Dyrk Ashton is an American author of fiction, born in Athens, Ohio, on a chilly Halloween morning. Growing up, he spent his time in the cornfields, woods, rivers, and haymows of his hometown, indulging in a wide range of adventures and developing a fascination with mythology and storytelling. Despite his tendency to ignore school, Ashton managed to excel academically, with the exception of algebra.
Ashton earned a BFA and masters degree in filmmaking at The Ohio State University, which led to a career in film production in Columbus, Ohio. He worked his way up from production assistant to grip, production manager, and producer for commercials, industrial films, and low-budget features. After that, he headed west to Los Angeles, where he wrote and pitched scripts, working as a "jack-of-all-trades" in film production to make ends meet. He appeared in various acting roles, though none that gained significant recognition. His travels took him to places like Sri Lanka, where he spent an eight-week stint in Kandy.
After nearly six years in Los Angeles, Ashton decided to move back to the Midwest and pursue a PhD in Film Studies at Bowling Green State University. His dissertation focused on The Lord of the Rings movies. Upon completing his PhD, he became a professor, teaching film studies and appreciating the opportunity to warp the minds of the youth. He eventually transitioned to teaching entirely online and found time to read books again, rekindling his passion for fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. This led him to write his first novel, Paternus, the first book in a trilogy of contemporary urban fantasy adventures for grown-ups. Ashton continues to write, embracing the writing process and producing novels, even if they don't find a wide audience. He remains true to his real name, which he has been told sounds like a soap actor or porn star's name, and takes pride in its unique spelling, a preference of his Scottish mother.