Meet Ashley Elizabeth of Maryville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Elizabeth.

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story started back when I was in seventh grade. I did a lot of maladaptive daydreaming, especially about the people and places around me. One day I wrote one of my daydreams down and I enjoyed it so much that I kept writing and it just kind of spiraled from there. I wrote it in a composition notebook that I tore the front off of to make the “cover” (it was just the cardboard front with a title colored on with crayola markers). After I finished the story, I spent several years revising it, fixing plot points, making it into an actual readable story. As I got older the subject matter slowly started getting darker, and I finally ended with a story I am extremely proud of. My characters feel real, relatable, and have become almost like imaginary friends to me. Sometimes I can’t believe I’ve gotten to this point. I can’t put a number to how many times I was told I would never get published or that no one would ever enjoy my story. But my love for the story kept me motivated to continue. The story itself is based in a high school setting. The main antagonist is a boy who is psychotically obsessed with a fellow student, and the story follows the journey of him going to greater and greater lengths to gain her love, farther than anyone would imagine.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been rough. I was in middle school when I started, and part of the reason I retreated to a fictional world was how hard my life was at that time. My parents were in a failing marriage, I was constantly bullied at school, I was an undiagnosed autistic child that had no label for why I was so different from the people around me, and I struggled with self harm. My parents divorced when I was in high school, and I attempted to end my life. There’s been so many obstacles that have demanded my attention that made focusing on writing extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. But, with the help of my doctors, my friends, and my chosen family, I have been able to find a place I belong, surrounded by people who love me exactly as I am and support me in all my endeavors no matter how big and far fetched my dreams and plans are.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write music, books, poetry, short stories and more! In my community of people I’m mostly known for being a song writer, some of which I have had produced and released on multiple streaming platforms. I have also published a poetry book I wrote during my middle and high school years and have another one in the works. The work I am most proud of would have to be a tie between One In A Million (my new novel) and my song Dear Me. I think what sets me apart from others is that I have spent many years overcoming very harsh and heavy obstacles. I am very in touch with my emotions and I have so much love for the world and my writing that it spreads through the people who consume my work. I put so much of myself into what I do and my work means a lot to me. I also think being autistic gives me a unique outlook on life and therefore a unique writing style/voice. I see things differently, process things in my mind differently, and present scenarios and development in ways that would be considered “thinking outside the box” (my elementary school teachers favorite way to describe me).

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I think my favorite is the night my best friend and I thought we pulled a fast one on my mom. It was probably three or four in the morning and we were up making stupid YouTube videos and watching the Bee Movie a million times because that was our hyper-fixation movie at the time. We heard my mom open her bedroom door and walk down the hallway, so we very quickly put our phones down and closed our eyes, both of us still wearing our glasses. My mom opened my door and asked while we were still awake. We laid there with our eyes closed, throwing in a fake snore or deep breath as if that would throw her off. She stood there for a few minutes trying to convince us she knew we were awake, but we absolutely refused to budge. The next morning my mom asked why we did that, and we pretended to have no idea what she was talking about even though it was obvious to all parties we were absolutely awake that whole time.

Pricing:

• Hardback – $20.00

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyelizabethwrites
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@greengirl1477