Marietta Hughes Mercy
With 9 years of dedicated experience in the publishing and book marketing industry, I help fiction and non-fiction authors reach more readers, dramatically increase their book sales, climb the Amazon bestseller charts, secure authentic reader reviews, and build a lasting, profitable author brand that generates income for years. Everything I do is handled through clear, documented, email-based communication so every strategy, every campaign, every result, and every decision is permanently recorded for your reference and peace of mind.
You poured your heart, your soul, your time, and your energy into writing your book. You spent months or even years developing your characters, refining your plot, polishing your prose, and perfecting every single chapter until it felt exactly right. You invested in professional editing, hired a talented cover designer, paid for professional formatting, and finally gathered the courage to hit that publish button. You waited for the sales notifications to start rolling in. You refreshed your KDP dashboard every few hours. You checked your Amazon Best Seller Rank obsessively.
And then: silence.
If this experience sounds painfully familiar, I want you to know something very important right now. You are not alone, you have not failed, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with your book. Over 4 million new books are published every single year across all platforms worldwide. Amazon alone receives an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 new titles every single day. The vast majority of these millions of books will never reach the readers who would absolutely love them. Not because the writing is poor or the cover is unappealing. The problem is almost always the complete absence of a strategic, sustained, data-informed, and professionally executed marketing plan.
Your book is buried on page 47 of Amazon search results for your main keywords. Organic discovery on Amazon is nearly impossible without a focused promotional push, strategic keyword placement, competitive category selection, and consistent visibility efforts. Simply being published is not enough. You need to be actively and strategically discovered by readers who are already searching for books exactly like yours.
Paid advertising platforms are incredibly powerful tools when used correctly, but they require deep knowledge of keyword research, audience targeting, bid management, negative keyword filtering, ad copy optimization, campaign structuring, and daily performance monitoring. Without this expertise, it is very easy to burn through hundreds or even thousands of dollars with absolutely nothing to show for it.
You are an author first and foremost. Trying to master Amazon algorithms, Facebook pixel tracking, email funnel automation, metadata optimization, Goodreads community management, and BookTok content creation while simultaneously writing your next manuscript is a guaranteed recipe for creative burnout, frustration, and ultimately abandoning your writing career altogether.
The book marketing industry is unfortunately filled with agencies and freelancers who make enormous promises during the sales process but deliver minimal results, poor communication, and zero accountability once they have your payment. Many authors come to me feeling burned, deeply skeptical, and unsure whether book marketing even works at all.
Amazon Ads, Facebook Ads, BookBub, Goodreads Listopia, blog tours, newsletter swaps, book clubs, TikTok BookTok, Instagram Bookstagram, email lists, reader magnets, A+ Content, and the list goes on. Most authors feel completely paralyzed by the number of choices and end up doing nothing at all because they do not know which strategies will actually move the needle.
This is one of the most frustrating situations an author can face. You have genuine five-star reviews, readers love the book, and yet daily sales remain stubbornly low. This almost always points to a discoverability problem rather than a quality problem. Your book is excellent but it is invisible. The right readers simply do not know it exists yet.
That is exactly why I built my book marketing business differently from everyone else in this industry. With 9 years of focused, full-time experience, I cut through the noise, eliminate the guesswork, and deliver clear, documented, results-driven marketing strategies tailored specifically to your book, your genre, your audience, and your goals.
I am Marietta Hughes Mercy, a professional book marketing specialist with 9 years of hands-on experience in the publishing and digital marketing industry. Over nearly a decade, I have helped hundreds of authors across more than 60 genres and subgenres transform their book sales, build loyal reader communities, climb the Amazon bestseller charts, and finally achieve the commercial success their writing truly deserves.
When you work with me, every single aspect of our collaboration happens over email. Every strategy we build together, every campaign we launch, every keyword we target, every dollar we spend, every review we secure, and every result we achieve is recorded in writing. You will always have an organized, timestamped, and fully searchable record of what is being done for your book.
You receive detailed email updates on every campaign setup, every dollar of ad spend, and every sales metric. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no vague invoices.
Every timeline, task, deliverable, and strategic decision is confirmed in writing before any work begins. You will never have to rely on memory.
Months or years from now, you can look back at our email archive and reuse the exact keyword lists, blurb structures, and launch schedules we built together.
You never have to break your creative flow to jump on a call. You read my updates and respond whenever it fits your personal schedule.
