Some pretty cool news;

My essay, “How to Know When You’re a Writer,” is part of Indie Novella's anthology, Bread Alone: What Happens When We Run Out Of Working-Class Writers? that was published this March 2026. 

In October 2024, I hurt my back so badly, I decided to leave teaching for good. I couldn't walk normally anymore; it hurt just to hold my phone. Then in March 2025, I finally got my endometriosis diagnosis. I was 37 years old and got my first period - which was immediately debilitating - at 12. So it took 25 years for me to get my diagnosis. I had excision surgery in May 2025 - it was stage 2, spread all throughout the right side of my pelvis and abdomen. 

I submitted the essay that ended up being part of this anthology about one month prior to my surgery, and I was part of the lucky group selected for the anthology. My essay deals with writing of course, but it touches on my back and writing while not being able to stand. 

It’s my first physical publication, and it is a total dream come true. 

Eternally grateful to the wonderful editor and writer who put this beautiful project together - Kate Pasola. 

Here’s a review in Dazed (so cool).

If you’re interested in giving it a read, buy it directly from Indie Novella or Blackwell’s. 

Also this is directly from Indie Novella’s Substack on May 2nd: 

“It is now being stocked and featured by some brilliant independent bookshops. These include Ink@84 Bookshop in Highbury, Burley Fisher in Hackney, The Lighthouse Bookshop in Edinburgh, The Drake Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees, Forum Books in Northumberland, Housmans Bookshop in Kingscross, Holdfast Bookshop in Leeds and many more. Please do visit one of these wonderful independent bookshops and ask for Bread Alone, or order from one of the links - with most indies you can just email and request a copy. We really appreciate all the support everyone has put behind the book.”

Some things I’m reading/watching/listening to: 

Reading: 

I received an article assignment on guide dogs and discovered this neat bit of history - did you know that we can credit the beginning of guide dog training in the U.S. to this article in the Saturday Evening Post? 

I love Walden, and I love PBS; I loved reading Walden with my high school students even more - so check out this article on Henry David Thoreau’s life from PBS. 

My husband loves tacos; they’re like his mistress. I’m kidding - it’s not that serious - but did you know that you could get married in this Taco Bell in Vegas? Where else? In all honesty, I think I’d do it. 

Watching: 

My husband and I have been watching the first two seasons of Anthony Bourdain on Hulu, and it is romantic, healing, and exactly what I need right now. 

I’m super grateful that editor Frank Olito at Insider gave me the go on sharing how it’s been watching old shows with my husband. 

Here’s a quote - 

“Thinking about being connected to him somehow through time and space in our youth, even without knowing it at the time, made me feel closer to him. I was hooked on that feeling. It felt like our relationship was expanding because of being able to connect our pasts.”

Listening: 

May was Mental Health Awareness Month - I absolutely loved this meditation; it saved me recently, and so I just wanted to share it with you. 

Here’s an upcoming opportunity especially for immigrant and refugee writers: 

“The PEN/Bare Life Review Grants support literary works in progress by immigrant and refugee writers, recognizing that the literature of migration is of inherent and manifest value. PEN America will confer two PEN/Bare Life Review Grants of $5,000 each.” Deadline to apply: June 15th. 

And some more freelance writing opportunities: 

Buzzfeed is looking for more freelance writers to work with; they shared an updated Google doc with super detailed and helpful pitch tips. 

Food 52 is looking for Commerce Writers; if you’re interested, here’s the interest form. 

And lastly - A lovely writing prompt, just for you:

Write a wishlist of everything you’d do if money was of no object. 

So this is a prompt I thought of - because I did it in real life after my son was born; so thankful editor Rosemary Donahue at Insider gave me the go on this idea. 

Here’s a quote - 

“When I was done, I started examining each item on its own: Go to Paris, Buy my own house, Finish my degree, Become a teacher, Get us whatever we need without worrying, Get a dog, Start a business. When they’d been stirring around in my mind all together, these things seemed outlandish. Own my own home as a single person? It didn’t seem possible — until I saw it written down on that paper, and started truly thinking about what it would take to make it happen.”

Write on, 

Ashley