"You're bad ass, Grandma!" That's what teens on a wintery beach yelled at Alesa Lightbourne, age 73, as she ended a long swim in icy water. That started her on a journey into positive, creative aging, interviewing ordinary women over 60 who were doing extraordinary things.

She found that bold living doesn't have an expiration date. And you don't need to ride a Harley or jump out of airplanes (though you could). Being Bad Ass in your later years means deciding what matters now - and having the nerve to go after it.

In the book you'll meet women who join the Peace Corps. Volunteer. Forgive ex-husbands (more than once). Care for dying spouses with fierce tenderness. Start over in their 50s and later, if they want.

Part memoir, part manifesto, Bad Ass Grandma explores how to grow older without shrinking - and how courage, curiosity, and even loss can open the door to awe.

An ideal choice for book clubs, it sparks rich conversations about aging, resilience, purpose, and what it truly means to live large.
Alesa Lightbourne is a writer and educator who has lived in six countries. Her previous book, The Kurdish Bike, earned three international awards and was translated into five languages. It was a book club favorite in the United States, Europe and Middle East.