Title Queen

Title Queen

All of the titles I’ve offered for my book are “Meh. Sorry”. All of them. Like, my brain dump of every good title that I can think so far of for my memoir are just meh?  Okay, fine. I don’t have an ego about this. I don’t have to be the title queen (but ALL of...
Dancing in the Kitchen

Dancing in the Kitchen

Sweet relief. I am feeling good.  I can clearly see that I am not a troll. It’s obvious. Look at how bright I am! Then I browse through drafts of entries I wrote last month in a plateau—a familiar descent—and think, “Ew, Ashley. What’s with all the stiff...
Ignoring the Cold

Ignoring the Cold

“We should do a playdate!” The cheerful red-headed woman said brightly, cornering me at pre-school pick up. “My daughter just loves your daughter Primrose.” I knew what she said was true because everyone loved my daughter Primrose, and Primrose loved...
Deep In It

Deep In It

I’m struggling to think of what to say. I’ve made commitments–to myself, to my family, to my nonprofit, to my book. Have I just opened another can of worms that I don’t have the capacity to manage by starting a Substack?  The easy thing to do would be to skip this...
Staying Extraordinary.

Staying Extraordinary.

Write first, then you can shower.  That was the incentive I gave myself just now, to sit down and type. I projected myself into the future post-shower version of me; clean and warm and ready to disappear into a book on this overcast and rainy day, soaking up and...