Shelley Seale is a freelance writer based out of Austin Texas, but she vagabonds in any part of the world whenever possible. Shelley has written for National Geographic, Globe Pequot's Insider travel guides, Washington Magazine and Andrew Harper Traveler Magazine among others. Her new book, The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India, follows her journeys into the orphanages, streets and slums of India where millions of children live without families. Her mantra is “travel with a purpose.” She can be reached at shelleyseale.com.

Check out more of Shelley's work in our "Reader Stories" section here 1949 Hidden City: Beijing's Hippest New Spot