but to help them make informed decisions, prepare for the realities of shipboard life, and feel less alone as they navigate their own journey.

By sharing experiences from crew members across a wide range of departments, career stages, and life circumstances, we hope to offer guidance, reassurance, and a deeper understanding of a world that many people never get to see.

Whether you’re considering your first contract, supporting someone who works at sea, or reflecting on your own maritime journey, Ship Life exists to connect people through stories, experiences, and shared understanding.

Because ship life is about more than a job.

It’s about people, purpose, adventure, challenge, growth, and the journeys that shape who we become.

Click here to buy now

⚓ Fun Fact

The original title for Ship Life was Behind the Uniform.

Although the title changed, the purpose remained the same: to share the stories, experiences, and people behind life at sea.

MEET MICHELLE

Stories, self-publishing, creativity, and the journeys that shape us

Welcome to a growing series of local author talks taking place across libraries in and around Rotherham.

These talks are warm, reflective, down-to-earth conversations exploring storytelling, publishing, creativity, confidence, reinvention, and the unexpected paths life can take.

Michelle Shaw shares her experiences of collaborating on and publishing her own book in 2013, inspired by her years working aboard cruise ships around the world.

These events aren’t about standing on a stage and talking at people.

They’re about bringing people together through stories.

Expect honest conversations, lived experience, laughter, reflection, and the opportunity to explore the journeys that shape us.

Whether you love books, dream of writing one, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind them, you’re warmly invited to join the conversation.

Upcoming Events

📚 Rotherham Library Author Talk Series

If you would like to attend any of these events, please call the respective library directly to secure your place, as spaces may be limited.

What To Expect

These sessions are intentionally designed to feel more relaxed and accessible than traditional speaking events.

There is no expectation to speak publicly, participate, network, or share personal experiences.

You are welcome to:

• sit quietly and listen
• attend alone
• ask questions if comfortable
• take breaks if needed
• leave early if overwhelmed
• simply enjoy being in the room

Each event may flow slightly differently depending on the audience, venue, and conversation.

The overall aim is to create spaces where people feel able to reflect, connect, feel inspired, and realise their stories and experiences matter too.

WHOSE STORY IS MISSING?

Alongside these talks, Michelle is also interested in connecting with late-diagnosed and late-identified autistic and ADHD adults — particularly people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond — whose stories, reflections, experiences, or life journeys deserve to be seen, heard, documented, or shared.

Not everyone dreams of becoming an author.

Sometimes what people really want is to make sense of their experiences, preserve their memories, share their story, or leave something meaningful behind.

They may simply need:

• Someone who will genuinely listen
• Help untangling their thoughts and experiences
• A creative thinking partner
• Confidence to begin
• Encouragement to keep going
• Reassurance that what they’ve lived through matters

Because every story deserves the chance to be heard.

Michelle is particularly interested in connecting with people who:

• discovered neurodivergence later in life
• reinvented themselves after burnout or major life changes
• lived unconventional lives or careers
• spent years masking or surviving silently
• want to leave behind something meaningful for future generations
• feel they have a story inside them but do not know where to begin

This is not about perfection, expertise, or polished writing.

It is about preserving voices, experiences, wisdom, humanity, and lived history that too often goes undocumented.

If this resonates with you, Michelle would love to hear from you.

You don’t need a finished manuscript, a detailed plan, or even all the answers.

Sometimes all you need is a story, a spark of an idea, or a feeling that there’s something you would like to share.

📧 info@michelleshaw.co.uk

Because every story starts somewhere.

eBook

• Amazon.co.uk (Kindle)   
• Amazon.com (Kindle).  
• Barnes & Noble (Nook)

More online customer reviews can be found on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Goodreads.

“Interesting, Insightful and Informative – a must read before committing to working on ships”

“Ship Life is a treasure of collective experiences, from cruise to cargo, bilge to bridge, from those who have lived it.  An excellent guide for those thinking about casting off or just curious about life in international waters.”    Brian David Bruns, USA (Bestselling Author of Cruise Confidential)

“I was so intrigued by it all. It was better than I expected. I couldn’t put it down!  Reading what other people thought was very interesting I love all the research and variety of both cargo and Cruise ships. The different departments intrigued me, having a captain was awesome. Thank you for sharing it with me.”   T, Australia (crew member)

Questions?

If you experience any difficulties with the payment process or have any questions before ordering, please feel free to get in touch:

📧 michelle@shiplife.co.uk

Thank you for supporting Ship Life and helping to share the stories of those who have lived and worked at sea.

LET’S CONNECT

Thank you for visiting Ship Life.

Whether you’re considering your first contract, currently working at sea, a former crew member, or simply fascinated by life beyond the horizon, I’d love to hear from you.

Ship Life was created to share the experiences, lessons, and stories that connect seafarers across the world. Every journey is different, and every story adds to our understanding of life at sea.

If you’ve enjoyed the book, one of the best ways you can support Ship Life is by leaving a review on Amazon or sharing your thoughts directly.

Your feedback not only helps future readers but also helps keep these important stories alive.

You can also connect with Ship Life on social media, share your own experiences, ask questions, or simply say hello.

📧 michelle@shiplife.co.uk

Socials: Facebook

If Ship Life helped you, inspired you, or brought back memories of your own time at sea, I’d love to hear from you.

You can leave a review on Amazon.co.uk or email me directly at michelle@shiplife.co.uk.

Every review, message, and shared experience helps keep the conversation about life at sea alive for future generations of seafarers.

Thank you for being part of the Ship Life community.

Fair winds and following seas,

Michelle Shaw (formerly Leverick)
Author, Ship Life