My name is Ashley, and I love stories.
I started reading early and became writing-obsessed as soon as I learned how to. It became my ultimate love and passion.
And, I know everyone who likes to write or read says that, but I mean it.
Stories became my gateway to the ELA and history honors classes in high school that qualified me as the first university-graduate in my family. I started teaching English Language Arts to high schoolers at 21, started publishing poetry anthologies by 26, and started a mobile bookstore by age 30 that is now a full-fledged retail location.
Stories really are my life.
And, when I’m not writing, reading, and selling stories, I’m building my own everyday—relearning what I understood about life with my 3 autistic sons, tackling adulthood as a soldier’s wife, and battling chaos as a bipolar Black woman who still has no idea what to do with her hands despite.
I’ve seen quite a bit in my 30+ years of life that has given me a unique perspective on stories, and that’s what I want to share.
I rate all my books twice.
Objectively –
Having a teacher background, I had to learn to grade writing based on quality and not topic. Even if I didn’t agree with something, if it is well-written, it has earned its grade.
When “grading” books, I do the same and consider the skill in the plot, characters, and writing style to decide a rating.
Subjectively –
Being a later reader in life, I have more strict preferences because I didn’t try out all the books we had to read in school that taught me breadth in reading.
When rating books based on my own preferences, it’s really an emotional attachment/interest that determines where it’ll fit.
5 STARS – I absolutely loved it and would re-read it! The plot, characters, and writing are fabulous, and I will recommend it whenever given the chance!
4 STARS – I like it and may re-read it. The plot, characters, and writing are good, but something was off. Nevertheless, I would still recommend it.
3 STARS – It was okay, but I wouldn’t re-read it. The plot, characters, and writing need some work, but I may still recommend it to the right person with warnings.
2 STARS – This story needs a lot of work. The plot, characters and writing are barely tolerable, and I would not necessarily recommend it.
1 STAR – I finished this book for a reason, and solely for that reason. Beyond that, it shouldn’t be on my, or anyone else’s, shelves.
0 STAR – I DNF’d this book. I don’t rate books I do not finish because I don’t have the full picture of the book to truly judge it.
If you need to contact me, you can do so at aniakiplanbooks@gmail.com.