Dori Harrell

Dori Harrell – Editor

Full-time editor and author coach, specializing in memoirs, nonfiction and fiction, esp. Christian contemporary and historical

Overview

Award news:

A Reedsy book in which I did the author coaching and developmental and line edits just won the Regal Summit Book Award in historical fiction! Congrats to Rachel Valencourt for her success with Every Night Has a Dawn!


The 2024 Christian Book Awards. Gold

-Two Rivers (congrats to Mike Henry!)


The 2024 Selah Awards! A competitive award, so even finaling is a big deal.

-Heart in the Clouds (Congrats to Jennifer Mistmorgan)—a 2nd and a 3rd

-26 Below (congrats to Kimberley Woodhouse)—2nd

-Unless You Turn (congrats to Sam Blumenthal)—3rd



2024 Carol Award finalists (winners announced in fall 2024)

-26 Below (congrats to Kimberley Woodhouse)


2023 Award Winners:

Carol Awards

-The Songs That Could Have Been (Congrats to Amanda Wen!)


Christy Awards

-When Stone Wings Fly (Congrats to Karen Barnett!)


Selah Awards:

-The Songs That Could Have Been (Congrats to Amanda Wen!)

-Circle of Vengeance (Congrats to Ramona Richards!)


Firebird Book Awards:

-Follow Me, Friend (Congrats to Cheryl Eriksen!) Follow Me, Friend also won the Writer's Digest 2022 Self-Published Book Awards. Go Cheryl!


Every year I have multiple authors on the major awards list, including the Selah, Foreword, Carol, and Christy Awards!


Book editing is the most glamorous career in the world! (And eating red licorice while editing is even better ...) I edit full time for major publishers—including Kregel Publications and Our Daily Bread—and indie authors, and I served as managing editor of a Christian hybrid press for nearly five years, in which I oversaw a team of thirty-plus editors and typesetters. With more than 400 titles under my belt, I offer content (developmental) editing, line editing, and copyediting. My authors, including independent ones, appear on the publishing-industry major awards lists regularly, and several books I've edited have gone on to win awards and/or become USA Today and Amazon bestsellers. A multiple-award-winning article writer with more than one thousand published articles, I also speak at writers' and editors' conferences nationwide. I also review manuscripts for Kregel, plus I serve on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association, through which I offer multiple workshops.


I'm a hands-on editor, and my content edits cover the seven main elements of fiction (character, plot, pacing, structure, POV, theme, and voice) and anything else worth noting, and will have comments throughout the margin. With nonfiction, I cover author's message, author's goals, pacing, voice, and structure and format. With line editing and copyediting, I not only catch typos and other errors, but I apply the industry style guides (Chicago Manual of Style) so that your book reads as smoothly as any on a bookstore shelf. I take on a small number of new clients every year, and I'm particularly interested in working with authors who've studied their craft thoroughly.


I graduated from the University of Washington with a double major in journalism and political science, and I'm a huge Seahawks fan—go Hawks! I look forward to chatting with you about your baby!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Christian Non-Fiction
Fiction
Christian Fiction Cozy Mysteries Fantasy Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy
Languages
English English (US)
Awards
  • Distinguished Enterprise Reporting, Second Place
  • Excellence in Journalism, First Place, Government and Politics, Inland Northwest
  • Excellence in Journalism, Third Place, Government Reporting, Pacific Northwest
  • Excellence in Journalism, Lifestyles Writing, Honorable Mention
  • Excellence in Editing for Occasional Moments of Happiness (memoir), 2021

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2010 — Present

I provide freelance editing services to publishers and authors. I offer content editing (with detailed editorial letters), line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. I'm an all-around editor—sees the big picture yet am extremely detail oriented.

Our Daily Bread

Oct, 2022 — Present

Editing for Our Daily Bread is a highlight of my career! I typically provide line edits and deep comprehensive edits on Christian nonfiction devotionals and Christian living!

Kregel

Feb, 2019 — Present

Love project editing for Kregel! I provide thorough Developmental and line edits to help smooth out the story and flow, while delivering a full copyedit at the same time for line edits—I consider it my job to make the proofreader's job as easy as possible! Project editing includes setting up a detailed style sheet; a character sheet; and tracking the timeline, plot, character growth, and setting with a chapter-by-chapter synopsis.

Redemption Press

May, 2018 — Feb, 2023 (almost 5 years)

Managing editor was an exciting role! I matched authors with top-notch editors who were great fits for the MSS; internally reviewed all edits for quality control; mentored editors and authors; worked closely with authors and editors to usher MSS through the editing process; author coached, content coached, line edited, copyedited, and proofread, adhering closely to The Chicago Manual of Style and The Christian Writers Manual of Style.

