Author Interview with Ashley Martin about her debut book “Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys”
Alexis: Congratulations on writing and publishing your first book! Tell us about your journey to publication as a first-time author. Who was your publisher?
Ashley: I published with Called Creatives Publishing, a hybrid publisher, and it was truly a boutique experience. They walked me through every step of the process with clarity and detailed guidance. Nothing felt rushed or overwhelming. Their team brought real expertise to the editing, layout, and design, but what stood out most was how well they listened. My opinions and wishes weren't just heard; they were woven into every decision. The result is a book that is completely mine: my story, my personality, my calling.
Alexis: What was the most difficult part of your journey to publication?
Ashley: The most difficult part was revisiting those dark places: my first day of rehab, the mental and emotional pain I was carrying at the time. But my readers cannot truly understand the miracles God has performed in my life without knowing the depth of what He brought me through.
Alexis: What was the most rewarding part of writing your personal story in this book?
Ashley: Answering God's call to write my story. No words can fully describe what I felt the moment I held the finished product in my hands.
Alexis: What do you hope readers will take away from your real-life story?
Ashley: Hope. No matter how lost you feel, you are never beyond God's reach. It all begins with surrender.
Alexis: Who is your core audience for this book? Share how you hope to reach those readers with your message.
Ashley: My core audience is women who feel lost from God, or who once did, whether because of alcoholism, addiction, or simply the busyness of life pulling them off course. I also wrote this for the woman who wants more structure in her daily walk with God but is not sure where to start. My hope is that the three pillars of this book—surrender, prayer, and service—guide every reader into a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
Ashley: My core audience is women who feel lost from God, or who once did, whether because of alcoholism, addiction, or simply the busyness of life pulling them off course. I also wrote this for the woman who wants more structure in her daily walk with God but is not sure where to start. My hope is that the three pillars of this book—surrender, prayer, and service—guide every reader into a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
Alexis: What was the most challenging part of your journey out of darkness of alcohol dependency and into the light of sobriety and freedom?
Ashley: Admitting I was an alcoholic and knowing how to ask for help. Both required a level of surrender I had never practiced before.
Alexis: How did your faith in God help you overcome your challenges?
Ashley: My mom gave me my faith. She instilled it in me daily and lived it without ceasing. Once I surrendered and allowed God to take over, the faith of my childhood returned.
Alexis: You talk about “the discipline of surrender” in your book. Tell us more. What does that mean, what did it look like for you and how can practicing this discipline help others who are struggling?
Ashley: Surrender sounds passive, but it is anything but. For me, the discipline of surrender meant choosing every single day to stop fighting God and start trusting Him. In my addiction, I was convinced I could manage life on my own. Surrender meant releasing that. For me it looked like getting on my knees in the morning before my feet hit the floor. It looked like calling my sponsor when I wanted to handle something myself. It looked like saying, "God, I cannot do this, but You can."
The discipline is in the daily practice. Surrender is not a one-time decision. It is a choice you make over and over again, especially on the hard days. For anyone who is struggling, whether with addiction, anxiety, grief, or simply feeling like life is out of control, surrender is not giving up. It is finally choosing to trust the One (God) who can actually handle it.
Alexis: When and how did you first have a defining moment and encounter God’s grace?
Ashley: The night of my last drink. I went to bed and asked God what was wrong with me. He woke me in the middle of the night and whispered one word: alcohol. In that moment, I knew His mercy and grace in a way I never had before. The next morning, I got busy and changed my life.
Alexis: What do you mean when you say that your book is not about religious obligation but an invitation to transformation?
Ashley: Spirituality is a personal, continual, transforming journey with God — not a weekly obligation fulfilled by sitting in a pew and half-listening to a sermon while mentally running through your Monday to-do list. Faith should never be reduced to "I believe because I always have" or "I believe because I am afraid of hell." That is religion. This book is about something deeper. God's grace and love should move you. They should draw you in, change you from the inside, and invite you to become a better person simply because of how much He loves you.
Alexis: How did your background in teaching, ministry and community leadership play into writing this book?
Ashley: Every road led me to this book. My master's in history taught me how to research, write, and cite sources with integrity. My years in the classroom taught me how to explain concepts clearly, which is exactly what this book requires. My call into ministry would not let me be still until every word was on the page. And my work in the community is what will carry this message to the people who need it most.
Alexis: If you could meet your readers one-on-one for coffee or at your upcoming book signings, what would you say to their heart about this book? Share your answer in a few sentences.
Ashley: I would tell them this book was written for them. Not for the person who has it all together, but for the one who is tired of pretending she does. I want every reader to walk away knowing that God has never stopped pursuing her, and that it is never too late to surrender, pray, and serve your way into the life He always intended.
Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Ashley! Do you have any closing comments?
Ashley: Thank you so much for helping me promote my book! I just want anyone reading this to know that I am not a theologian or a lifelong saint. I am a woman in recovery who said yes to God, and He did the rest. If my story can point even one person toward surrender, this book has done its job. I am grateful for every opportunity to share it.
