BRISTOLVILLE, Ohio – Ashley Morrow describes her latest book as not only a way to celebrate her son, who is on the autism spectrum, but also to help families of other children who are in similar circumstances realize they are not alone.
Released Friday, “Douglas the Duck” is the fourth book self-published by Morrow, who serves in multiple roles – including human resource manager, office manager and compliance officer – at the company her family owns, Livi Steel Inc. in Warren.
The first book in her Pond to Page Literacy Project series, “Douglas the Duck” is based on the experiences of her son, Ayden, with Asperger’s syndrome, autism, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
She likened her son to the lead character in the television series “Young Sheldon,” particularly his difficulty in making friends, understanding sarcasm and reading social cues.
“Me writing ‘Douglas the Duck’ was kind of my way of letting him know I see him for the amazing, beautiful person that he is, and that just because he’s different it’s not a bad thing,” she said.
Morrow’s journey as a self-published author started about six years ago. Shortly after she started at Livi, she discovered she had cervical cancer and had to have an emergency hysterectomy, and other health issues “piled on from there,” she recalled. While bedridden, she began sketching out ideas for various books.
“I would write ideas and outlines, just something to try to keep myself busy,” she said.
She eventually decided she had so much material that she needed to do something with it. While contemplating whether to self-publish or try to find a publisher, a friend who had written a book with 10 other women – who with her friend split the self-publishing costs – shared her own experience with self-publishing through Lulu Press Inc., which is based in North Carolina.
“It was just that one piece of the puzzle was missing,” she said.
The size of the self-publishing market was $1.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at an annual compound interest rate of 16.7% through 2033 to $6.16 billion, according to Business Research Co., a global market research firm. In 2023, the number of self-published titles with International Standard Book Numbers – or ISBNs – surpassed 2.6 million, up 7.2% from the previous year.
Morrow self-published her first book in April. “HER! Unshakeable • Unbreakable • Unstoppable” is an anthology featuring the stories of Morrow and 25 other women and hardships they have faced.
“We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly,” she said. For some people, the ugly was “a messy marriage or a rough childhood,” or a combination of the two. For others, it was struggles involving religion or health issues. Though she declined to characterize “HER!” as a self-help book in the traditional sense, it serves that role in that it shares the stories of women who have “already walked a mile in those shoes, so you know which potholes to avoid.”
Published the following month, “The Adventures of Frank and Mae” is a children’s book focusing on native plants, fungi, environment and ecosystems
“That’s my passion project and my baby,” Morrow said. She previously was involved in the Spore Sorority and Spore Sisterhoods, two local nonprofits focused on environmental issues that dissolved in early 2025.
Morrow acknowledged the book, which she co-illustrated with local artist Alexis Reeves, is aimed at promoting environmental awareness in young people. Adults, if they aren’t already concerned about environmental issues, likely aren’t going to be swayed by anything she says or does, whereas young children are still forming ideas and opinions.
“I would love to see ‘The Adventures of Frank and Mae’ in every science classroom,” even just to reach young students who might find science boring, she said.
The third book, “Weeping to Worship,” is a Bible study guide geared toward women. While not intended as a companion to “HER!,” the two books compliment each other, she said.
The three books are available as a bundle at Lulu. Locally, copies of Morrow’s books are carried at The Book Nook, 222 E. Market St., in downtown Warren. The bookstore, which opened June 1, specializes in self-published works by independent authors.
So far, among Morrow’s books, customers seem to be responding best to “Frank and Mae,” said Katelyn Matusky, the bookstore’s owner.
“They love that I’m giving authors like Ashley a chance and helping them get out there and spread the word about them, whereas a lot of bookstores don’t,” she added.
“Douglas the Duck” is the first of three books Morrow has coming out through September. Her goals with the book include providing guidance to other parents and especially kids in similar situations. She recalled her own experiences with Ayden, who seemed to be experiencing a lot of anxiety by the time he was in kindergarten, she said. It is written in a “fun, child-friendly way” that children can either read on their own or can have parents read it to them.
“There was so much that I didn’t know then that I do now,” she said. “My hope of it is that it actually shows them, whether they have Asperger’s, autism, anxiety, whatever, that you were made perfectly – you aren’t a mistake,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with you just because you think differently or like different things than the other kids. That’s totally fine and acceptable.”
Additionally, she wants to provide a “support system” and “safety net” to the parents and to help them realize that their child isn’t the only one going through this, nor are they alone in coping with such situations.
The next book in the series, “Delilah the Duck,” will be released in August and is based on the experiences of her stepdaughter, Elaina.
“She has generalized anxiety disorder, and it has led to some unique quirks and characteristics as she tries to cope with things,” she said. As with her son, she wrote the book in part to convey to her daughter that she is “perfect” and that just because she has traits that other people view as different doesn’t make her “any less beautiful or any less human,” she said.
Morrow is looking at a September release for “Divasaur.” Unlike her other books, which are based on life experiences, the Bible or science, “Divasaur” is “just whimsical fun,” written for children ages 5 to 10.
“It was just me being able to have fun with this dinosaur that likes to wear pearls and dress up,” she said. “That one does not actually serve a purpose, short of for me to have fun and hopefully kids to have fun when they read it.”
Morrow will be among the authors who are participating in Book Nook’s first Indie Author and Artists Market, scheduled for Aug. 16 at Courthouse Square in downtown Warren.
Pictured at top: Ashley Morrow.