This week, three developments caught my attention because they offer practical opportunities for authors.

Pinterest is leaning into offline hobbies

Pinterest’s latest trend report shows growing interest in activities that get people away from their screens.

That includes reading-related hobbies.

Searches for “book log journal” increased 482%, while searches for “tracking journal” rose 1,264%.

For authors, this is an opportunity to create content around the experience of reading instead of constantly posting direct book promotions.

Think:

• September reading trackers

• Fall reading lists

• Fantasy book journals

• Printable book club pages

• Witchy reading challenges

Pinterest also reports rising interest in “Kitchen Witch” content, herbal apothecaries, tarot cards and cozy rituals. That makes this especially useful for fantasy, paranormal and witchy mystery authors.

Read the Pinterest Hobbies Trend Report

Additionally, since I keep saying that people want to know YOU - use Pinterest as a way to make that happen. Create boards that have nothing at all to do with your book. You enjoy gardening? Create a board with photos of other gardens you love, plus photos of your own. You get the idea.

YA authors may need to rethink posting times

Meta has announced new restrictions for users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram. These include a two-hour daily limit, nighttime restrictions, and muted notifications during school hours.

This is not an algorithm change, and it does not mean YA authors are being penalized.

It does mean teenage readers may be less active during school hours or late at night.

If your books are written for teens, try posting between 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. in your audience’s primary time zone. Test it before completely changing your schedule.

Read Meta’s announcement

Instagram is still investing in Edits

Meta continues to promote Edits, its standalone video-creation app for Reels.

That does not prove Instagram gives extra reach to videos created in Edits. No matter what someone on TikTok insists.

Still, it may be worth testing if it makes creating simple book videos faster.

Try using existing material:

• A close-up of the cover

• A short quote

• A little atmospheric footage

• One clear call to action

Then compare how long it took to create and how viewers responded. If you use EDits, let me know the outcome because I have never used it and am curious!

The takeaway this week?

You do not need to chase every new tool or trend. Choose one idea that genuinely fits your books and your readers, test it, and pay attention to what happens.

That is far more useful than rebuilding your entire strategy every time a platform sneezes.

See you next week! (Or later this week if there’s something worth noting!)

Mary (and the cats!)

As always, if you are looking for some help with graphics or your social media - please reach out! www.merryassistant.com

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And it sent me down a rabbit hole. Is there an equivalent for cats? It sent me up the cat tree? Hm.. doesn’t have the same vibe. I digress…

I have been talking A LOT about your brand, your why, your authenticity and why it’s important to know all of those things when you set out to post on social media. Now, I’m not suggesting you need to know it all…because who does? But knowing the direction you want to go will certainly help you in getting there.

So, what am I prattling on about now - first I tell you that social media is dead and now I’m telling you that videos are bogus. What gives?

YouTube recently changed the way it counts views. As of August 24, a view is counted from the moment a video begins to play. Shorts have worked similarly since 2025, with no minimum watch time required.

TikTok and Instagram also have very low barriers for counting video plays/views.

Which means someone scrolling past your video can potentially contribute to that big, exciting number you’re looking at.

That doesn’t mean video views are meaningless. It means we need to stop treating them as the whole story. (And stop trying to go viral!)

For years, small business owners have been told: MAKE REELS. MAKE TIKTOKS. POST MORE VIDEO.

And video absolutely has a place in your social media strategy.

But so do static posts. So do carousels. So does evergreen content. So do funny posts people send to their friends. So does the personal post that makes someone think, “I really like them.” So does the educational post someone saves because they want to come back to it.

Different content does different jobs.

Start looking beyond views.

When you’re deciding whether your content is working, ask:

Did anyone save it? Did anyone share it? Did someone comment? Did it start a conversation? Did someone visit my profile? Did someone click my website?

Those numbers aren’t nearly as sexy as a giant view count. But they’re a whole lot more useful when you’re trying to run a business.

I’m not going to tell you to stop making videos. I AM going to tell you to stop letting video views convince you that everything else you’re creating is failing.

As a side note, do you know the number one thing authors ask me for? TikTok and Reel creation. And do you know why? Because they don’t want to make them.

They take FOREVER.

Find the footage. Find the audio. Edit the footage. Time the text. Change the text because now you can’t read it. Export it. Realize something looks weird. Go back into CapCut or Canva. Export it again. Write the caption. Upload it. Congratulations. You’ve just spent 45 minutes making a 12-second video.

There’s a reason a lot of VAs and social media managers have stopped offering video creation. I’m one of them. I no longer offer TikTok/Reel creation to new clients.

Because if you’re spending 30, 45, 60 minutes - sometimes longer - creating one short-form video, you need to know what you’re getting in return for that time.

If you LOVE making videos? Make them! If your readers respond to them? Make them! If they’re driving people to your books, newsletter, website, or profile? Keep going! But if you hate making them, they eat up hours of your week, and the only evidence you have that they’re “working” is a big view number?

I think you’re allowed to ask whether that is actually the best use of your marketing time. Imagine what else you could create in that hour.

Now look, I LOVE CapCut - and I LOVE making CapCut videos with my own book cover as the background and some famous person saying something goofy… those are fun, that’s my vibe, and I will keep making those because they take zero time and zero effort and shoot - I like them.

Make the kind of content you can actually see yourself continuing to make.

Because I would much rather see you build a social media presence you (or your PA) enjoy maintaining than burn yourself (or them) out trying to satisfy an algorithm that will probably change the rules again before you finish reading this newsletter.

See you next week!

Mary (and the cats - who are currently not on the cat tree.)

