Daniel J. Tortora

Daniel J. Tortora – Editor

Savvy and supportive editor and coach–75+ memorable books by and for millennials. Self-help, dating, health, US history/culture, reference.

Overview

Experienced, efficient, enthusiastic, and uplifting, since 2012, I’ve helped dozens of authors create impactful nonfiction books.🥷

Let’s shape your draft into a standout manuscript that looks great, connects with readers, and opens doors for you.🥳

📚 Experience & Background:

Author of two books + 100+ writing & publishing articles

Trained under a Pulitzer Prize-winning author

🎯 Best Fit:

• Bold, edgy, or creative topics, approaches, and audiences

• Books that inform 😲, inspire 🤩, or make people laugh 😅

• First-time authors + those ready to level up

• Books with a shorter or longer than average word count

• Books that complement your online business or lifelong passion

My goal is to offer expert, encouraging help as you produce a publication-ready manuscript you can be proud of—with your genre, goals, voice, and readers in mind.

📩 Request a quote—let’s talk about your book!

🌟 Who I Work With: Many of my clients are content creators, coaches, therapists, comedians, historians, educators, and attorneys.

📖 Nonfiction Genres I Specialize In:

• Self-Help & Personal Development

• Dating, Relationships & Sexuality

• Health & Wellness

• Humor/Comedy

• US History, Biography, Politics, Pop Culture

• Reference Books, Glossaries & Guides

• Humanities

• Law & Legal

• Books for Millennials

✅ Recent Author Successes:

• 200+ Amazon reviews within 2 weeks of publication

• #1 New Release status

• Praise from The Wall Street Journal

• Speaking gigs booked & new opportunities created

• Pride & accomplishment!

💡 Nonfiction Editing & Book Coaching:

• Developmental editing, line editing, & copy editing

• Book outlines, structure, & writing check-ins

• Amazon KDP keywords, categories, & self-publishing strategy

• Book query letter & proposal editing for traditional publishing

I edit in American English using The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster.

😁 Fun Facts: Former radio DJ. Love Detroit pizza, UConn women’s basketball, cover bands, and muscle cars. Broke my leg twice in sixth grade. Outdoorsy. Fav musical instrument: the triangle.🤣


Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Education & Reference Health & Wellbeing History Self-Help & Self-Improvement Sex & Relationships
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • George C. Rogers Jr. Award, South Carolina Historical Society
Certifications
  • PhD, history

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2017 — Present
• Help authors organize, write, revise, and publish top-notch nonfiction books. • Review, copy edit, line edit, and provide detailed, helpful feedback to authors and publishers. • Make books clear, concise, and consistent. Fix grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Apply The Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. • Review and edit query letters and book proposals. • Coach authors on the traditional publishing and self-publishing process. • Prepare book metadata: Amazon KDP keywords and categories, editorial reviews, cover design suggestions, and book descriptions. • Format references, bibliographies, and captions. • Help authors better reach their intended readers. • Write 100+ articles for authors since 2020. • Provide expertise and quotes to bloggers and journalists. • Work on books in these nonfiction genres: self-help; dating; sex + relationships; comedy; health + wellness; reference; biography; pop culture; politics; history (US, Native American, military); humanities; mind, body, spirit; nature + popular science.

Colby College

Sep, 2011 — Aug, 2017 (almost 6 years)
• Taught writing-intensive courses to college students. • Reviewed manuscripts (editorial assessment) for publishers and authors. • Wrote and published two books with traditional publishers.

Portfolio

Don't Make It Weird: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Being Human on the Internet

Colleen Nichols

Purpose Forward: The Ultimate Career Starter's Guide to Finding a Career (and Life) of Purpose

Carvalho, Melissa

Born to Be Super: Unleash Your Inner Superpower

Berry, P. Madeline

Sunny Kang

Lean On, 52 tips for weight loss: Dieting sucks. Keep your lifestyle without self-sabotage. Adjust small actions daily for large results.

Isacson, Gus

Independently published

Eat Raw and Go Naked: A Recipe for Vibrant Living

Robinson, Kenny W

Soulful Nourishment Publications

100 Things to Hate Before You Die

Stavola, Claudia

Unchained Press

Chessie: A Cultural History of the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster

Cheezum, Eric A.

Johns Hopkins University Press

The Boston Way: Radicals Against Slavery and the Civil War

Kurlansky, Mark

David R. Godine, Publisher

The Man Who Shot J. P. Morgan: A Life of Arsenic, Anarchy, and Intrigue (True Crime History)

Noé, Mary

The Kent State University Press

Everyday Anxiety

Jones, Jessi

Independently published

The Unexpected Abigail Adams: A Woman "Not Apt to be Intimidated"

Smith Jr., John L.

Westholme Publishing

The Write to Happiness: How to Write Stories That Change Your Brain and Your Life

Shad, Samantha

Axillar Books

Failing Forward: Turning Setbacks into Success

Lockridge, Brian

Lockridge Publishing Company

Starts From Inside: How to Achieve Greatness by Transforming Your Life and Living for a Higher Purpose

Amusan, Toyin

Booker

The Um-Factor: How to Become a More Fluid, Persuasive, & Engaging Speaker by Eliminating Useless & Distracting Crutch Words

Davis, Walter Franklin

Dear Mom: Letters of Healing

Jerch, Lucie

Write Through the Crisis: Make Good Use of Bad Times

Shad, Samantha

KNOW YOUR ROLE, PLAY YOUR POSITION IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP: A Guide To Better Relationships And Better Sex

Raymond, Kerson L.

THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF SAMUEL MASON I: The Immigrant Experience, Quakerism, and Mental Health Care in Early 19th Century Philadelphia

Mason, Samuel

Successful Dating for intelligent men

van Stratum, Mark

Cherokee Power: Imperial and Indigenous Geopolitics in the Trans-Appalachian West, 1670–1774 (Volume 22) (New Directions in Native American Studies Series)

Ray, Kristofer

John Quincy Adams, Reluctant Abolitionist

Jeffrey A. Denman

Cherokee Odyssey: The Journey from Sovereign to "Civilized" (New Studies in Southern History)

Morris, Michael P.

Daniel J. has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Franklin A.

Franklin A.

Sep, 2024

Pinned
Daniel is by far the best editor I have ever worked with. Having written a rather unique history book, Daniel was extremely careful in applying the appropriate style manual and discussed options and unique requirements of my project. I always found him very quick to respond and he finished the pr...
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Ben P.

Ben P.

Mar, 2024

Pinned
Working with Daniel was by far the best decision I have made regarding my manuscript. Perfect fit for the subject matter. Professional and social. A perfect mix for a first time author who has no idea what he is doing (me). His work delivered better than I could hope for. And I feel like I made ...
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Madeline B.

Madeline B.

Feb, 2023

Pinned
Daniel was very upfront and clear about his editing process. He delivered what he promised, providing check-in points regularly and a detailed cover letter with the final edits. He provided effective feedback and suggestions. He asked relevant questions about how I wanted things to read. He also ...
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Joe R.

Joe R.

Apr, 2025

Daniel was awesome to work with! Very professional, thorough, and intelligent, and obviously knows his craft. He also went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. He made my manuscript come to life and I am very happy with how it turned out! Daniel was also very knowledgeable abo...
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Jessi J.

Jessi J.

Nov, 2024

Highly recommend! Daniel was fantastic. Not only was he was ahead of each deadline we set he was very quick to respond to any messages or questions I had along the way. He was flexible if I wasn't able to meet a deadline. He was very thorough in each edit. Not only did he find all of my gramm...
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