Portfolio

A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God against terrorists--and his own deadly pastJohn Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort o... read more
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Father, Son, and Soldering Gun: Stories That Forge Us

Mycynek, Steven Victor

Dackel Books

Made with Reedsy
Every Night Has A Dawn (The Winds of Change Book 1)

Valencourt, Rachel

Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Money Is an Energy Game

Margaret M. Donahue

What’s the bottom line for attracting money? It’s ENERGY Energy is at the heart of everything that occurs, including your wealth. This book will teach you the ins and outs of how energy influe... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Simple Steps to Recharge Your Prayer LifeYour prayer life must be marked by a tremendous level of expectancy. Don't sell yourself short and buy into the lie of the enemy that says that you wil... read more
Copy Editing
A corrupt regime. Rapidly vanishing freedom. Will one determined teen take up his father’s cross to oppose tyranny?Sixteen-year-old Braxton Luther resents taking a back seat to his dad’s minis... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
She wants her home. He wants control. The Fascist regime wants both. 1920, former Austrian Tyrol. Katharina Thaler faces becoming the first woman to ever own a farm in the Reschen Valley. The ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
A secret identity. A haunting mistake. A people at war. Three souls thirst for the peace of freedom's kiss.Florida, 1816Propelled by a fleeting hope of freedom, Winnie and her family escape sl... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
SELAH AWARD WINNERHe’s looking for fortune. She’s looking for fame. Together, they find an adventure that spans centuries—and a love story for the ages. Spain, 1689The same evil that stole her... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
A feud reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys, a love story worthy of Romeo and Juliet.Despite growing up on the Pleasant Valley Ranch, single mom Cat McKenna doesn’t know a thing about cattl... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Planned from the Start: A Healing Devotional by Lorraine Marie Varela accompanies the major theatrical release Unplanned, the story of Abby Johnson’s journey through Planned Parenthood and how... read more
Copy Editing Book Coaching
From #1 Amazon, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Gemma Halliday comes female PI Jamie Bond and a case of murder most hilarious... Her name is Bond. Jamie Bond. And danger follows ... read more
Copy Editing
From Award Winning Author, E.J. Mellow, comes the heart-thumping second installment in The Dreamland Series.Molly finally uncovers the truth about the strange dreams that plagued her sanity fo... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
***Now in development for a TV series!***Publishers Weekly Bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited All Star, Christy Barritt, brings readers a fun new series that will have fans trying to solv... read more
Proofreading
Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead? When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to w... read more
Copy Editing
Abused as a child, traumatized by legalistic religion as a young adult, and embraced by the gay community after her divorce, author Cari Gintz traces her journey into the light of God’s miracu... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Have you ever wondered who those people are? You know who I'm talking about-those people mentioned in just a few words, or maybe a paragraph or two in God's Word; those people who appear and d... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
"Powerful novel of healing and hope." --Carrie Booth Schmidt, ReadingIsMySuperPower.orgThe dark places in life have taught her this much—some things simply cannot be forgiven.Cheryl Thompson l... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Afraid of the Light

Cynthia Ruchti

She helps others manage their desperate lives--but who will help her?Clinical psychologist Camille Brooks isn’t put off by the lifestyle of her hoarding clients. After all, she lost her mother... read more
Copy Editing
*This is a romantic comedy with a Christian worldview.Allegra Spencer has been living a careful life. Her safe job as an accountant is bookended by going to church and the gym. Okay, sometimes... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the futu... read more
Copy Editing
From #1 Amazon & New York Times bestselling author Gemma Halliday and USA Today bestselling author Kelly Rey comes a modern, female driven new take on the legend of Sherlock Holmes...Martha "M... read more
Copy Editing
In her memoir Unmothered, popular blogger and speaker Phylis Mantelli takes the reader on her roller-coaster journey of life with her alcoholic and narcissistic mother.Phylis and her two sibli... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
The Dreamer has been awarded a SILVER FOR BEST FANTASY/SCI-FI from the eLit Book Awards and a FINALIST MEDAL FOR BEST COVER DESIGN from The Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Molly hasn’t slep... read more
Copy Editing

Dori has 22 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Daniel T.

Daniel T.

Dec, 2023

Pinned
What an amazing experience having Dori as my developmental editor and coach. All of my concerns as a new author were quickly put to rest as she guided me through the process. I have absolute faith and trust in her professional abilities and would highly recommend her to anyone. She has a true passion for coaching and can help build a strong foundation for all future writing. Thank you Dori! And...
Read more
David J.

David J.

Jul, 2024

Dori came alongside to help our manuscript with thorough, eagle-eyed copyediting and other advice. Very helpful and grateful to have her on the team for this project.
David J.

David J.

May, 2024

Thank you Dori for your work on Jack Cohen's book! We appreciate your attention to detail!
Jared D.

Jared D.

Apr, 2024

I really enjoyed working with Dori. Very thorough, creative, and helpful feedback.
Nicole P.

Nicole P.

Apr, 2024

Dori has open my eyes to a lot of things personally and through my writing. I thought this would be easier and I laughed at the fact I say my story is complicated. While I know my story, writing it with full emotions, expressions, and detail is so hard. Dori has helped me to draw out all the things needed and encouraged me through the tough times.

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