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But I do think a lot of the social media advice authors are being given needs to die.

Go viral. Post every day. Show your face. Make more Reels. Follow this formula. Use this hook. Do exactly what this bestselling author did and surely you’ll sell books too.

Except...no. You’re being driven crazy, and I’m pulling out my hair.

I’ve been doing this a long time. The Merry Assistant may have only existed for 6 years, but wayyyy back in the late ‘90s/early 2000s days of Paint Shop Pro I owned a nonprofit. (In case you’re curious - it was called The Nuzzled Network, and I helped people get justice for animals. More on that later, if you want.)

I built my own website. Back then, I taught myself how to build websites by researching the HTML source code of other websites. I even had “How to Build Websites for Dummies” and “Paint Shop Pro for Dummies” - I was hardcore.

I created my own graphics. I did my own marketing.

And no matter what job I had after that, I always had my hands in their social media, marketing, networking, or creating.

I’ve watched all of this evolve.

I’ve watched platforms come and go. And when I tell you that I miss the days of Yahoo chat rooms - I do!

I’ve watched “best practices” become bad advice.

I’ve watched trends explode, algorithms change, new platforms appear, and businesses completely reshape the way they talk to people online. I’m currently watching influencers, social media managers, and even authors tell people that they KNOW the secret. Just sign up for this $300, four-week course, and then you, too, will know the secret.

I’ve been around long enough to know that anyone who tells you they’ve cracked the social media code probably hasn’t.

There is no magic formula. If there were - wouldn’t we all know it by now?

That’s exactly why I’m excited to join Amy W. Vogel for the next Author MBA Summer Workshop: Social Media for Authors Is “Dead!”

We’re going to talk about what social media can actually do for authors, what readers really want from the people they follow, why engagement doesn’t necessarily equal book sales, and how to build an author presence that doesn’t require you to spend your entire life online.

Because your readers are looking for something….

They’re looking for you. Remember when I mentioned Yahoo chat rooms - if you’re old enough to remember them, then you know what I mean - connection. THAT’S what people want.

Join us!

Wednesday, August 19
1:00–2:00 PM CST
Virtual workshop + Q&A
Replay included

Tickets start at just $10.

If you’re ready to let some of the old social media advice die and start thinking differently about how you connect with readers, I hope you’ll join us.

I have a lot to say about this one.

Grab your ticket here

• “My graphics aren’t good enough.”

• “I don’t know how to make reels.”

• “The algorithm hates me.”

• “I don’t post enough.”

Sometimes those things matter. Most of the time...They aren’t the real problem.

The biggest mistake I see authors make is this:

They’re trying to sell a book before they’ve given people a reason to care about the person who wrote it.

Readers don’t follow authors because they need another book.

They follow authors because they connect with the human behind the stories.

Think about the creators you love following.

Do you stay because they’re constantly telling you to buy something?

Probably not.

You stay because they make you laugh. Or they make you think. Or they tell stories. Or they make you feel understood. You start to feel like they are your friend.

Books are incredibly personal purchases.

Before someone spends ten dollars - or ten hours - on your story, they’re often deciding whether they want to spend time with you.

That doesn’t mean you have to share every detail of your life.

It simply means readers want to know who’s behind the keyboard.

Imagine walking into a bookstore.

If every employee followed you around saying,

• “Buy this.”

• “What about this?”

• “This one’s on sale.”

You’d probably leave.

Social media can feel the same way.

Instead, think of your page like a conversation.

I’ve been testing this on my own author page. The posts getting the most engagement lately aren’t my book graphics. They’re the conversations.

Questions like:

“What’s one thing people misunderstand about grief?”

Or statements like:

“We need to stop calling children ‘mature for their age.’”

Those posts invite people to share their experiences.

I’m not just selling a book.

I’m inviting them into an ongoing conversation.

This Week’s Social Media Tip

The next time you sit down to write a post, don’t ask yourself:

“How do I sell my book?”

Instead ask:

“What conversation does my book belong in?”

If you wrote romance...

• Talk about first loves.

• Second chances.

• Dating disasters.

• Book boyfriends.

If you wrote fantasy...

• Talk about courage.

• Found family.

• Magic.

• Escapism.

If you wrote a memoir...

• Talk about healing.

• Grief.

• Hope.

• Resilience.

• Identity.

Your book isn’t the conversation.

It’s the destination.

Your social media is the path that leads readers there.

Come Join Me!

If today’s newsletter resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to continue the conversation.

On August 19, I’ll be joining author and coach Amy Vogel for a live workshop all about social media for authors. We’ll be talking about what’s working now, what isn’t, and how to build an online presence that supports your writing instead of taking it over.

If you’re tired of generic marketing advice and want a more realistic approach, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

August 19 | 1:00 p.m. Central

Replay and VIP Live options available

Registration Link

Have a great week!

The Merry Assistant: www.merryassistant.com

Author Mary Fields: www.authormaryfields.com

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I have recently updated my services and pricing to make it easier for authors and small businesses to find the kind of support they actually need.

Along with monthly social media management, I now offer more one-time services, including:

• Book launch packages

• Backlist book refreshes

• Quote and excerpt pulls

• Review quote pulls

• Custom graphics and captions

• Canva templates

• Newsletter support

• Short-term content planning and campaign help

Not everyone needs ongoing social media management. Sometimes you simply need help with one launch, one book or one particularly overwhelming month.

The updated services are designed to give you more flexible options without forcing you into a package that does not fit.

You can view the updated services and pricing at:

www.merryassistant.com/pricing

Refer a Client and Receive $50

I am also introducing a new referral program.

