Ashleigh Nugent: Locks

Posted on: 29 April 2022 by Talia Stillwood in Liverpool Literary Festival 2023

Ashleigh Nugent attended the Literary festival in full force, bringing exceptional energy to the Saturday to discuss his debut novel ‘Locks’, a truly emotional story based upon his time spent in a Jamaican detention centre.

Introducing his novel and his writing process, Ashleigh explained that the process was the ‘beginning of [his] unburdening’, aiming to bring to the surface the journey to a fulfilling life and reaching a point of self-acceptance and self-actualisation.

During his talk, he kindly introduced the audience to some passages from his novel, and the energy Ashleigh brought to the room was infectious. It was a beautiful, meaningful, and interactive reading, he used music, sounds and expression of voice to delve deep into the emotion and meaning of the words on the page, and it was truly sensational.

Ashleigh’s talk covered his novel, but he also spent time sharing his personal history and stories with the audience, whilst also covering the social issues and treatment of the Black community. He discussed the identity issues he faced when he was younger, being made to feel like he didn’t belong in any community. He explained that following his experience in Jamaican prison, he not only didn’t fit in, but he also had an immense level of anger for both the Black and White communities, and he became stuck in a reoccurring loop of anger and wrongful treatment. Ashleigh discussed that his own stories are reoccurring in communities and societies worldwide and the narrative and the story of these experiences are still unchanged. It was a truly heartbreaking discussion, and it feels an honour to be able to listen to his story.

Through discussing his novel and his personal story, Ashleigh discussed the processes he has undergone to enable his healing process and accept himself. He chose to write the novel in order to take control of his story and form a deeper connection with himself. He expressed that through meditation he has been able to observe deep within his own thoughts and feelings and consequently accepted himself and his story. He quoted that “we can change the past by choosing how we perceive it, but we will only change the world by changing and accepting ourselves”.

I have nothing but complete gratitude for Ashleigh for sharing his story and experiences with us, he spoke from the heart and infected the audience with his energy and readings, and those who attended will agree, that it reminded us that accepting yourself and your mind is the most important thing.