Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Smith.
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up I saw my parents work diligently as entrepreneurs. They established a few businesses including online sales. When I graduated high school I knew I wanted to help people, and to start my own enterprise. I studied business and marketing, but changed my major to psychology. Yet, I had a significant setback in school. My health crisis led me to release the “old” Ashley, but never my ambition. During recovery I learned more about my diagnosis and ways to give back to the community, and peers living with health conditions like mine. The “new” Ashley is a mental health advocate. In 2012, I became a peer counselor, known as a certified peer specialist that is a Medicaid-billable behavioral health service. Part of my job was sharing my recovery experience to support my peers on their growth to live quality lives in recovery. I aimed to become an author and share my lived-experience with mental health concerns. In 2014, I self-published: What’s On My Mind? Volume I, which is a collection of blog articles on my story. A lot of peers and others wanted to learn how to publish. This led me to start a business teaching book-writing workshops. Since then I’ve published seven inspiring non-fiction works on hope and recovery, and daily devotionals. However, my last book, In Her Own Ink: Strategies for Creating from Author to Author, is about how to start the writing journey. In 2025, I reestablished a book coaching company, IN HER OWN INK. Now I coach new authors on book development. Specializing in mental health related narratives, daily devotionals, blog books, and other non-fiction literary works. As an author and book coach, I aim to empower future authors with effective methods to enrich their book writing processes. IN HER OWN INK is stationed in Atlanta, Georgia, and provides book coaching services virtually, via phone, and in-person. Guiding writers on how to fulfill their book goals is highly rewarding. Entrepreneurship undoubtedly teaches me strategic skills, and practices to overcome challenges.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Living with a mental health condition has its issues due to the widespread stigma. On top of living with a diagnosis, starting an enterprise has its many obstacles such as marketing and recruiting clients. However, I’m learning more approaches to maneuver these challenges and to stay motivated to win! Continuing to persevere roadblocks, my drive, hope and passion is my fuel to press forward to obtain positive results.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Having published four interactive blog books, I strive to assist blog authors on their uniquely, authentic book projects. As a dynamic book coach with a background in the behavioral health field I have an advantage that distinguishes my services. I have first-hand knowledge on non-stigmatizing recovery-oriented language. This insight transfers well into the book design of peers incorporating their lived experience. My passion for advocacy and coaching will undoubtedly propel me to move mountains along with authors to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
An interesting fact about me is I’m a dog-lover, and was raised around aggressive breeds growing up as a child. I prefer dogs that seem threatening because they make great security systems. In fact, I have two pit bulls.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amazon.com/author/smithashley
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/inherownink
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/inherownink
- Other: https://inherownink.blogspot.com
