Former Cardinal and World Series MVP David Eckstein, and his wife, Ashley Eckstein, of Star Wars: The Clone Wars fame, will head to the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch on September 10 to promote their latest books. David’s book, a memoir titled Just Enough, and Ashley’s book, romantic comedy Lucky 22, share more than just a September 8 release date—they both tell the story of the couple’s struggles, perseverance, and love.
After writing and publishing an inspirational book about his life called Have Heart in 2006 for a child audience, David was convinced to begin work on a larger, more expansive book to tell his life story at Ashley’s behest.
Stay up-to-date with the local arts scene
Subscribe to the weekly St. Louis Arts+Culture newsletter to discover must-attend art exhibits, performances, festivals, and more.
“People think they know David’s story, but they don’t,” Ashley says. “And if they did, they’d be even more inspired than they already are.”
The process of finding an author to work with was difficult but absolutely crucial for the book. The Ecksteins say that they needed to find an author who could capture David’s authentic voice and understand that the book could not be one fundamentally characterized by baseball.
“It’s not a baseball book,” Ashley says, “It’s a story of family, faith, faith in yourself, and perseverance and never giving up.”
Recognizing those qualities in David’s story (while also knowing a bit about baseball) was incredibly important, the couple say, in finding a writer to co-author the book with David. In fact, the memoir project was delayed for several years in order to find the best match. After two failed attempts, the couple reached out to formal minor league Cardinals player Jake Gronsky, who, as a fan of David’s as well, fit the bill perfectly.
“It was the best decision I could’ve ever made for the book,” David says. “He was really able to capture David’s voice,” adds Ashley.
Lucky 22, though a work of fiction, was heavily inspired by Ashley and David’s love story. While only a chapter of David’s book focused on how the couple fell in love, Ashley wanted to share their story in more detail, having a feeling that people would want to know more.
“How David and I met and fell in love, it was like Disney magic,” Ashley says. “Or like a Hallmark movie.”
Blue Box Press, friends of the Ecksteins, do not usually publish nonfiction sports memoirs, but they do frequently publish romance novels. Ashley went to the publishing house and pitched releasing a wholesome romance novel based on how the two fell in love on the same day as the memoir (“kind of a his and hers edition,” she says).
Working with Samantha Chase, author of more than 50 contemporary romance novels, Ashley was able to finish the novel in five months, in time for the September 8 release.
The couple also partnered with Mid-America Transplant, a nonprofit organization dedicated to organ donation, to promote the book. Using David’s family’s story, the Ecksteins hope to bring awareness to organ donation, in addition to inspiring readers to embrace perseverance and belief in themselves, whether in marriage or on the field.
“These are stories told in different ways,” Ashley says. “But the themes are the same.”
The Ecksteins will be promoting their books at the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch on September 10. Tickets can be purchased here.
