My name is Ashley. I am a Haitian – American writer and artist from New York. I created JustWriteMama.blog to defeat my own writers block and to inspire others to let it all hang out – the good the bad and the weird. This is an ode to the sensual and fantastical world that resides in my head. My inspiration comes from art, music, film, and fiction.  

I studied journalism at The College of Staten Island and for a brief time I wrote for a local magazine and other blogs across the city. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. Anytime I felt particularly blocked or uninspired I would hop on public transit to find all my places in the world… in libraries, museums, beaches, and gardens. A lifetime of my memories are embedded in New York and all its boroughs. Painfully though, I stopped writing and creating when I let the world convince me that I was not good enough. For years I forgot what it was like to let my imagination lead me to the places where I belonged. Confidently, I’ve come back to creating, even if I am the only person who would benefit from expression.  

As a mom, I want my daughter to understand that life is easier to manage when being your authentic self. She inspires me to show up with my heart on my sleeve every day, so without thinking too much about it… I’ll just write here. 💕