About Me
Hi! I’m Ashlie Monroe- a mother, wife, teacher, and storyteller.
I was born and raised in Idaho and still call it home today. After high school, I started college as a radiology major, but something inside me kept saying that it wasn’t the right path. After some soul-searching, I switched to elementary education. The moment I stepped into a classroom for my first field experience, I knew I had found where I was meant to be. I graduated from Boise State University in 2017 and have been teaching elementary school ever since.
My husband and I met as kids at our local motocross track, and now we’re raising our daughters with the same love for adventure.
My dream is to continue writing stories that find their way into homes, classrooms, and the hearts of families everywhere. Thank you for being part of my journey (even if you’re just visiting my website). I’m so grateful you are here 💛
My Writing Journey
I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. Before phones and tablets took over, I’d spend hours making up stories and writing them down just because I enjoyed it. In high school, I joined Newspaper & Journalism and stayed all four years, eventually becoming an editor.
Writing a children’s book was always one of those “maybe someday” dreams, but I never really believed I’d do it. That changed during my oldest daughter’s toddler years. Every night we’d read two books, snuggle, and it finally hit me… what if I wrote one for her? That idea eventually became Bedtime Memories.
When my second daughter was born, I knew I couldn’t just stop at one book (you can’t write a book for one kid and not the other 😅). That’s how Waiting for You came to life. It took a lot of learning, plenty of mistakes, and more revisions than I can count, but seeing it become an award-winning book made every bit of it worth it.
Unlike my first two books, which were inspired by my daughters, Sheep’s Big Song was inspired by my years in the classroom. After teaching elementary school for eight years, I saw how many kids struggled with anxiety, fear, and self-doubt. I wanted to create a story that kids would genuinely enjoy while also reminding them that it’s okay to be scared and still try.
None of these books would be what they are without my illustrator, Danica. She sent me a free character sketch based on a photo of my daughter, and I knew immediately she was the perfect fit. She’s brought every story to life with so much heart, and I’m incredibly grateful for her talent, creativity, and patience.
Maybe someday I’ll illustrate one of my own books. Until then, I’ll keep writing them. 💛