In this cover, there’s a bit of it all. Without saying too much:
You grow what you water.
You can only pour from a full cup.
And this story shines a light on learning to receive.

Working with designers to visually capture my own story was… a wild ride. I’ll be honest - I placed importance on the wrong things at first. I thought this story was dark because it felt heavy to share. It was the weight I’d carried for years.

But under the guidance of my publisher, I learned something humbling: sometimes, the author needs to respectfully sit the f* down. Because how I feel about sharing my story isn’t how you will feel when reading it.

What I see now is that this story is sunshine.
It’s every adventure that got me here - all the care I poured into others, the running to raise awareness for mental health, the quiet unraveling behind the scenes, and the spark that led me to start a joyful little business on my lounge room floor.

This cover captures all of it - my colours, my sunlight, and my life’s work to give back, poured out onto a piece of art.
It’s the bow on this big, heartfelt project.

And now, it’s out there. For everyone to see.
And, sure - to judge. Because let’s be honest, we all do judge a book by its cover.
But if you look closely, you’ll see a glimpse of the story within - and maybe, a little of yourself too.

With love,
Karlee Hayes
Author of The Art of Giving
🌿 An over-giver’s story on learning to receive