If you refer a new client to The Merry Assistant and they sign up for services, you will receive your choice of:

A $50 Amazon gift card

or, if you are a current client:

$50 off your next invoice

There is no complicated referral form. Simply ask the person you refer to mention your name when they contact me.

The referral reward will be sent or applied once the new client has officially booked and submitted their first payment.

Word of mouth has always been one of the most meaningful ways my business grows, and I am incredibly grateful every time someone recommends my work.

Saturday Client Book Spotlights

Beginning soon, The Merry Assistant will also spotlight one client book every Saturday across social media.

These posts will give current clients another opportunity to share their books, reach new readers and celebrate the stories they have worked so hard to create.

The spotlights may feature:

• New releases

• Backlist books

• Limited-time sales

• Kindle Unlimited reads

• Audiobooks

Because yes, I create social media content.

But I also genuinely want to see my clients and their books succeed.

Thank you for continuing to support The Merry Assistant, recommend my services, and allow me to be part of your author journey.

As always, The Merry Assistant is powered by cats, kindness and a truly unreasonable number of open Canva tabs.

www.merryassistant.com

A note from the author Mary

There are also a few things happening on the author side of my life.

In a few weeks, I’ll be joining an author coach for a workshop called Social Media Is Dead for Authors.

Don’t let the title scare you away.

It isn’t about giving up on social media. It’s about reshaping the way authors think about it, letting go of the pressure to constantly perform, and finding a more realistic way to connect with readers.

I’ll share more details soon.

The logo for my upcoming podcast is also finished!

I’ll be revealing it soon, along with an introduction to my cohost. We are still working out all the details, but I can tell you this:

If you have ever lived through anything, you are probably going to like this podcast.

There will be honest conversations, tough topics, humor, and, of course, cats.

Because obviously there will be cats.

As for book sales this month?

They have been...slow.

I sold one book.

But I’m honestly not too fazed by it. Publishing has its quiet seasons, and there are other projects on the horizon that I’m really excited about.

Sometimes progress looks like sales.

Sometimes it looks like building something new behind the scenes.

Right now, I’m doing a little of both.

www.authormaryfields.com

Thanks for being here. I appreciate you!

Sometimes it’s simply choosing not to respond the way you used to.

• It’s making a cup of coffee.

• Reading a chapter before bed.

• Petting the cat curled up beside you.

• Laughing without feeling guilty.

Healing doesn’t always arrive with fireworks.

Sometimes it quietly sits beside us until we’re ready to notice.

I hope this week gives you one small moment that reminds you just how far you’ve already come.

www.authormaryfields.com

From The Merry Assistant

Small Business Reminder

Consistency will almost always outperform perfection.

Showing up once a week for a year builds far more trust than showing up every day for a month and disappearing.

Your audience isn’t looking for perfect.

They’re looking for you.

www.merryassistant.com

But I remember how certain books made me feel.

Some gave me hope.

Some helped me understand my own story.

Some reminded me that healing isn’t something we do once - it’s something we return to over and over again.

Those are the books I carry with me.

As I work on new writing projects, I keep thinking about the stories that linger.

Not because they’re perfect.

Because they’re honest.

That’s the kind of writing I hope to create.

I’d love to know...

What’s one book that stayed with you long after you finished the last page?

www.authormaryfields.com

From The Merry Assistant

Quick Social Media Hack

Create one graphic.

Use it three ways.

Facebook.

Instagram.

Substack.

You don’t need three times the work to reach three different audiences.

www.merryassistant.com

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I imagined talking about reviews, sharing excerpts, and celebrating milestones.

Instead, something unexpected happened.

The conversations became bigger than the book.

People began sharing stories about grief.

About childhood.

About healing.

About the complicated relationships that don’t fit neatly into a chapter.

I realized that maybe the memoir wasn’t the destination.

Maybe it was the invitation.

So if you’re new here, welcome.

This is a place for conversations that matter.

We’ll talk about books.

We’ll talk about grief.

We’ll celebrate healing, even when it feels slow.

There will almost certainly be photos of cats.

And every once in a while I’ll share what I’m writing next.

I’m really glad you’re here.

www.authormaryfields.com

From The Merry Assistant

Quick Content Tip

One of the easiest ways to build an online community is to ask questions that don’t have right or wrong answers.

Instead of:

“Did you like this book?”

Try:

“Which book changed the way you see the world?”

People love sharing their stories.

Follow The Merry Assistant on FB or IG for more simple social media tips.

www.merryassistant.com

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Sawyer’s popcorn fundraiser is almost over, (ends 5pm CST today!), and the support from friends, family, and kind internet strangers has honestly meant so much to us. These school fundraisers can feel a little intimidating at first, but watching people rally around him has been pretty amazing.

As of right now, Sawyer is sitting in 2nd place, and there’s only about $100 separating him from 1st. With just a few hours left before the fundraiser closes, we’re making one final push to see if we can help him close that gap.

If you’ve already ordered popcorn or sent a donation, thank you. Truly. It means more to a very excited kid watching the totals come in than you probably realize.

And if you were thinking about ordering but hadn’t gotten around to it yet… this is the moment. One last little push before the clock runs out.

Either way, we’re incredibly grateful for the support. Sawyer has been checking the leaderboard like it’s the Super Bowl, and it’s been really fun to watch.

Thanks for cheering him on. 🍿 https://popup.doublegood.com/s/3p53cdw3

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My son is raising funds for his Upper Elementary Montessori class to take an incredible trip to Key Largo to visit Marine Lab, where they’ll explore and study ocean life. It’s a fun, hands-on learning experience, and we want to make sure every child has the chance to go.

