Welcome to my Author Website
I write Quirky Science Fiction
and Fantasy Adventures
with a Twist of Lemon;
and Poetry with a Pinch of Salt.
I arrived in Taiwan in September 2003.
Performing Arts prepared me to teach English using my speech, drama , and dance skills in the language classroom.
I developed a daily writing habit to help me make sense of this new stage in my working life. I published articles on Redroom, and put my first novel on Authonomy, where I met poets from around the world. The result? Two online poetry conversations, which became 2 unique books of collaborative poetry. I blogged on Weebly and WordPress.
I found my way back to the stage and worked with amateur and professional companies in Taiwan. Over 5,000 Changhua County students experienced my 2 drama tours and 3 Travelling Tales Storytelling Projects.
I worked for Rainbow Time Kids’ Monthly Magazine as a staff writer, editor, and voice recording artist while completing my MFA in Hong Kong. I helped develop the magazine’s interactive educational design, which I’m immensely proud of. Co-hosting weekly radio storytelling programs for ICRT for two years was a big highlight.
I still write, record, and edit stories for Rainbow Time. And I always enjoy performing and creating work for the page and the stage.
Purr-fect!
I arrived in South Africa in 1976, along with color TV.
I’ve been a creative writer ever since I learned how to write.
I spent half a dozen years pursuing a career as a professional dancer and creative artist in Cape Town. I danced with companies and created original dance and music compositions. My dream job was to be a Dance Music Composer-Choreographer.
My dance career ended in June 2003 because of an ankle injury and the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). I lost all 9 lives as a stage kitten called Victor in CATS. And my dreams of global feline fame and fortune? Forever paused in mid-air leap.
The end of one gracefully furred life meant time and space for a new adventure! After an intensive TEFL course, I was back on my two flat feet in no time.
Purr-fect!
The world is a scary place. As terrifying as it is, I believe I can make a difference by being a creative part of it.
It doesn’t matter what country I am in.
The world is one big nation of humanity. I am a proud member of this human race.
If I can touch the heart of just one reader somewhere in the world with my words, my voice, my life on the page, then I have made a difference.
You are welcome to join my Weekly Email Newsletter.
My podcast, A Body of Words, is coming soon.
I am also working on my YouTube Channel.
Watch this space for updates on both projects.
About Quenntis Ashby
Hey there!
Welcome to this brief dance of words, partner. My name is Quenntis, and I’m an ingenious invention of my mother’s (with a little help from my dad, of course). I was born, bred, and buttered way back in 1976.
I’m a leap year Aquarian from South Africa who likes to jump off the page, onto the stage, and into the airy heights of your imagination. I retired from a performing arts career when the 2003 SARS epidemic ended a Cats Musical tour in Shanghai, China.
My love of the stage influences my work as a creative artist, a teacher, a poet, and a writer living in Taiwan.
I’m married and have three lucky children in various stages of awesomeness. I adore them all.
I spend my days teaching, my evenings with my family, and my weekends dancing with words.
I love being around interesting people who are as curious about the world as I am. Even though I have completed degrees in Drama & English, Classical Ballet & Dance Musicology, and Creative Writing (Poetry), I am eager to learn more.
I’m dancing with words one step at a time by creating one email, one blog, one poem, one story, one novel, one YouTube video, one podcast, and one day at a time.
Manifesto in 5 Affirmations
I pledge to celebrate my rarity.
I promise to continue the dream of my ancestor(y)s.
I will be Quenntis.
I am before I do.
I honor my muse.
I pledge to celebrate my rarity. Out of all the billions of people on this planet, I turned out to be me. And there is only one of me. That makes me a very rare creature indeed. So I will be me, and I will celebrate the quirky creature that I am.
I promise to continue the dreams of my ancestor(y)s. I am the result of many generations of human beings that have come before me. These ancestors dreamed of a better future. And it is this future I am living in right now. I too am dreaming of a better future for my children and the children of my children.
I will continue to be Quenntis. For there is nobody better qualified or brave enough to take this already-taken position.
I am before I do. I also take missteps and make mistakes. It is all part of being a lifelong learner. I am human. So my actions don’t define who I am, they help me to grow into a better me.
I honor my muse. To be inspired & to be creative I need to show up to work every day. I respect & trust my muse enough to let her do whatever she wants to do. She’s creative. She’s playful. She likes rules, but she also likes to bend & break those rules. She surprises me all the time. Sometimes I call her VERITY AQUARABBIT, but she usually likes to remain an enigmatically anonymous but powerful presence in my life.