Meet Ashley Turner

We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Turner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

Writers block was so real for me. I started writing my book a few months after having my third daughter, Ainsley. At the time, I was a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) with the youngest of the trio. A 17 month old and a newborn – 2 under 2! I was surely optimistic and a bit delusional to think I’d have the time, energy, and creativity to write while being a full-time mom around the clock. I remember writing the introduction after Ainsley had finally fallen asleep at 2:30 am one early morning. I stayed up, ready to start but I noticed how it took me a while just to gather my thoughts and formulate a sentence after watching Disney Junior all day and night with the girls. That was all my brain had been educated on for days, so I had to gather myself. After finishing the introduction, I didn’t start again until a few months later. I couldn’t focus with 2 babies constantly needing me all the time. My oldest daughter Addisyn was 9 years old then and independent, but I still had to parent her, monitor her, help her with homework, etc and still maintain our home. I realized that I had to carve out moments in time to write and stop waiting for the “perfect time” to write because that didn’t exist in my world. So if I was able to jot down 3 sentences one day, 2 paragraphs on other days or even a full page, I did what I could, when I could – and my effort varied each time. Disciplining myself while setting realistic writing goals helped me tremendously to overcome writers block.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I recently debuted my first book, Redirected – The Road to Self Discovery, officially becoming a published author. In addition to my writing, I work at Valero Refinery as an Analytical Tester. My dream of becoming an author began with an early and deep fascination with reading. I’ve always loved immersing myself in both non-fiction and fiction. As a child, I was the kid who read everything—from the back of cereal boxes to nutrition facts. If there were words in front of me, I was reading them.

About nine years ago, I faced a series of setbacks that left me feeling frustrated, confused, and despondent. I desperately searched for a solution to what felt like an impossible problem, something entirely out of my control. In my search for answers, I started to reflect on what had always brought me joy—what had always made me happy. My thoughts kept returning to my love of reading. However, after having children back-to-back, I had stopped reading entirely. Then one day, the idea came to me: why not write my own book? That idea couldn’t have come at a better time. Writing became my way out of depression and hopelessness, setting me on a new path of self-discovery. This journey not only helped me find my purpose but also led me to a new way of thinking and living—ultimately inspiring the title of my book. I know that when others read it, they’ll find a connection, and certain elements will resonate deeply with them.

For me, writing is both exciting and deeply therapeutic. I encourage everyone to journal. You don’t have to be a published author to write—you just need to be open, honest, and willing to be vulnerable. It’s about expressing your innermost thoughts and feelings. That’s a superpower we all possess, and I would love to lead the charge in helping others recognize theirs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three qualities that had the greatest impact on my journey were my emotional intelligence and awareness, my resilience, and my willingness to pursue my purpose. The best advice I can offer to those starting their journey is this: allow yourself to feel! Don’t ignore, shut out, or suppress the emotions connected to your experiences—whether they’re good or bad. When you acknowledge and name your emotions, you can process them using your emotional intelligence. Suppressed emotions are like a volcano waiting to erupt; you can only ignore them for so long before they’re triggered and start to explode.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Nowadays, I have a much better plan of action when I feel overwhelmed—I believe in taking breaks! Many of us, especially women, are conditioned to think we can do it all, but we’re only human. There’s a quote that resonates with me: “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.” We need to listen to our bodies, which give us warning signs before we reach a breaking point. We’ll either rest voluntarily or involuntarily—if it’s the latter, it’s because we ignored the signs. When you’re overwhelmed, you’re not your best self, as your mind is clouded with anxiety and frustration from trying to do too much. You’ll know when it’s time for a break. Take it! Use that time to recharge, reset, and return with a full tank of creativity to pour into your gift.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: __ashhnicolee__
• Facebook: Ashley Nicole
• Other: https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/852407-redirected

  This is the link to purchase my book.

Image Credits

My individual photos were taken by – Farran Manuel Photography

My family portrait was taken by Desmon Norris Photography