Ashley Terrell
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Ashley Terrell LLC
Date of Publication: April 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-329-90288-6
Number of pages: 130 pages
Cover Artist: Freepik
Tagline: “We have symptoms of ‘The Black Sheep’. Aren’t you aware?”
Book Description:
A unique book on strength and how a person can overcome difficult events in their lives.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/GbjPHJs62Os
Miles Away From Ordinary
I have always
been told that with success on any level come prices, struggles and journeys
that can take you off road, and from the things that you have always known. In
my mind as well as my life, I always considered myself one that would never
understand what it was to succeed. I did not have the best support system
especial y with any day ending in a Y.
Growing up, I
remember the white picket fence in some instances though they were blurry. What
I do remember the most is the feelings I bottled, the conversations that
pierced more than my self-esteem, but it factored into my confidence, my
beliefs and my lifestyle.
You never know
what someone is thinking or how their life has been affected no more than you
know how damaging words and actions can be.
As one that was
affected by the “what happens in this house, stays in this house” policy, I
began to not say much. Unlike other households that had an “open door policy”,
things were very strained in the Davis household. As time I grew older, I felt
like my opinion didn’t matter and affected how I treated others. It also had a
bearing on how I treated myself.
My life isn’t
ordinary. I was not a person that uses to be happy. I was not a person that
enjoyed company of friends, nor did I have the desire to be a socialite. I was
determined to come from under the stigma of being the black sheep.
In all my years
of living, the thing I found most profound is the power of God. God will have
you speak to someone to deliver His words because He knows that person who is
consulting with you will listen. That is trust. When God began to use people to
speak to me, it was groundbreaking. It was scary. I never thought I was special
enough to have such a privilege.
As I was sitting
with my mentor to write an alternative book, we were brainstorming on
paraphrasing when suddenly I blurted out, “There is no real word to describe my
brother being murdered. There is no real word to express my darkness. People
see the success of what I have done, not the pain that I had to endure to get
there.”
Within that
moment, I knew my time has come I didn’t know for what though. He slowly
looked around and I noticed his leg overreacting under the table.
“That’s your
story,” he hissed. I paused. For the first time, I felt like a big, fat
old-school Jawbreaker was lunged in my throat.
“No one wants to
hear my story. They want to know how to go from sleeping on air mattresses and
eating Ramen Noodles to how to go on tour, promote and do the stuff celebrities
do,” I replied.
Just off the
tidbits I had told my mentor, I never seen his face more flushed. “If you don’t
tell your story,” he pauses and looks away, “then the Devil wins.”
I notice the
goosebumps that wildly appeared on his arms. His body is still overreacting.
The scent of the air changes. His advice is no longer suggestive, it is pushing
and piercing.
“Your story is
the raw truth, this book here we are editing is pretty. We need truth. Help
someone break out from feeling alone. Help others take a step forward to want
to be better. Your story is compelling and can do that,” he told me.
For the first
time ever, I confidently agreed with him- in silence.
About the Author:
Ashley Terrell is founder of BSC and Co. She resides on the East Coast where she enjoys blissful sunsets and sounds of ocean waves.
Interview
1. What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
(n/a)
2. What is the first book that made you cry?
Matilda. Definitely, Matilda. (chuckles) I think I read Matilda in every grade level
up to junior high school.
3. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
If I have a number of things on my mind, I
find it to be therapeutic. Writing, for me, is exhausting only when I have to
take notes. (laughs)
4. What is your writing Kryptonite?
If I don’t pre-plan and focus my writing, my
office inspires me to want to multitask!
If the majority of my day has meetings, I’ll have writer’s block. So
now, I write before my day begins.
5. Did you ever consider writing under a
pseudonym?
I have, but I found enjoyment in being myself
in my writing. I have a lot of personality, so I should be able to diversify.
Being known how am I, as Ashley Terrell, is a name I’ve come to accept. In my
memoir, The Black Sheep Shadow, it
wasn’t always that way. (smiles)
6. What other authors are you friends with, and
how do they help you become a better writer?
I’ve network with many ghostwriters and
authors within the fiction genre. I discovered fiction writers become
bestsellers because they’re fearless in sharing their thoughts. Whether it’s my
memoir, The Black Sheep Shadow, or a
release that’s self-help, I choose to be fearless in expressing my life and
thoughts.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or
are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I write every book, thus far, to stand on its
own. Every book I write has its own moral.
Reading should be fun. Sequels are nice, but
sometimes less is more - my opinion.
8. What authors did you dislike at first but grew
into?
Sandra Brown. Granted, I grew interest in her
novels at the age of fourteen. I can understand why they were overwhelming! (laughs)
As I grew to an avid reader, I would read two to three of her
novels a week!
9. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Creative question, but interesting! Bitterness Isn’t Sexy! was my second
book prior to the writings of The Black
Sheep Shadow. Bitterness Isn’t Sexy! was a challenging writing project and wasn’t
properly publicated.
Looking back, I admit I didn’t appreciate Bitterness Isn’t Sexy! I learned when
you’re willing to put yourself on display, be sure you have creativity and
control.
They work together.
10. As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I would choose my spirit animal to be a
leopard. Leopards grow up quickly. They are solo hunters. They’re quick
learners and adaptive. My character caters to those traits.
11. How many unpublished and half-finished books
do you have?
I have three unpublished books and one
half-finished book in my office.
12. What did you edit out of this book?
Redundant words. I tend to use them as
fluffers until I get my idea completely on paper.
13. If you didn’t write, what would you do for
work?
When I’m not writing, you can find me creating
recipes for my food brand, Stella
Bistro Foods or on my podcast, The
Tea with Ms. Terrell, on Black Sheep Radio.
14. Do you hide any secrets in your books that
only a few people will find?
No. I like being transparent. For me, it’s
empowering. When I was writing The Black
Sheep Shadow, I was thinking, “All bets are off.”
15.
What is your favorite
childhood book?
Harriet
The Spy! She was bold and fearless when she stated how she felt. Harriet The
Spy was definitely a must read for me growing up.
Website: www.blacksheepandcompany.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bscandco
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