This fundraiser runs through March 14th and is a sweet way to support the kids on their exciting educational adventure.

If you’d like to purchase some popcorn (or if popcorn isn’t your thing, you can scroll to the end to donate), you can check out the link here:
https://popup.doublegood.com/s/3p53cdw3

You can learn more about Marine Lab here:

https://www.marinelab.org/

Again, thank you so much for your support!

On the same road, in the span of a week, I saw a string of moments that felt impossible to ignore.

First, two coyotes. One standing in the middle of a snow-covered field, head lifted toward the sky, alert and solitary. The other moving through a yard, head low, deliberate, watching every step.

Then a cardinal, perched alone at the side of the road, feathers puffed against the chill.

Later, a tiny mouse crossing the street at a stop sign - I waited to make sure he reached the grass safely.

Then, one early evening, eight deer in a field, spread out and watching us as we drove past. None had antlers - just females or young ones - all alert, all still.

And finally, I saw the ducks again.

The same mama duck and her four babies I saw the morning Jennifer died - except the babies aren’t really babies anymore. They were in the pond, gliding across the water while mama stood just above them on the ground nearby, not far away, but watching.

All on the same road. All within days of one another.

I don’t claim to have an answer for what it all means. But in my woo-woo world, these moments feel like invitations to recognize the threads connecting life, death, and the spaces in between.

Deer remind me of gentleness, intuition, and awareness. Coyotes speak to adaptability and resilience. The cardinal is often a messenger of hope, while the mouse represents careful progress and mindfulness. And the number eight - the eight deer - is a symbol of cycles, balance, and continuity.

The ducks feel like a full-circle reminder. Life goes on. And sometimes it circles back in ways you weren’t expecting.

Some might say it’s coincidence, but my therapist tells me that I see these signs because I’m open to them. That I’m a conduit - someone who allows meaning to exist in moments other people might pass by.

And maybe that’s the real message.

Not that the animals were sent specifically for me, but that I’m willing to stop long enough to see them.

Still, I like to think they were telling me something simple:

Pay attention.
Life is happening all around you.

A few updates from my corner of the world:

I have two book signings coming up - one in April and another in May, and I’ll share more details soon!

Inthe next few weeks, I’ll also be appearing as a guest on two podcasts, which I’m excited (and a little nervous) about. I’ll share those episodes as soon as they air.

And speaking of podcasts… my co-host and I are officially working behind the scenes on our own. Right now, we’re deep in the to-do lists, planning, and building things out. We’ll also be launching a Substack alongside it so we can keep the conversations going there, too. Once everything is ready, I’ll absolutely let you know so you can join us. We’re very excited about this project.

And finally, if you’ve read through all of this and you’re really just waiting for some slightly unhinged business advice from the cats…

Here it is:

Posting less is fine.

If you don’t have enough ideas, inspiration, or energy to post every single day on social media… don’t.

Post three days a week. Post twice a week. Post when you actually have something worth saying.

Because posting just to post is usually just creating noise.

The internet is already full of noise.

Create when you have something meaningful to share.
Let the rest of the time be for living the life that gives you something to say in the first place.

And maybe, while you’re out there living it, you’ll notice a few signs along the road too.

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When I look back on my life, I don’t see one version of myself. I see many. Entirely different mes, each shaped by something I was sure would end me. Moments where I thought, this is it - I’m not going to make it through this.

And yet, I did.

What no one really tells you about survival is that it doesn’t feel brave while it’s happening. It’s getting up because you have to, not because you’re strong. Survival isn’t a victory lap - it’s endurance.

Now, with distance, I look back and honestly think: how the fuck did I survive that?

I had a therapist once press me on this very issue, “How did you survive?” he asked. Of course, he was expecting, or hoping I would say that God or faith kept me afloat. That daily prayers and hearing God’s wisdom pulled me through the mud.

That’s not the case; I long ago gave up on the concept of God. And the truth is - not everyone survives - so what makes me and those like me different? Luck? Perhaps. I don’t know the answer, and I don’t think there is one - and to suggest there is - is a disservice to those who don’t make it - it’s a form of victim blaming, and I just can’t get behind it. Survival isn’t a board game or a competition. It just…is, or isn’t.

And what comes after survival -what reshapes you - is grief.

Grief doesn’t just hurt - it alters. It takes pieces of you and replaces them with something unfamiliar. You don’t go back to who you were before. That person doesn’t exist anymore. Survival means becoming someone else, whether you’re ready or not.

(And a fun fact I’d love to dive into later: studies show that trauma alters your DNA. You carry that shit with you - and you pass it on to your children. Generational trauma isn’t just something you do; it’s something you give. Sit with that for a second and tell me it isn’t terrifying. Tell me it doesn’t make you want to rewrite history.)

Writing my memoir has forced me to sit with every version of myself that grief created. The girl who didn’t know how she’d make it. The woman who did anyway. The person I became in between. I didn’t write this book because I “got through it.” I wrote it because I changed - and I wanted to tell the truth about that transformation.

My memoir isn’t a story about healing neatly or coming out stronger. It’s about survival as it really is. About grief as a force that reshapes you. About becoming someone new, again and again, and learning to recognize yourself anyway.

I didn’t survive without cost. None of us do. But I survived. And the person I became because of it is the only one who could tell this story.

Lately, that’s been spilling into the other things I’m working on—Dancing with Grief, a workbook meant to sit with you instead of fix you, and Letters to Little Mary, which is exactly what it sounds like: conversations with the child I once was, written from where I stand now. Both feel necessary. Both feel heavy. And honestly? Publishing them feels harder than ever.

