Bad Ass Grandma: The Book

Who says life has to get smaller as we get older?

When Alesa Lightbourne stumbled out of icy surf on a winter day, teenage boys bundled up on the beach called her a “bad ass grandma.” She had to look it up to make sure it wasn’t an insult.

That moment started a journey.

Alesa began asking women about the ways they were still growing, changing, taking chances and finding meaning—not necessarily by riding Harleys or jumping out of airplanes, but through the quieter challenges that can take even more courage.

Stepping outside comfort zones. Giving back. Forgiving old hurts. Facing mortality. Finding resilience—and discovering new reasons to be astonished by life.

Blending memoir with the stories of remarkable women, Bad Ass Grandma: Living Large, Finding Awe is about refusing to fade quietly into the background. It’s about becoming more curious, more courageous, and perhaps even more alive as the years accumulate.

2026 READERS’ FAVORITE SILVER MEDAL WINNER, Nonfiction/Retirement

★★★★★. 50+ Amazon reviews — overwhelmingly 5 stars

Bad Ass Grandma has also received enthusiastic reviews from Readers’ Favorite, San Francisco Book Review, and Manhattan Book Review.

It's a perfect gift for a woman who isn’t finished yet. For mothers, grandmothers, sisters, friends—anyone who intends to keep growing, exploring and finding awe, no matter what their age.

Available in Paperback • Large Print • Kindle • Audiobook on Amazon, libraries or in bookstores.