If you’ve seen any of my posts recently, you’ll know that my first book Beauty Restored released 3 years ago in August of 2020. It was a journey getting to the point of my first book being published and released (Check out the video of the years leading up to my first release: ) The timing of my book being released gave me a special, and funny story.
My grandpa was 60 years older than me almost to the day. When we would visit during the summers, we would always celebrate our birthdays together because his was 4 days before mine. My book has released early August and my free author copies were being sent to me. We were going to be going back to New York state to celebrate my grandpa’s 90th birthday later that month and I didn’t know if I’d receive my copies before then. As soon as it was live on Amazon, I purchased a copy to try to have to give to my grandpa when we went out there. My cousin was the first person to buy her copies almost as soon as I posted it on Facebook that, “Hey, I wrote a book and it’s available now.” Well, irony of ironies, my books were out for delivery as we were on our way to the airport, so I didn’t get my books in time. I proceeded to get a notification that night after arriving at my grandpa’s saying they had been delivered. So close and yet so far.
I still told my grandpa about it which was special in itself because he was my last living grandparent and the only grandparent I could share this special achievement with. He cried and told me he was proud of me 🥹. We had his big party that weekend and of course it was hot and humid(sweat literally dripping down your legs just by sitting there). My cousin, who had ordered her copies of my book right away, brought her books to the party for me to sign them for her and her daughter, so she saw my book before I did because my books were back at home in an unopened box that had been delivered as I was driving to the airport. I almost cried when I saw my first published book with my own eyes. I looked at it and held it for a moment trying to take in the fact had this was my book. I wrote that. And it’s beautiful! I signed her books and thanked her again for purchasing them and supporting me and asked if I could show it to our grandpa. I took it to him and showed him and got a picture of me with him and my book.
I knew that moment was very special, but I didn’t realize how special. He wasn’t doing well healthwise so it was a blessing to be able to go out and see him and celebrate his long life and share my first book baby with him. He declined quickly after that and passed away about a month later. When I got home from his party, my books were waiting for me, including the copy I had ordered for him. I excitedly opened them and took the proper author time to gaze with amazed adoration at the physical copies of my first book baby, took pictures, continued to look at them and hold them and display them on my piano so I can continue to look at them, post pictures and all the fun things an author does when they get their first book 😁. I later signed my grandpa’s copy and mailed it to him.
I was so thankful my book came out before he passed and I was able to share that with him. And the irony of the timing made for a good story, but I’m so, so thankful I got to get a picture to capture that special moment with my cousin’s book.
God’s timing is rarely (is it too much to say never?) Our timing, but His timing is best. Something I constantly have to keep reminding myself of.
Ashley Beach-Author and Storyteller 