Louise Lynn Hay (October 8, 1926 – August 30, 2017) was an American motivational author, professional speaker and AIDS advocate. She authored several New Thought self-help books, including the 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life, and founded Hay House publishing.

Born to a poor mother who married a violent stepfather, Hay's early life was challenging. At five, she was raped by a neighbor. She dropped out of high school at fifteen, became pregnant, and on her sixteenth birthday, gave up her newborn baby girl for adoption.

She later moved to Chicago, working in menial jobs, and then to New York in 1950, where she embarked on a successful career as a fashion model. She worked for esteemed designers such as Bill Blass, Oleg Cassini, and Pauline Trigere.

In 1954, she married Andrew Hay. After fourteen years, Andrew left her for another woman, which was a devastating event for her.

Hay found solace and support at the First Church of Religious Science, which influenced her thoughts and works significantly.