Denise J. Hughes has spent decades helping women draw closer to God through Scripture, prayer, and community. As an author, Bible teacher, and writing mentor, Denise has a gift for translating theological depth into heartfelt connection. True to that mission, her newest release, While Waiting for Morning: An Invitation to Pray, offers readers a quiet space to rediscover the beauty of prayer.
Denise came to our team with a clear vision for a resource that would not only teach about prayer but would invite it—through calm, uncluttered design and a reading experience that felt like early morning light. We absolutely loved collaborating with her to bring this reflective and deeply encouraging prayer guide to life!
About This Recent Project
Manuscript Edits & Formatting
Our collaboration began with a completed manuscript that reflected Denise’s heart for guiding readers through The Lord’s Prayer in a fresh, approachable way. To honor her established voice and readership, our editors focused on light manuscript refinement—copy and line edits designed to polish the flow and clarity of each reflection while maintaining Denise’s signature warmth and wisdom.
Because the structure of Denise’s manuscript was solid and the content was strong, Jenifer completed only an upgraded proofreading round to ensure every line was clean, consistent, and free of distraction. She also worked to verify Scripture quotations and translations to be sure every detail was accurate. Once the text was finalized, Randi prepared the interior file for design—formatting the manuscript to align with publishing standards and ensuring a seamless transition to the design phase.
Every detail was handled with care, guaranteeing that the interior of the book supported its purpose: to invite readers into stillness with God.
Cover and Interior Design & Typesetting
Designing this project was an absolute joy. Denise desired a cover that would visually reflect both the hope and quiet beauty found in morning prayer, and Nelly, our amazing book designer, brought that vision to life beautifully. She created a soft design featuring a soothing color palette of blues, creams, and neutrals to mirror the calm of the scenery in the cover, of dawn and the peace of starting the day with God.
Carrying that same peaceful aesthetic throughout the book, Nelly designed a clean and inviting interior that complements the reflective tone of Denise’s writing. Subtle accents, thoughtful spacing, and gentle typography encourage unhurried reading and quiet reflection. Each section feels like a pause, a moment of breath, between the noise of daily life and the whisper of God’s presence.
The finished book radiates tranquility and grace, beautifully echoing Denise’s message that prayer is not performance but presence.
Publishing & Optimization
We formatted and published While Waiting for Morning: An Invitation to Pray for both IngramSpark and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, offering the book in print and eBook formats to reach readers across platforms.
As part of our publishing process, Sara, our strategist, conducted comprehensive metadata and market research to ensure the book was positioned for maximum visibility and long-term success. She also selected categories and keywords with precision, helping readers searching for devotionals, prayer guides, or women’s Bible study resources discover While Waiting for Morning naturally through Amazon search. Using her research, Sara also crafted an optimized product description and an author bio for Amazon Author Central, making sure every detail reflected Denise’s gentle, Scripture-centered brand.
As our final support task for Denise, Randi also created a suite of promotional graphics and a coordinating Canva template for Denise to use across all platforms. Each piece was designed to stay true to both Denise’s established brand and the peaceful aesthetic of While Waiting for Morning, ensuring a cohesive and professional launch presence.
The result is a seamless blend of message, design, and discoverability—ensuring Denise’s timeless encouragement reaches the hearts of those who need it most.
What Denise had to say…
“Thank you so much for everything you have poured into this project. I really love the way it came together. The interior design is lovely, and I so appreciate your thoughtful care. I like the sun rays at the top of each new chapter and the design elements around the callouts too. It’s so lovely, sunny and hopeful. And I must say, I LOVE the cover. Of all my books, this cover is my absolute favorite. It’s beautiful and so apropos to the story. Thank you!”
Services Included in this Project
- Upgraded proofread for manuscript edits
- Book cover and interior design, formatting, and typesetting for IngramSpark and Kindle Direct Publishing (Print and eBook), plus audiobook cover design
- Metadata, category, and keyword research for IngramSpark and Kindle Direct Publishing
- Marketing copy for the product listing and author bio
- Product(s) and author profile setup and optimization for Amazon Author Central
- Market Refined Publishing imprint
- Canva template for promotional graphics
Team Members Involved
Randi Avant
Jenifer Jernigan
Nelly Murariu
Mandy Roberson
Sara Ward
Find out more about these ladies and the rest of the team here at MRM: Meet the Team
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