Overview
“Diane has been a dream editor—sharp and detailed, but unobtrusive and constantly supportive. Her guidance made the end product much stronger than I could have achieved on my own.”
–Craig Shreve, author of The African Samurai (Simon & Schuster, 2023)
“Diane is an experienced pro. She has a brilliant sense of what’s working, what isn’t, and why, a sharp eye for the big picture and the small one, and an insider’s knowledge of what publishers and agents are looking for. She’s reliable, open, accessible, and straightforward. Love working with her. Five stars.”
-Bill Wodhams, author of Thirty Feet Under (ECW Press, forthcoming)
I am a professional book editor with more than twenty-five years of experience in the trade. I’ve worked in-house or on a freelance basis for many publishers, among them Coach House Press, Dundurn, Harlequin, McClelland & Stewart, Penguin, and Stoddart.
As the editorial director of Dundurn Press, I supervised a team that acquired, edited, and published more than 100 books annually, including prize-winning fiction and nonfiction. I have personally edited books that have won or been shortlisted for a variety of awards, among them the Arthur Ellis Best First Novel Award, the Unhanged Arthur for Best Unpublished Crime Novel, and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.
Over the years, I’ve edited just about everything—from Harlequin romances to literary fiction, cookbooks, and books about tax reform. Today, I focus on contemporary adult fiction, crime fiction, literary fiction, memoirs, and women’s writing.
While I’ve edited my share of well-known authors, most of my clients are new or emerging writers. I help them improve their novels and memoirs through manuscript evaluations, story coaching, and developmental editing. I pride myself on offering honest, constructive feedback and on helping writers find the right publisher for their work.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Self-employed
After working in the Canadian book industry for many years, I opened my own editorial services company. I take book projects from start to finish, partnering with a small group of colleagues, as needed. We work with established authors as well as new and emerging writers.
Dundurn Press
As the editorial director of Dundurn Press, I managed a team that acquired, edited, and published more than 100 books annually. Under my leadership, our books won or were shortlisted for a number of awards, including the Rogers Writers' Trust Prize, the Arthur Ellis Best First Crime Novel Award, and the City of Toronto Book Award.
Portfolio