So I’m asking the question out loud: how do I get these into the world? Would a Kickstarter make sense - to help fund them, to build them with community instead of in isolation? Is that something anyone here would actually be interested in supporting or participating in?

No pressure - just curiosity, and a little bravery in saying I don’t have this part figured out yet.

And for those who want to connect in person: I’ll be doing a book signing at a local bookstore on April 11th. More details coming soon.

And now, what you have all actually been waiting for: news from the cats.

First, an update. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know Miss Marble has had a rough first year of life and has truly earned her title as a miracle kitty. She just had her one-year exam, and I am happy to report that she is in perfect health.

Now, back to business. Specifically, Merry Assistant business. Let’s talk social media and something I notice a lot of clients try to shy away from: repurposing content.

Have you heard the term “evergreen post”? What does it mean? Well, it’s content that stays relevant no matter when you share it. It isn’t tied to a trend, a holiday, or a specific moment. Evergreen posts are perfect for repurposing, but here’s the thing - even if a post isn’t evergreen, sharing it again can still be a smart strategy. Good content has value beyond the first time it’s posted, and it often reaches a completely new audience on the second or third round.

So no, not all content needs to be brand new. Posting something again every three to six months is completely fine as long as it’s still relevant. Repurposing doesn’t mean being lazy. It’s about being strategic, making the most of your best work, and giving more people a chance to see your ideas.

Work smarter. Let your best work keep working for you, and don’t be afraid to let it shine again.

Thanks for being here - if you find anything I say of value, please feel free to share. Help me get seen. It’s tough out there!

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This week’s update is fairly simple, but it’s good news.

My arm is back to full strength. The goal now is to keep it there. My physical therapist is very happy with my progress, and because of that, I’m reducing PT from twice a week to once a week. I’ve been working out four to five days a week, and I can feel the difference - I’m stronger, and I feel healthier overall.

My hand still goes numb and cold at times, which is likely permanent due to the continued bruising on my spinal cord. But all things considered, things are in a very good place.

On the writing front, it’s been quiet. I’ve been trying to get a book signing scheduled, and so far haven’t had much luck. Whomp whomp. That’s part of it, I know, but it’s still frustrating.

Work-wise, The Merry Assistant continues to do well. I’m holding firm on my boundaries, which has been important, and I have an interview with a potential client next week.

That brings me to a social media note.

I recently turned down a client who balked at the cost of TikTok-only management. I’ve reached a point where TikTok just isn’t a platform I enjoy or find worthwhile anymore. Since the U.S. changes, my own views have dropped significantly, and I’ve seen similar drops across many client accounts.

It used to be that international clients wanted a U.S.-based TikTok presence to reach a wider audience. Now, between suppression, restrictions, and constant shifts in what’s allowed, it’s difficult to predict performance from one day to the next.

So this week’s social media tip comes from the Cat Crew — Leo, Izzy, Pearl, and Marble:

If the payoff isn’t worth the output, let it go.

TikTok requires a much higher investment than static social platforms - constant content creation, trend monitoring, filming, editing, and rapid turnaround - all on a platform that offers very little stability in return. That’s why my pricing for TikTok management is significantly higher, and it’s also why I’m comfortable saying no when it doesn’t make sense.

Before I wrap up, I’d really love to hear from you.

What would you like to see more of from me here?
What do you enjoy reading - personal updates, writing life, social media insights, something else entirely?
And if you’ve read my book, I’d love to know: what would you want to see next?

You can reply directly to this email - I read every response.

Thank you for being here, for subscribing, and for sticking around during both the quiet weeks and the good ones. And for my paid subscribers: the cats would like to personally thank you for the extra treats. 🐾

Truly - I’m grateful you’re here.

— Mary

Forever and a Day: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNRPQ68N

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But before we get to the wildlife parade, let’s talk updates.

First up: The Merry Assistant.

Over the past few months, I’ve intentionally cut back on client work. Not because I wanted to - but because I needed to. Health has been front and center. PT twice a week. Acupuncture twice a week. Working out 4–5 times a week. I’m stronger. I’m sleeping better. I feel more like myself than I have in a while.

But I am also constantly in my car.

And something had to give.

So here’s the big shift: after five years of working seven days a week - working on vacations, while sick, on birthdays, through everything - I am officially moving to a Monday–Friday schedule.

Weekends will be reserved for true work emergencies only.

Typing that feels both terrifying and wildly freeing.

I anticipate that within the next month or two I’ll be back to my “normal” client load - and possibly even have space for one or two new clients. But I’ll be doing it sustainably this time. Health first. Boundaries intact. Imagine that.

Now for the author life updates (because April is apparently going to be A Month).

I’m currently coordinating a book signing at a local bookstore. The date isn’t set yet, but April looks promising. Equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. If you’ve done a signing before and have wisdom to share - please send it my way. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, and that feels very on brand for me.

I was also interviewed on The Courage Coalition podcast, which should release in April. And early next month I have two more podcast interviews lined up.

Which brings me to the biggest news.

The podcast is starting.

My podcast.

For months I stalled because I couldn’t imagine doing a business podcast without Jennifer. It didn’t feel right. And if you’ve been following along, you know the pivot from business to grief happened quickly - because that’s where the writing led me.

I felt the pull toward a grief-centered show. I also dragged my feet. I thought maybe I could just do it alone. But the truth? I didn’t want to.

Then the universe (or spirit, or divine timing, or whatever language you prefer) gave me a nudge. I sent one message to someone. They immediately said yes.

