Hello, I'm Ashleigh

I've loved stories since before I could read and have wanted to write ever since I could use a pencil. Lucky for me, I now get to write for a living.

I am a children's author and content and copywriter based in Sydney, Australia. This means all my working hours are spent on my own creative projects or crafting copy for clients in various industries all over the world. No two days are the same – just the way I like it. Before writing full-time, I pursued my love of books (children's books especially) by working in some of Australia's biggest publishing houses. I ran marketing and publicity campaigns for globally-renowned authors and illustrators, including some of my all-time favourites.

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SOME OTHER THINGS ABOUT ME

I'VE WORKED AS...

A freelance copywriter, content writer and marketing strategist
The Children's & YA Marketing & Publicity Manager at a Big 5 publishing house
A paralegal
A nanny
A tutor
A PR intern
An advertising intern
A "gappie" at a boarding school in the English countryside
A retail assistant in a gift shop, a candle shop and a stationery shop

I STUDIED...

A double degree in Law and Public Communication at the University of Technology Sydney. I even completed my practical legal training and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW before promptly pursuing a career in books
Four different languages in high school. Sadly, I spent too much time practising my origami in Japanese lessons and failed the Year 7 exam

I WROTE...

My first "book" at age 6, which was self-illustrated and self-published. (The cover says "by Ashleigh Barton, age 6" so this fact is irrefutable.) There was only ever one copy in circulation. Currently somewhere in my parents' garage.
A murder mystery that got handed around my grade one chapter at a time. I never finished it so apologies to my peers – they'll never know who the murderer was. (And neither will I)

I LOVE...

Eating
Binge watching TV
Children's books (and grown-up books)
Travelling (especially to somewhere new)

I'M SCARED OF...

Birds
Cockroaches
Reverse parking

AS A CHILD I LOVED READING...

Ten books at a time (my school library's borrowing limit)
Instead of going to sleep or watching my brothers play soccer
Anything by Roald Dahl
Every Ramona Quimby book