MRM Project Feature: Hope Beneath the Rubble Publishing Project

Manuscript Development & Edits

Before moving into design, our team worked with Jenn on an abbreviated developmental review of Hope Beneath the Rubble. This step focused on strengthening structure and clarity, making sure the book meets readers with both encouragement and practical tools for healing. Having developed and taught her own trauma-care model for years, Jenn already had a clear vision for how the content should flow. She also believed that the lessons should be short and easily digestible for those who are struggling, and, of course, that each page be infused with her signature humor and joy.

Through an abbreviated developmental review, Milena shared thoughtful feedback highlighting Jenn’s natural gift for connecting with her audience and affirming the impact this book will have. Rather than heavy markup, this abbreviated review focused on a short editorial letter with key recommendations for refinement. Jenn and Milena quickly worked through the revisions, and then the project seamlessly transitioned to the copyediting phase—proof that even a streamlined developmental review can make a meaningful difference in preparing a manuscript for the next stage of publishing.

Once developmental edits were complete, we moved into the copyediting phase with Danielle. This stage focused on refining flow, polishing clarity, and ensuring consistency, while still preserving Jenn’s unique voice, heartfelt stories, and unforgettable humor. Danielle was also careful to honor the teaching model and framework Jenn has established, only making necessary adjustments and ensuring all citations were correct.

The final stage of editing was the proofread. Jenifer carefully proofread the manuscript to ensure every detail was accurate, polished, and publication-ready, smoothing sentence flow, catching small inconsistencies, and clarifying details. She offered great insight into potential partner resources to include in the book’s Appendix, as well as helpful feedback for the design of charts and information throughout the book. By the end of this phase, the manuscript was proofed, polished, and prepared for design.

Cover & Interior Design

Nelly worked her magic to produce seven distinct cover concepts, each weaving in elements of Jenn’s existing branding. These concepts visually portray resilience and renewal, with thoughtful nods to her previous book release. The beautiful designs made the final decision challenging, but Jenn quickly settled on the concept that spoke to her most, with the word “Hope” shining front and center. Not only did it resonate with her message for this new book, it also perfectly paired with My Yes Is on the Table.

After the cover art was settled, we shifted focus to the interior design of Hope Beneath the Rubble. We started with a sample layout that showcased chapter styles, callouts, and the “heart work” sections at the end of each chapter. Nelly did a fabulous job extending the cover’s beauty consistently throughout the interior, and Jenn loved every intentional, creative detail.