I like to describe myself as a nomad. I’ve never been one to settle in one particular place for too long; I’ve traveled to eleven countries and over fifteen states and lived in the Czech Republic for quite some time. To say that travel is one of my passions would be an understatement. But traveling isn’t my only passion.
Writing was always a hobby of mine while growing up. In fact, I actually wrote my first “book” when I was seven years old. A distant relative we call Hippo (don’t ask me why), who is much like a grandfather to me, bought a snazzy new truck and asked me to write a book about it. I titled it “Hippo’s New Truck” and it was the greatest four pages I had ever written. I was so proud of what I had accomplished that I didn’t want to stop. My second book was for my oldest sister Nikki who, despite being skin and bone, complained about being overweight. The title of my second book was “You Are Not Fat” and all five pages were equally as marvelous as the first book. Fortunately though, my title-writing abilities have improved slightly. My idea of a book has also improved. One sheet of notebook paper folded several times to create a 4-6 page “book” just doesn’t cut it anymore.
My writing hobby quickly turned into a lifestyle. I wrote in a journal everyday. I kept a notebook with me at all times and wrote things down that were happening around me. I was constantly thinking scene, setting and character. Not many pre-teen children think that way. Writing was simply a part of me and I couldn’t avoid it. But more importantly, I didn’t want to avoid it.
Eventually I went on to receive my Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from a private liberal arts college in Kentucky and later my Master’s Degree in Writing and Publishing from a much larger school in Chicago. Both taught me more than I could have ever hoped for. In fact, I am now teaching writing at my undergraduate alma mater in Kentucky and can only hope to impact at least one student the way that my writing advisor impacted me years ago while studying at the same college.
So, who is Ashley? I am a writer, a reader, a teacher, a sister, a friend and a wife. I am a collector of vintage typewriters, garden gnomes and lip gloss. I am obsessed with houndstooth, the color green and certain sports teams (Nashville Predators, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs). I am a lover of words and, if you hadn’t guessed from my blog title, a lover of quotes.
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