The Story of Hope is the book the author, locked in despair, was desperate to read but unable to find. So, she wrote a book of her own.

This is the story of an undiscovered Hero called Hope, trapped in the attic of anxiety, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, protected by a beautiful cloak.

In this exquisitely illustrated story, Hope is feeling alone, invisible and abandoned by the world. Watching a laughing crowd in party dress from her attic window, she longs to join them but feels she would never fit in. Hiding behind a black cloak, she goes on a Hero’s Journey to find her own place in the world.

Step-by-step, through the seasons and a complex kaleidoscope of emotions, Hope searches for meaning and eventually discovers herself. She meets a wise stranger and a group of trusted companions. They exchange her dark heavy cloak for a light, beautiful one in which she finds the courage to again face the world.

The story ends with Hope writing one last entry in her diary. There she shares important lessons about her journey through depression to help other struggling heroes. She tells them not to fear but to write their own story of hope where victory through vulnerability is their greatest strength.

This book guides those in despair from what feels like a grey, empty existence to a place of colour and confidence: the life they were meant to lead.

Katherine James