Written communication creates mutual accountability. I stand behind every recommendation, and you have the documentation to verify every claim and result.
All reports are in writing so you can easily share them with your publisher, agent, co-author, or accountant for tax purposes and business planning.
I work with authors across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Nigeria, India, and many other countries. Email eliminates all time zone challenges.
After 9 years in this industry, I have developed a clear set of marketing principles that inform every decision I make and every strategy I recommend.
I do not make marketing decisions based on gut feelings, trends I saw on social media, or what worked for one random author in a completely different genre. Every strategy I recommend is backed by data, market research, competitor analysis, and platform-specific performance metrics. I test, I measure, I analyze, and I optimize based on what the numbers actually tell us.
Algorithms change constantly. What does not change is human psychology. Readers make purchasing decisions based on emotion, social proof, curiosity, and trust. I build campaigns that speak to reader psychology first and platform mechanics second, which means my strategies remain effective even as algorithms evolve.
Anyone can generate a temporary sales spike by slashing your price and running a massive ad campaign. But that spike disappears the moment the promotion ends. I focus on building sustainable, long-term author careers through strategies that compound over time: growing your email list, optimizing your backlist, and building reader loyalty.
I will never tell you that I can guarantee a number one New York Times bestseller or promise you 10,000 sales in your first week. What I will do is give you an honest, realistic assessment of your book's market potential, set achievable goals, and work tirelessly to exceed those goals through proven strategies.
Whether you are a debut author publishing your very first novel or a seasoned writer with 30 titles in your backlist, I bring the same level of passion, attention to detail, and strategic thinking to your project. Your book represents months or years of your life, and I treat it with the respect and dedication it deserves.
Every book is unique. Every author has different goals, budgets, and timelines. Below is the complete range of 15 specialized services I offer, each designed to solve specific challenges at different stages of your publishing journey. All services are conducted entirely through email.
For authors with an upcoming release who want maximum first-week sales and reviews.
Complete launch timeline, ARC outreach templates, ad performance reports, social media calendar, weekly progress updates, and final launch results report.
Monthly retainer for authors who want consistent, growing royalties without managing ad platforms.
Initial ad strategy document, weekly performance snapshots, detailed monthly analytics report, optimization recommendations, and quarterly growth summary.
One-time audit for authors getting traffic but not enough sales.
Full audit report with screenshots, three blurb versions, keyword spreadsheet, competitor analysis, pricing memo, and step-by-step implementation checklist.
For authors who want their Amazon pages to look as professional as a major publishing house.
Layout mockup, complete copywriting draft, image specification sheet, rewritten bio, storefront organization plan, and series linking strategy document.
For authors who want visibility on the world's largest reading platform with 90 million active members.
Listopia research spreadsheet, placement action plan, profile optimization checklist, giveaway guide, performance tracking template, and community engagement guide.
For authors who want word-of-mouth buzz, bulk purchases, and long-term reader loyalty.
Research database, pitch document, custom discussion guide, tracking spreadsheet, follow-up templates, engagement recommendations, and bulk order setup guide.
For authors building a loyal reader community that automatically buys every new release.
Reader magnet concept document, ESP comparison guide, complete welcome sequence copy, content calendar, social media strategy, swap templates, and segmentation guide.
For authors who want widespread visibility, authentic reviews, and valuable SEO backlinks.
Tour schedule, blogger database, interview Q&A, guest post drafts, distribution tracker, daily progress updates, and final results report with links.
For KU authors who want to maximize page read income and leverage Amazon's promotional tools.
Enrollment analysis document, free promotion plan, Countdown Deal strategy memo, page read optimization checklist, and KU ad campaign reports.
For multi-book authors who want to turn older titles back into consistent income streams.
Catalog audit report, optimization action plans, read-through funnel document, backlist ad reports, and annual promotional calendar.
For authors who want viral visibility on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Platform audit, 30-day BookTok calendar with scripts, Bookstagram guide, Facebook group plan, influencer database with pitch templates, and Pinterest guide.
For authors who want to build authority through popular podcast appearances.
Podcast research database, pitch document, outreach tracking spreadsheet, interview preparation guide, and post-episode promotion checklist.
For authors who want to strategically earn the coveted Amazon "Best Seller" orange tag.
Sales threshold research, campaign timeline with hourly tasks, promotional coordination plan, real-time updates, and post-bestseller marketing materials.