~*~
Author Bio:
Ashley Martin is a writer, educator and speaker passionate about helping others discover healing and purpose through faith.
Ashley: Admitting I was an alcoholic and knowing how to ask for help. Both required a level of surrender I had never practiced before.
Alexis: How did your faith in God help you overcome your challenges?
Ashley: My mom gave me my faith. She instilled it in me daily and lived it without ceasing. Once I surrendered and allowed God to take over, the faith of my childhood returned.
Alexis: You talk about “the discipline of surrender” in your book. Tell us more. What does that mean, what did it look like for you and how can practicing this discipline help others who are struggling?
Ashley: Surrender sounds passive, but it is anything but. For me, the discipline of surrender meant choosing every single day to stop fighting God and start trusting Him. In my addiction, I was convinced I could manage life on my own. Surrender meant releasing that. For me it looked like getting on my knees in the morning before my feet hit the floor. It looked like calling my sponsor when I wanted to handle something myself. It looked like saying, "God, I cannot do this, but You can."
The discipline is in the daily practice. Surrender is not a one-time decision. It is a choice you make over and over again, especially on the hard days. For anyone who is struggling, whether with addiction, anxiety, grief, or simply feeling like life is out of control, surrender is not giving up. It is finally choosing to trust the One (God) who can actually handle it.
Alexis: When and how did you first have a defining moment and encounter God’s grace?
Ashley: The night of my last drink. I went to bed and asked God what was wrong with me. He woke me in the middle of the night and whispered one word: alcohol. In that moment, I knew His mercy and grace in a way I never had before. The next morning, I got busy and changed my life.
Alexis: What do you mean when you say that your book is not about religious obligation but an invitation to transformation?
Ashley: Spirituality is a personal, continual, transforming journey with God — not a weekly obligation fulfilled by sitting in a pew and half-listening to a sermon while mentally running through your Monday to-do list. Faith should never be reduced to "I believe because I always have" or "I believe because I am afraid of hell." That is religion. This book is about something deeper. God's grace and love should move you. They should draw you in, change you from the inside, and invite you to become a better person simply because of how much He loves you.
Alexis: How did your background in teaching, ministry and community leadership play into writing this book?
Ashley: Every road led me to this book. My master's in history taught me how to research, write, and cite sources with integrity. My years in the classroom taught me how to explain concepts clearly, which is exactly what this book requires. My call into ministry would not let me be still until every word was on the page. And my work in the community is what will carry this message to the people who need it most.
Alexis: If you could meet your readers one-on-one for coffee or at your upcoming book signings, what would you say to their heart about this book? Share your answer in a few sentences.
Ashley: I would tell them this book was written for them. Not for the person who has it all together, but for the one who is tired of pretending she does. I want every reader to walk away knowing that God has never stopped pursuing her, and that it is never too late to surrender, pray, and serve your way into the life He always intended.
Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Ashley! Do you have any closing comments?
Ashley: Thank you so much for helping me promote my book! I just want anyone reading this to know that I am not a theologian or a lifelong saint. I am a woman in recovery who said yes to God, and He did the rest. If my story can point even one person toward surrender, this book has done its job. I am grateful for every opportunity to share it.
~*~
Author Bio:
Ashley Martin is a writer, educator and speaker passionate about helping others discover healing and purpose through faith.
With a background in teaching, ministry, and community leadership, she blends Biblical truth with honest storytelling that resonates with readers navigating life’s hardest seasons.
Her work focuses on spiritual growth, recovery, and practical ways to walk with God daily. Through her writing and speaking, Ashley encourages people to move beyond survival and into a life marked by clarity, courage, and calling.
She is known for her relatable voice, authentic transparency, and ability to connect deeply with audiences seeking hope and direction.
~*~
Book Blurb for Lost No More:
What if the valley you are in right now is exactly where God has been waiting for you?
For nearly two decades, Ashley Martin lived under the crushing weight of alcohol dependency, broken trust, and a faith she could no longer feel. Then, in the unexpected quiet of a rehab facility, God met her and nothing has been the same since.
In Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys, Ashley opens her life with rare and courageous transparency. She shares her journey through addiction, marital infidelity, and spiritual emptiness not to dwell in the darkness, but to show you the way out. With the practical wisdom of a Bible teacher and the hard-won grace of a woman who has lived it, Ashley guides you into a steady, daily rhythm of spiritual intimacy that does not require a perfect life, only a willing heart.
Whether you are quietly struggling to sense God's presence, overwhelmed by life's relentless demands, or walking through your own deepest valley, this book will meet you right where you are.
Inside the pages, you will discover how to:
- Surrender control daily and finally experience freedom from anxiety and fear
- Deepen your prayer life with practical, Scripture-rooted tools you can use every single day
- Unlock lasting spiritual peace through the discipline of serving others
- Reconnect with God through reflective journaling prompts and guided prayers woven throughout
- Find hope and healing even in the middle of your hardest season
Lost No More is not about religious obligation or checking spiritual boxes. It is an invitation from one broken, redeemed woman to stop drifting and start living in the peace that only God can give.
~*~
Buy Ashley's book on Amazon