Next week we meet to start mapping it out.

And it’s happening.

I can’t wait to tell you more.

Writing-wise, things have been slower than I’d like. I am determined to finish the children’s book by the end of March and hand it off to my illustrator. Hold me to it. I’m also designing bookmarks and stickers to go along with the memoir because everyone loves swag, right?

But now I’m curious - what kind of swag does a memoir even produce? If you have ideas, send them. I’m open.

And in the spirit of building a life I actually want to live - I’m starting a book club. It kicks off next week. I have wanted this for years. Not just to read (because obviously I read), but to gather. To sit with friends. I kept waiting for the “right time” and finally realized… this is the right time. So I did it. And I am so genuinely excited about it.

And now… the wildlife.

All on the same road.

Two weeks ago, leaving therapy, I saw a coyote standing in a snowy field just sniffing the air. The next morning, as I’m telling Sawyer about it, he says, “Look, there’s a coyote.” And there was - same road, opposite side of town.

Then Monday morning, headed to school, a bright red cardinal was sitting right at the edge of the road, puffed up like it owned the place. On the way home, I stopped at a sign and thought I saw a leaf moving.

It wasn’t a leaf.

It was a tiny mouse. Crossing the road in broad daylight.

Coyote. Coyote. Cardinal. Mouse.

All in two weeks. All on the very same stretch of road.

So what does it mean?

Coyotes are often about adaptability and trusting instinct. Cardinals are usually associated with messages from the spiritual realm. And a mouse? Attention to detail. Small but mighty energy.

Or maybe it just means I need to slow down enough to notice the world around me.

Which, conveniently, is exactly what I’m trying to do.

That’s where I am right now. Restructuring work. Growing the writing. Launching a podcast. Following nudges. Watching for signs.

Thank you for being here. For supporting me. For cheering me on. For reading these rambling updates about coyotes and boundaries and bookmarks.

The cats thank you, too.

Tell me - what’s new in your world?

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“Remember when…” one of them said.

And suddenly they were back in Casa - talking about work they chose, friends they sat beside, lessons they loved, they sang the songs and giggled about jokes that only former Casa kids would understand. They spoke with the ease of children who felt safe then, and still carry that safety with them now.

I didn’t interrupt. I didn’t join in. I just listened.

This is the quiet gift of a Montessori childhood: the memories live in them. The independence. The belonging. The way meaningful days root themselves so deeply that they can be returned to years later, simply by sitting on a rug with the right people.

Listening to them, I was reminded why I talk about grief. Why I believe so deeply in telling our stories. Memory is not something we move past - it’s something we live alongside. Love doesn’t disappear; it changes shape. What mattered once still matters.

My memoir was born from that same knowing. That remembering is an act of love. Speaking aloud what we’ve carried - joy, loss, childhood, grief - keeps us connected to who we were and who we are becoming.

That day, as their after-school teacher, I simply held the space while they remembered. And in that small, ordinary moment, I was reminded that stories - when they’re honored - never leave us.

In Montessori, we’re taught that the environment does the teaching, that the adult’s role is often to observe and to trust what’s unfolding. This felt like that. Just children returning to something that helped shape them.

And maybe that’s the quiet truth beneath it all - about childhood, about grief, about memory. When we honor what was, without rushing it or reshaping it, we give it room to keep working inside us. Long after the materials are put away, long after the classroom changes, the work continues.

www.AuthorMaryFields.com

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—

I have a congenital spinal condition. Basically, I was born with a neck that’s way too narrow. Only about 5% of people ever get diagnosed with this, so yes - I’m “lucky” in the weirdest way possible.

Last year it got real. My spinal cord was being compressed, so I had a cervical fusion to stabilize things and prevent more damage. Surgery did its job - it stopped the worst compression - but because the cord was stressed for so long, there’s bruising that can’t be undone. And because this is congenital, there are still narrow spots above and below the fusion.

Translation: my nerves are tired. My arm gets weak. My fingers go numb. Some days it feels like I’m moving through water.

My surgeon was very clear: medication won’t fix this. It won’t enlarge the canal or undo the bruising. It can help pain, not function. There is another surgery option - going in from the back of my neck to create more space - but that’s a last resort.

Also, let’s be honest: between this, the state of the world, and perimenopause, I am… an emotional wreck. Look, I’m a joy.

The scary truth is there’s a real chance I could lose function in my arm. Sitting with that is rough. But I’m also hopeful. Physical therapy, acupuncture, and protecting my nervous system could keep me going for years.

It does mean slowing down. I can’t spend hours nonstop at the computer anymore. But slowing down has forced a question I probably should have asked a long time ago:

What actually matters?

And the answer is clearer than it’s ever been.

It feels more important now than ever to build the projects that have been living in my head and heart - the podcast, the children’s book and workbook, the affirmation cards. Work that creates safety, gentleness, and language for healing. Work that reminds people they aren’t broken for being human.

At the same time, I’m committed to protecting my body and my nervous system. That means resting. It means continuing to show up for my client work in a way that’s sustainable. It means creating a life and workspace that feel safe instead of punishing. I’ve already moved to a standing desk for posture support, but I’m learning I may need more adaptive tools.

If you use adaptive devices for typing or computer work - voice software, ergonomic setups, anything that’s helped protect your hands, arms, or spine - I would genuinely love to hear what’s worked for you. This is new territory for me, and I’m open to learning.

Slower doesn’t mean weaker. It means I’m learning to listen instead of fight.

I’m not giving up. I’m choosing intention.

If you want to support this journey, the simplest ways are also the most meaningful:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel - that’s likely where a lot of this new creative work will land.

