Photo courtesy of the author's media kit

Ashley Franklin

State: Arkansas

Ashley Franklin is an Arkansas-based author whose work centers characters with big hearts and even bigger imaginations. She believes everyone, especially kids, deserves to see themselves reflected within the pages of a book. Some of her most popular works include the picture books Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash and NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE and her middle-grade short story “Creative Fixes” from the anthology ONCE UPON AN EID. Ashley received her M.A. from the University of Delaware and B.A. from Albright College, both in English Literature. In 2021, The Highlights Foundation selected Ashley to be a part of its first-ever Muslim Storytellers Fellowship cohort. Her picture book, The Masjid Kamal Loves, was a Kirkus Reviews pick for one of the Best Picture Books of 2023 That Celebrate Community. When she is not writing, Ashley’s time is filled with being a mother and adjunct college professor. Most recently Ashley has begun her journey as a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University. Ashley is represented by Kathleen Rushall of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Book

Audiences: Children's, Early Reader, Middle Grade