For authors who want mainstream media coverage and authoritative backlinks.
Angle development document, press release, media database, personalized pitch emails, press kit with all assets, and coverage tracking spreadsheet.
For authors who want to capitalize on seasonal reading trends and holiday shopping periods.
12-month promotional calendar, holiday strategy documents, seasonal keyword research, email templates, and quarterly performance reviews.
My entire workflow is designed around written email communication so every stage of your marketing project is structured, calm, organized, and fully documented.
Send a detailed email to mariettahughes71@gmail.com telling me about your book, your genre, your publication status, your target audience, your current marketing challenges, your previous marketing efforts, and your goals. The more information you provide, the more accurately I can assess your situation. I read every single inquiry personally and reply within 24 hours on business days.
After carefully reviewing your email, I will reply with a detailed, written proposal outlining exactly which services I recommend for your specific book, what each service includes in full detail, the projected timeline from start to finish, and the exact investment required. You can review it at your own pace without any pressure or urgency.
Once you reply with your approval via email, I begin executing your custom marketing strategy immediately. Throughout the entire project, you will receive regular progress emails, draft documents for your review, campaign performance data, and strategic updates directly in our email thread.
At the conclusion of your campaign or monthly cycle, you receive a comprehensive written results report with detailed analytics, performance comparisons, and strategic insights. We review the data together via email and determine the best next steps for your ongoing author career growth.
Every strategy, approved budget, keyword selection, and result remains permanently recorded in your inbox. You will never wonder what was decided or search through scattered notes.
Writing requires deep focus. With email, you never break your creative flow. You read my updates and respond when it fits your day, whether early morning or late at night.
All audits, launch timelines, keyword documents, blurb drafts, and ad reports belong to you permanently. Reference and reuse them for every future book release.
Written communication ensures absolute clarity on expectations, timelines, and deliverables for both of us from the very first email. No room for misunderstanding.
I work with authors across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Nigeria, India, and many other countries. Email eliminates all time zone coordination challenges completely.
I am a dedicated book marketing specialist with 9 years of hands-on, full-time experience connecting exceptional writing with the readers who are eagerly waiting to discover it.
I built this business after witnessing far too many incredibly gifted authors spend months or even years writing powerful, beautifully crafted books, only to watch those books disappear into the overwhelming noise of competitive online marketplaces with barely a ripple of attention. The issue is almost never the quality of the story. The issue is simply the absence of a clear, deliberate, and professionally executed marketing strategy.
Over the course of my career, I have worked with authors across an extraordinarily diverse range of genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, thriller, mystery, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, literary fiction, non-fiction, self-help, business, memoir, spirituality, children's books, and many more.
My approach blends a deep creative understanding of reader psychology and genre conventions with rigorous, data-backed advertising methods and platform optimization techniques. I do not believe in guessing, and I do not chase vanity metrics. Every campaign I run is designed to produce tangible, measurable outcomes: increased orders, higher page reads, stronger reviews, and consistent royalties.
Most importantly, I manage every client project through structured, professional email communication. This ensures you always receive organized, transparent, and fully documented service every single week.
"I came to Marietta completely overwhelmed and ready to give up on marketing altogether. I had self-published my debut romance novel six months earlier and had barely sold 200 copies. From the very first email, Marietta was incredibly thorough and professional. She sent me a detailed audit of my Amazon listing, completely rewrote my blurb, overhauled my backend keywords, and placed me on several Goodreads Listopia lists. Within three weeks, my daily sales went from 1 or 2 copies to between 15 and 25 copies consistently. Our entire email thread has become my personal marketing encyclopedia. I have now hired her for my third book launch and I will never work with anyone else."
"I had a backlist of seven titles generating stagnant income. A fellow author recommended Marietta. She audited my entire backlist, rewrote three blurbs, restructured my Amazon ad campaigns from scratch, set up Facebook ads, and coordinated a blog tour that generated 22 new reviews. Within two months, my total monthly royalties had tripled. Every single week I receive a detailed email showing my ad spend, click-through rates, cost per click, estimated sales, and her recommendations. I never have to guess what is happening with my money."
"As a fantasy author with a full-time day job, I have very limited time for marketing. When I found Marietta and learned she conducts everything via email, I was initially skeptical. Her responses are incredibly detailed, thoughtful, and fast. She grew my email list by 3,000 subscribers in two months, wrote my entire welcome sequence, and managed a BookTok strategy. One video got over 200,000 views and generated more sales in a single weekend than I had made in the previous three months combined."