Read my book. Share it. Talk about it.

And if you’ve already read it, leaving a review helps more than you know.

Every bit of support makes it easier to keep building this work while honoring the body that carries me through it.

Thank you for being here. Truly.

Author Mary Fields: www.authormaryfields.com

Forever and a Day: https://mybook.to/ForeverDay

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@authormaryfields

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I saw him once a year when I was a kid and spent a few summers with him on the carnival. As an adult, years would pass without seeing him. Then he’d suddenly appear in his huge diesel Dodge - unannounced, of course - stay a few days, and leave the same way he came. Sometimes I’d wake up and he’d be gone. No goodbye. Just gone.

He was an odd man. A gruff man. A man of few words and a lot of mystery. An outcast. A black sheep.
My dad.

But this time of year is also marked by other losses. Last winter, within days of each other, we lost two kittens we bottle-fed whose bodies just couldn’t fight anymore, a dear family member, and a family dog. I remember standing in the kitchen on New Year’s Eve, taking a shot for all the lives we had lost that winter. It was a lot - and it left me pretty tipsy.

There’s something about winter, I think - when the veil feels thinner and Death seems to come closer. Maybe Death has a quota to meet.

I’ve shed a lot of tears. My eyes were so swollen I could barely see. I hardly ate. Sleep played hide-and-seek. My heart ached.

Grief touches all of us, and she never really leaves. We know this because even at ninety years old, we can recall our first pet or our first love and still feel the clench in our chest. That’s Grief.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how to grow my “grief dynasty.” Just this week, I had a discovery call about being on a podcast. I declined the interview - I’ll tell you why another time, because it’s good - but during that call the interviewer said, “Talking about grief all the time seems sad.”

I don’t think it is.

I believe Grief lives beneath every emotion.
Joy - she’s there.
Anger - she’s there.

So when we talk about grief, we’re really honoring all the emotions that bring her to us.

And now, to begin - that’s my problem, folks. I have so many ideas and nowhere to put them. I’m looking for an accountability partner, someone to hold my hand while I navigate this process. I can’t build a grief dynasty if I don’t get busy.

Want to hold my hand?
Know someone who can?
Let me know.

Today is January 24th. Yesterday marked two years since I wrote my dad’s obituary - which you can find in my memoir.

Every once in a while, I go through the bin of items I “confiscated” from my dad’s residence after his death.

Inside is what I refer to as his death watch.

It’s still sealed in the plastic bag, sealed with red tape and his name scrawled across it by the coroner. I refuse to open it. And yet - it ticks. Time keeps going.

I can’t stop the morbid thought of my dad hearing that sound as he lay dying. The steady tick marking seconds no one was counting. It kept going long after his body cooled, long after anyone noticed.

The thought makes my stomach turn. My heart aches. Still, I find myself staring at the watch in its new home - a bag inside a bin.

I wonder if it hears the laughter from the other room. If it absorbs the joy, the grief, the tenderness of hugs and quiet cuddles. If it knows it’s surrounded by life now.

It ticks. As time does.

And when it stops ticking -what then?

Will I be able to touch it then?

Will the idea that his death lives inside this watch finally go away?

Maybe I’m waiting for permission. For the watch to decide when I’m allowed to hold it. When it’s no longer a witness.

Time doesn’t give permission.

It just keeps going - until it doesn’t.

Author Mary Fields: www.authormaryfields.com

Forever and a Day: https://mybook.to/ForeverDay

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@authormaryfields

I haven’t sent out a newsletter in quite some time, and I’m sorry about that. Life has been… a lot. So I wanted to take a moment to check in and share where things stand.

On a personal note, if you’re newer here, in July I had a cervical fusion at C3–C5 due to a compressed spinal cord in two places. I now have six screws, a plate, and two donor discs in my neck. Recovery was long and frustrating, but I held onto the hope that at the end of it, I’d finally have feeling back in my hands.

Six months later, I’m still dealing with a heavy arm, numb fingers, and ongoing neck pain. Before Christmas, an MRI showed narrowing at the C6 level, and two days before Christmas I had a nerve block procedure. I felt some relief for a couple of days - but then the pain and numbness returned. Unfortunately, that means the nerve block didn’t work, and the narrowing at C6 may not be the actual cause after all. I meet with my surgeon next week to figure out next steps.

To say I’m disheartened would be an understatement.

On the business side, The Merry Assistant is doing well and continuing to move forward. Because of my current physical limitations, I’ve made the decision to temporarily close my doors to new clients. The cats help where they can, but there’s only so much productivity possible between naps.

As for the book side of things - January has been slow. December was incredible, and so far January has brought one sale. Womp womp. That said, I do have several (and I truly mean several) podcast appearances coming up over the next month, so I’m hopeful that will bring a little momentum.

I haven’t made progress on the children’s book yet, but that’s my next goal: finish it and hand it off to my illustrator.

If I’m being fully honest, I think I’m struggling with motivation for my own projects right now. All of my energy is going into client work - because it matters to me, I genuinely love it, and it pays the bills. For a moment of vulnerability: it feels important to focus on the “bread and butter” when the world feels like a bit of a dumpster fire. I briefly considered raising rates for current clients, but that didn’t sit right with me.

I’m still very much wanting to start a podcast. I’m also leaning toward creating short videos on YouTube. I’ve moved all of my short-form content there after TikTok became… well, TikTok - and views dropped significantly. What I like about YouTube is the flexibility: shorts, long-form videos, and static posts all in one place. My tentative plan is to migrate there and keep the newsletter here. We’ll see how it evolves.

