Hi, name is Mikhaila, and I am writing a memoir about my mom, Melanie Banayat — a woman whose life was a tapestry of adventure, art, grit, laughter, land, and love. She passed away from cancer three years ago, but her spirit remains in every brushstroke of her paintings, every seedling in her garden, every door she bravely walked through, and every heart she touched in her lifetime.

The memoir is titled:

Braving the Doors: Exploring the Colorful Life of Melanie Banayat

It is a story about her resilience, her creativity, her wild humor, her earthy wisdom, and the way she lived with a courage that invited the rest of us to be braver, too.

Today, I’m asking for support to complete and beautifully publish this book — a tribute to her life and legacy, and a gift to the community she loved with her whole being.

Why This Memoir Matters

Melanie was the kind of person you don’t forget.

A lifelong artist.

A cowboy hippie.

A fierce entrepreneur.

A lover of the land.

A mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and pillar in her community.

She founded Wingspace, a coworking space in Prescott, AZ, where she championed local creatives, makers, thinkers, and dreamers. She believed in people — in their ideas, their possibilities, and their stories. Her generosity of spirit shaped lives.

This book is not just the story of her life.

It is the story of the community she helped create, the family she loved, and the land she cared for.

It is a window into the soul of a woman who lived authentically, colorfully, and courageously.

Why I’m Crowdfunding

To honor my mom’s legacy, I want this memoir to be produced with the same heart, quality, and artistic finesse she poured into everything she touched. This means working with professional editors, designers, and printers, and taking the time to collect stories from the people whose lives she helped shape.

While I continue working full-time and running my furniture business, your support will help me carve out the space and resources needed to complete this precious project.

In addition, any funds beyond what is needed for the book will support her late husband, Greg, as he continues building the permaculture farmette they envisioned — a living extension of the life they built together.

Funding Goal

I am seeking $8,500 to bring this book to life with the care and craftsmanship it deserves.

Estimated Breakdown:

Developmental editing & copyediting: $3,000–$4,000

Book design (interior + cover): $800–$1,400

High-quality printing costs: $1,500–$2,000

Story collection, interviews, travel, and time dedicated to writing: $600–$1,800

Anything beyond that will be used to help continue the permaculture work on the land that she and Greg poured their hearts into.

How You Can Help

Contribute a Story

If you knew Melanie — through her art, Wingspace, her gardening, her community work, or simply as a friend — I would be honored to include your voice.

You can submit a memory or moment through this simple google form

Every story helps bring her back to life in the pages of this book.

Optional Gifts of Gratitude (Reward Tiers)

To honor your generosity and help keep Melanie’s story connected to the community she loved, I am offering the following thank-you gifts:

✨ $25+ — Thank You!

A heartfelt thank-you + your name added to the campaign’s supporter update page.

$50+ — Community Roots

Your name listed inside the book under:

“Community Roots: Supporters Who Helped Bring This Story to Life.”

$150+ — Art Lovers

Your name in the book

A collection of Melanie's art notecards shipped directly to you. Please use this google form to give me your address to send.

A short digital booklet with an excerpt from the memoir once the draft is complete

$300+ — Story Keepers Tier

Your name in the book

Your choice of high quality art print shipped directly to you. Please use this google form to choose which print you would like and provide your address to send.

Invitation to a virtual reading + Q&A where you share behind-the-scenes stories

$500+ — Signed Limited Edition Book Tier

One signed, premium hardcover copy of the book when it is published and printed.

Name in the book

1 high quality Art print and notecard collection. Please use this google form to choose which print you would like and provide your address to send.

Virtual reading invitation

Closing

This memoir is my way of keeping her spirit alive. Of honoring the doors she walked through, the lives she impacted, and the love she carried. It is also my way of saying thank you — to her, and to the community that embraced her.

Thank you for helping me bring her story to the world.

With love and gratitude,

Mikhaila