"Marietta repositioned my self-help book with a new subtitle, completely rewritten description, and a strategic category change. Within a week, I earned my first Amazon Best Seller tag. She then set up a book club outreach campaign and a podcast guest booking campaign that landed me on four popular podcasts. Every single step was communicated clearly via email. I now have a permanent marketing playbook in my inbox that I reference constantly."
"She coordinated my ARC campaign and secured 85 verified reviews by launch day. She managed my Amazon and Facebook Ads with extraordinary precision. She set up Goodreads Listopia placements, coordinated newsletter swaps with eight romance authors reaching over 50,000 readers, and managed a blog tour with 15 additional reviews. My book hit number one in three subcategories and stayed in the Top 100 for over a month. Her 9 years of experience absolutely shows."
"After two bad experiences with other marketers, I was deeply skeptical. Marietta restored my faith. Her email documentation is flawless. She set up my entire author platform from scratch, managed seasonal promotions across my 12-book backlist, and created a newsletter swap network that grows my list by 500 subscribers every month on autopilot. Best investment I have ever made in my author career."
No. I conduct all client communication entirely via email and this is a deliberate and permanent business decision. Email guarantees that every marketing plan, campaign adjustment, timeline, budget approval, and performance metric is fully documented in writing for your permanent reference. This eliminates miscommunication, scheduling conflicts, and forgotten action items. The vast majority of my clients tell me that once they experience how organized, stress-free, and transparent email-based communication is, they never want to go back to phone calls or meetings.
I respond to all new inquiries within 24 hours on business days. For active client projects, you can expect responses within 24 to 48 hours depending on the complexity and scope of the project. Urgent campaign matters are always prioritized.
I have 9 years of focused, full-time experience helping both independent and traditionally published authors launch books, manage paid advertising campaigns, optimize Amazon listings, coordinate blog tours, execute Goodreads Listopia campaigns, build email lists, and develop comprehensive long-term marketing strategies. Over those 9 years, I have managed more than 250 successful book campaigns across more than 60 genres and subgenres.
I work across virtually all major fiction and non-fiction categories. My experience includes Romance, Thriller and Mystery, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Horror, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Business, Health and Wellness, Memoir, Spirituality, Children's Books, and many more. If you are unsure whether your specific niche is a good fit, simply send me an email with the details.
Pricing depends on the specific services you need, the scope of your project, the size of your catalog, and your individual marketing goals. Once you email me with your book details, I will provide a clear, detailed, written proposal with exact pricing. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no long-term contracts required. Everything is documented and agreed upon in writing before any work begins.
The timeline varies depending on the specific service. Listing audits and blurb rewrites can begin improving your conversion rate within days. Paid advertising campaigns typically show meaningful data within 2 to 4 weeks. Full book launch campaigns are planned and executed over 6 to 8 weeks. I will provide a realistic timeline in your custom proposal.
Absolutely. Detailed reporting is a central and non-negotiable part of every service I offer. You will receive structured written email summaries on a regular basis showing ad spend, impressions, clicks, click-through rates, cost per click, estimated sales, estimated royalties, and my specific optimization recommendations for the next period.
Yes. I collaborate extensively with self-published authors managing their own KDP dashboards as well as traditionally published and hybrid-published authors who want to supplement their publisher's marketing efforts with independent promotional campaigns.
Because every aspect of our collaboration is documented in our email thread, we can always review the data together objectively and make informed strategic adjustments. I do not believe in locking authors into long-term contracts. I earn your continued business through measurable results and transparent communication, not through obligations.
Yes, absolutely. Many of my long-term clients started with a single service such as a blurb rewrite or a listing audit and gradually expanded to full launch management and monthly ad retainers as they saw results and built trust. You are never obligated to purchase more than you need.
Getting started is simple and completely pressure-free. Send me your book details and what you want to achieve. I will review your information carefully and reply within 24 hours.
If you write under a pen name that is different from your legal name, please share both.
Tell me about your book, what genre it falls in, and a brief overview of the content or story.
Is your book upcoming, recently published, or part of an existing backlist with multiple titles?
What are you hoping to achieve and what specific challenges are you currently facing?
Share your approximate budget range so I can recommend the most appropriate service package.
Have you tried marketing before? What worked and what did not? This helps me avoid repeating what failed.