Geniva Valdez

That was me—trying to survive, making choices, and learning the hardest lessons of my life.Every random heart I found — in a crack in the sidewalk, a shadow on the wall, a spill on the table — carried you with it. They reminded me that love doesn’t disappear, even when life falls apart. They reminded me that I still belonged to hope… and so did you.

I lost almost everything that mattered—time, trust, and precious years with my daughters. They’re grown now, living their own lives, and I’m proud of them in ways words don’t even touch. They earned their peace. They earned their distance. While I was living through my darkest chapters, something strange kept happening. I would see hearts—everywhere. In rocks. In clouds. In spilled coffee. In the way shadows landed on a wall. At first I thought I was crazy. Then I realized: these little “random hearts” were like quiet messages telling me, You’re not completely gone yet. Keep going. Those hearts followed me through the mess, through the detox, through the shame, through the slow climb back into myself. I started taking pictures of them, collecting them, writing about them. Over time, a vision grew: A book series called “Random Hearts”—stories, poems, and reflections about finding tiny signs of love in the middle of chaos, pain, and healing. I’ve been working on these books for years. They’re part poetry, part journal, part love letter to anyone who’s ever felt like they ruined everything and still wants a second chance. The first book, “Random Hearts: Shadows of Love,” is about walking through addiction, doubt, and loss and learning to see those hearts again. There are more books planned, including one for little dreamers and one about messages from the universe. I’m finally at the place where I’m ready to publish. What I don’t have is the extra money to finish the last steps. Your donation will go directly toward professional editing, formatting, cover artwork, and publishing costs to bring this book to life and make it available to readers. If you could find it in your heart to donate, even a small amount or a share would mean the world. Your support will help me share this story with others who need hope and healing.

My name is Geniva. I’m a former addict, a construction worker, a mom, and an artist with a sketchbook full of strange little hearts. For a long time, addiction wasn’t a phase for me—it was my whole lifestyle. I lost time, trust, and years with my daughters. I carried a lot of shame and learned how to function with a broken heart. But even in the worst of it, something kept showing up for me: hearts. In rocks. In clouds. In spills. In shadows. Little “random hearts” that would appear when I felt completely gone. At first I thought it was nothing. Then I realized those shapes were the universe’s way of saying, You’re not done yet. I started taking pictures of them, then drawing them. Every heart I drew held a piece of my story—relapse, recovery, guilt, hope, and the fight to believe I deserved another chance. That’s how my book project was born: RANDOM HEARTS – a book series built from my real life, my art, and the signs that got me through the dark. I’ve been working for years on the writing and the drawings. Now I’m at the edge of what I can do alone. I’m ready to publish, but I need help covering the final costs: • Professional editing and proofreading • Interior formatting so the pages are KDP-ready • Cover design featuring my own heart artwork • Printing and launch costs for my first book in the series I’m not asking anyone to rescue me. I already did the hardest part: I survived, I changed, and I’m standing here with my heart wide open. I’m asking for support so I can turn this work into something bigger than me—so someone else sitting in their own darkness can open this book, see these hearts, and feel that same whisper: “You are not too far gone. You are not invisible. You are still loved.” If you can donate, thank you. If you can share this, thank you. Every dollar and every share is one more step toward getting Random Hearts into the hands of the people who need it. This is my big leap of faith, without any more doubts. — Geniva Valdez

Hi, my name is Geniva (Gg), and I’m finally taking a huge leap of faith with a dream I’ve carried for years.For as long as I can remember, I’ve been finding “random hearts” in the most unexpected places— in rocks, in clouds, in spills, in shadows, and in some of the darkest seasons of my life. Those hearts showed up when I was struggling with addiction, heartbreak, loss, and trying to put myself back together. They felt like quiet messages from the universe saying, “You’re not done yet.”I’ve turned that journey into two books:• Random Hearts: Shadows of Love – a raw poetry/memoir about my real story. Addiction wasn’t just a phase; it was my lifestyle. This book walks through the shadows, the healing, and learning to love life again.A Random Hearts children’s book – a bright, hopeful story to help little dreamers see hearts and magic in everyday life, even when things feel hard.These two books are just the beginning. Random Hearts: Shadows of Love is the first book in a future series for adults, and the children’s book is the first in a Random Hearts series for kids. Your support doesn’t just help one book—it helps launch two whole series built around healing, hope, and the universe’s heart-shaped signs.Publishing on Amazon (KDP) itself is free, but getting these books done right is not. To bring both books to a professional level, I was quoted $1,199. That total covers: • Full-page illustrations and character art for the children’s book • Professional cover designs (front, back, and spine) for both books • Editing and proofreading for both books • Final shaping of the Random Hearts: Shadows of Love manuscript • Formatting and setup for print-on-demand copies • ISBN and preparation so the books can also be published on platforms like Apple Books, Kobo, Google Books, and Barnes & Noble I don’t have $1,199 sitting around. What I do have is my story, my heart, and the courage to finally share it. If you’ve ever watched me struggle and get back up, seen me post my random heart pictures, or just believe in second chances and universe signs, I’m asking for your help to cross this finish line. Your donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward the artwork, editing, and professional preparation needed to bring these first two books to life and open the door for the rest of the Random Hearts series. My promise is to keep everyone updated as the books move through editing, design, and finally publishing. When they’re live, I’ll share the finished covers and links so you can see what you helped create. Thank you for believing in me and in Random Hearts. Love, Geniva (Gg) Support my Random Hearts book fundraiser