If you have any ideas on how to find motivation for personal creative work - especially when energy is limited - I’m truly open to hearing them.

That’s all for now. I promise I’ll be more consistent with newsletters moving forward. Thank you for being here, and for sticking with me through all of this.

With gratitude,
Mary

Links:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@authormaryfields
The Merry Assistant: www.merryassistant.com
Author Website: www.authormaryfields
Forever and a Day: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNRPQ68N

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The kind you don’t summarize neatly. The kind you survive.

It started with Marble officially becoming part of our family - because after how hard we all fought to keep her alive and well, there was no universe where we were giving her up.

January marked the beginning of my podcast journey. I shared my dad’s story on Grief, Let’s Talk About It and Our Dead Dads Podcast. In total, I appeared on five podcasts in 2025. Let’s double that in 2026!

January 2025 also marked one year since the knock on the door.

The sheriff.

The moment everything split into before and after.

When my dad died.

Sawyer turned 9 and started 4th grade. Our fifth year at Lupine Montessori - our second family. He discovered a love for graphic novels and participated in his first business fair selling his artwork.

I wrote and published my memoir! From September to now, I sold over 100 copies. That number might not seem huge to some, but I’m letting myself sit with it. Over 100 people chose my book. Over 100 people chose to hear a story rooted in DID, abuse, abandonment, and mothering - and a life shaped not just by surviving, but by the deliberate choice to break a cycle and become the person I was told I could never be.

I read a lot. I wish I could tell you how many, but I didn’t keep track (I will this year). Some favorites stayed with me: The Dalai Lama’s Cat, Waifs and Strays, The Vampire in the Potting Shed, Athena’s Child, Veiled Justice, Life at the Coffin Joint, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Murder in Tombstone, Humankind.

I cultivated and nurtured friendships that became stronger, fuller, and more grounding. I stepped back from politics while I processed grief and focused on healing.

I poured energy into my business, The Merry Assistant - learning how to balance my author life with my virtual assistant work. I welcomed four new clients this year, all while navigating health issues before and after surgery, which came with a steep learning curve I’m still climbing. Thank you to every client who walked with me through that season.

We bought Ramsey (our Honda Pilot). I met former Congresswoman Marie Newman. We took a road trip to South Dakota. Sadie graduated college. Mara moved into her new place. Camille began her clinicals.

We spent time in the North Woods with Nana and Papa - bonfires, lake life, cutting down trees, ice cream, and the kind of family time that fills you up.

Then came the surgery.

And recovery.

July through September were slow, frustrating, and humbling. I was not happy about it.

In September, Jennifer was taken from us.

The last three months of the year were spent processing layered grief - the sudden loss of a dear friend, paired with the echo of past holidays that carry their own weight.

I got a new tattoo - number ten. A tattoo that holds memory, love, grief and friendship.

2025 held deep hardships and real joy. Holding both is uncomfortable. Necessary. For me, at least, it matters to thank the universe for what she gives and to remember that life is made of hellos and goodbyes.

Goodbye is not the end.

It never is.

We linger. Our energy lives in everything we’ve touched. We honor that in quiet ways - in showing up, in telling the truth.

As I step into 2026, my goals are clear.

I will continue building the grief dynasty - talking about grief, teaching people how to move with her, not “through” her. I will finish my children’s book and my grief workbook. I will start the podcast Jennifer and I planned. I will keep showing people that no matter where you come from, you can break the cycle.

Here’s to carrying love forward.

Here’s to 2026.

We took photos but not one whole family photo because we had just done that at Thanksgiving - what we now have, though, is a fun collection of selfies. There may have also been wine and mimosas to go along with those cookies so…

With the new year approaching, it’s that familiar season where people start checking their budgets and making changes - and inevitably, clients shift and evolve. That’s been true this year as well.

While I (and the cat crew - Leo, Izzy, Marble, and Pearl) are always a little sad when this happens, we also know from experience that many clients return later or send wonderful referrals our way. That’s one of the things I’m endlessly grateful for.

That said, we do currently have a few openings for new social media clients. If you know someone who could use support, I’d love if you sent them our way.

As much as we understand other people’s budgets, we also have to keep ours in mind. Losing a client or two means it’s time to welcome new ones - and a new year always feels like an opportunity for positive change.

I’ll also be honest and say I’ve been a little neglectful of The Merry Assistant’s own social media lately. That’s changing. I’m planning to post more consistently again, so you can look forward to more slightly unhinged business tips very soon.

The Merry Assistant: www.MerryAssistant.com

On the author side of things, it’s been a busy and exciting stretch.

I was recently featured on two podcasts: Messy on Purpose and From Foster to Forever (links below!) - and this coming week I’ll be recording interviews with Vintage Vibes Vault Podcast and Her Voice Shines Podcast.

I’ve also had some encouraging conversations with a newly opened local bookstore about potentially hosting an author signing. Nothing is officially nailed down yet, but they are interested, which feels like a big win. The plan is to reconnect once the holiday rush and opening chaos settles a bit.

One thing I’ve noticed is that whenever a podcast episode airs, my book sales see a noticeable bump. Because of that, my focus right now is visibility and sharing my story in new spaces.

If you know of a podcast that’s looking for guests, please feel free to send them my way. I’d be so grateful.

Author Website: www.AuthorMaryFields.com

That’s all for now. Thank you, truly, for your continued support! I hope you have an amazing start to the new year.

Podcast links:
Messy on Purpose: https://shorturl.at/Zxlb0
From Foster to Forever: https://shorturl.at/6ZY46

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