May Writer’s Night – From Survivor to Author: One Woman’s Story with Kelly Ashford

Join Kelly Ashford as she shares her story of surviving 11 days lost in the Colorado Rocky Mountain wilderness including her recovery from near death, PTSD, and her profound spiritual awakening. After years of journaling, she decided to compile her notes into a manuscript and her book endurance was born.

Kelly will share writing tips, self-publishing resources, and other helpful information to aid aspiring authors in the pursuit of becoming published. An experienced hiker, she will also share interesting data about lost hikers and a survival supply list included in her book.

Bio Kelly Ashford

“I am a true Colorado native, 14th generation native to Colorado that loves all that Colorado outdoors offers, especially hiking. I’ve summited several fourteeners and over the years hiked hundreds of miles in our beautiful state. Every day I am grateful to be alive and enjoy the splendor of the Grand Valley where we now live.

Being in nature is like water to my soul and connects me to the energy of our great mother Earth. I’m also an energy healer for the past 15 years and practice daily meditation, prayer, and yoga. I enjoy skiing, have a love of opera, learning about history, world religions, mythology, and holistic healing. A favorite past-time is to read both fiction and non-fiction, and now having had a survival experience, really enjoy books about the amazing spirit and resilience of other survivors.

Thomas is my wonderful husband of almost 25 years, and we are parents of two grown children, both of whom are avid snowboarders who love camping, mountain biking and the great outdoors. Our son Ryan is currently serving his seventh year in the US Air Force and our daughter Paige is here on the western slope working in the ski and resort industry. I love being mom to our two rescue dogs, Sim and Tula Sue, that have blessed us for the last six years with their companionship along many miles of hiking and adventure.”