Growing up in an Italian family in Staten Island, N.Y. — an Italian family in Staten Island? Go on — Ashley Teatum was always surrounded by stories. From family antics and recollections around the oversized dinner table, to bedtime epics by Shel Silverstein and Maurice Sendak as narrated by her Irish dad, telling stories was simply part of life.
After graduating from an all-girls Catholic high school in New York, Ashley continued her education at the University of Scranton, graduating in 2009 with a B.A. in English. She double-majored in communication with a track in journalism and tacked on a women’s studies concentration — you know, for good measure, and also, because vaginas rock. ({})
She interned for the former Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees’ public relations department, writing feature stories about players and gamers after each contest, as well as acting as a wrangler for players and mascots alike. (Ask her how sweaty CHAMP can get. She knows.)
In July 2009, Ashley landed a gig as an obituaries clerk for the Times-Tribune, where, daily, tales of deceased persons throughout NEPA crossed her desk. (Her favorite name: Clifford W. Tinklepaugh. The best.) When a spot opened in the sports department in December of that year, she applied and kick-started her sports writing career covering high school wrestling — now probably her favorite sport to cover, with soccer a majorly close second, even tied for first, geez.
In her spare time, Ashley enjoys trying to conquer ridiculously long books — this will be the summer to end all Infinite Summers, she swears — and writing short stories, creative nonfiction and poetry. She can often be found singing while washing dishes or taking a dance break — call it side effects of high school and summer stock theater — in her apartment in South Side where she lives with her partner, Steve. Aspirations include, but are not limited to, publishing a novel or two and opening a bookstore someday.
She can be found on Twitter @tee_tuhm.
Hear Ashley’s story at the ROAD TRIP storyslam.
