Ash Kemp

Ash Kemp reads and writes about the darkness so she can find a way to process it. She is a queer, neurodivergent, chronically ill chronicler of life, always trying to lighten the mood with a bit of dark humor. A Midwestern home educator by day, voracious speculative fiction reader at night, she has reviews in Hyperfocus Horror and The New Territory. @occasionally_educational

Follow Ash Kemp in the month of August 2026 as she participates in Tupelo Press’ 30/30 Fundraiser: https://tupelopress.networkforgood.com/projects/301220-ash-kemp-s-fundraiser

Rachel: Tell us about you and what you are working on now. 

I'm Ash, book reviewer, horror enthusiast, and most recently, poet. I’m currently doing one of the hardest things for me- putting up poetry drafts daily in support of a fundraiser for Tupelo Press. It’s challenging and motivating, and I’m learning how to let go of perfection to just put some work out in the world. 

Rachel: I notice you read a lot of horror. Why is horror a meaningful genre to you? 

Aside from the obvious processing trauma in a safe, distant way, horror to me explores themes of parenting, anxiety, depression/haunting and many other mirrors of the shadows we all carry inside, giving us a way to feel seen or escape our own terrors. 

Rachel: Hey Ash, catch my online reading series in October (10/24 Noon CST)- you’ll love it - the theme is Horrorible Women! Women invented the genre of horror, likely based on our lived experiences in this world. Switching gears - any plans for a book?

I do have an idea in the works with a good friend of mine- we’re going to collaborate on a collection of short stories and poems that have a witchy feel but also explore chronic illness and neurodivergence as we both live that reality.

Keep us posted, Ash! Good Luck on the Tupelo 30/30 in August 2026!