Jen Ashburn

Poet and Creative Nonfiction Writer

A woman with dark short hair wearing a flower-print blouse and black cardigan in front of a stone wall
A woman with dark short hair and glasses wearing a white jacket. Two buildings and a car in the background.
A woman with dark short hair wearing a flower-print blouse in front of a galvanized steel wall.

Latests Posts

  • Upcoming Readings

    I have a couple of upcoming readings. Come on out, if you’re in the area!

    Tuesday, 10/13/26
    Duquesne University, Genesius Theater, 7 p.m.

    Poster with text that says The Duquesne English Dept Presents Coffee House Reading Series Featuring Local Authors Hannah Goss and Jen Ashburn, Tuesday, October 13th 7 p.m. Genesius Theater. Includes photos of the author and a 60s orange and blue background.

    Saturday, 10/17/26
    Writer’s Association of Northern Appalachia (WANA) Conference
    I’ll be reading at the 11 a.m. session with fellow Mad Women.

    Poster advertising WANA Conference featuring keynote speaker Amy Jo Burns. Background shows a hillside with trees. Center left shows a photo of Amy Jo Burns.
  • A Week at Jewel Vinsota

    I’m recently back from a week-long self-made writer’s residency. I found this wonderful airbnb, Jewel Vinsota, just outside of Smithsburg, MD. The owners are artists and historical preservationists. Their artwork is everywhere, and I mean everywhere, on the property. Everyday, I discovered something new! They had art supplies on hand that guests could use and musical instruments (guitars, musical spoons, a keyboard, a steel tongue drum, a three-string dulcimer). I’ve done do-it-yourself residencies before, but this B&B was by far the most creative and restorative environment I’ve encountered. Here are a few pictures.

    Windows looking out onto a forest with lights overhead, a short table and stool in front.
    The sunroom. This is where I spent most of my time.
    A desk in the foreground, with windows looking out onto a forest in the background.
    The work desk (I spent a lot of time here, too).
    A modern art outdoor sculpture with a woman's body painted blue with white circular lines, a deer's head, a cape made out of metal, and something that looks like a bow and arrow.
    One of the sculptures from the trail that’s in back of the property. It’s approximately 1.8 miles with a few additional spurs and loops. A little rugged in places (bring good shoes), but well worth the effort.
    A horizontal tree trunk with metal sheaths embedded on top to look like dragon scales.
    Also from the sculpture trail.
    Close up of a mushroom.
    Aside from the sculptures, the trail was nice just as a place to be outdoors and get a little exercise. Here’s a closeup of some fungus (don’t ask me what kind). I find it quite beautiful and other worldly.