She’s a single mom, a parent advocate, a content creator, a personal development coach and public speaker, an international runway model, and an author.
Putting on the latter hat, Maple Ridge’s Mayalyn Hardee is preparing to host a book signing to mark the release of her latest book in mid-April.
“What’s Your Next Step?” is the first in a series of children’s books she’s working on.
“It’s an illustrated picture book that blends storytelling with guidance. It’s designed to be engaging for children with fun rhymes, while also offering meaningful takeaways,” Hardee said, noting the books are designed for kids ages three to eight years, with messaging that supports early emotional development and parent-guided learning.
Other titles in her Hugs & Grow Parenting Series are expected to follow soon, also focusing on helping parents connect with their kids.
“I wanted to create something that supports both children and parents in navigating emotions, relationships, and development in a meaningful and approachable way,” the Webster’s Corners mom elaborated.
“This project was inspired by my journey through personal growth and motherhood,” Hardee explained.
She has two young sons – Apolo, age six, and Galeyo, age four – whom she insists helped set the tone and message of the series.
“As little guys, they would often ask for hugs, despite having received so many from me in a day. When I was too busy, maintaining the household, I surely thought they had enough hugs. But there is no magical number, it’s based on each individual child’s needs. Those moments of connection mean the world to children, and I’m blessed to share this message with other parents as well. Giving them permission to slow down, and hug their children.”
Hardee went on to say: “I’ve always had a strong interest in supporting children and families. Writing children’s books became a natural extension of that, especially as I became more intentional about the kind of resources I wanted available, as a mom.”
While her first book in the series was officially released last December, Hardee first penned another unrelated book back in spring of 2023.
“A Gal’s Guide to Finessing Life” focuses on personal development for teenage girls and adult women, and is based on experiences derived from her own life.
“My work is centred around growth – both personal and within families. I aim to create resources that are not only meaningful, but also practical and accessible for everyday life,” Hardee said.
Once she became a mom – then a single mom – and her whole world was child-focused, she desperately needed materials that she could learn from, but also use to teach her children in fun digestible ways.
“While there are some amazing children’s books on the market, I saw a need and sought to fill it with the Hug & Grow Parenting Series,” said the multi-tasker.
“What’s Your Next Step?” is a self-published title that took several months to develop, from writing and refining the message, to collaborating with illustrators and editors. And Hardee recounted spending long hours at the Maple Ridge Public Library doing extensive research on parenting and social emotional learning.
“I knew I needed to get this book into the hands of as many families as possible, because while the draft was being peer reviewed, fathers and mothers would tear up at certain points in the story,” Hardee said.
“Evoking that kind of emotion from a parent who is doing their absolute best to provide for their children was quite telling. ‘I hope my children know that everything I do is for them. I’m going home to give mine a hug’.”
She described that as a powerful motivator for her to continue on with the series, noting two other titles are already written and will be ready to be released soon.
Both books will be available during the upcoming book signing at Indigo in Langley on Saturday, April 18, from noon to 4 p.m.