Dori Harrell

Dori Harrell – Editor

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

Overview

Two books I edited won Selah Awards (June 2023):

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

-Circle of Vengeance (Congrats to Ramona Richards!)


A memoir I edited won the Firebird Book Awards (2023):

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


And yet another I edited won second place for romance novel of the year in the 2023 AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Association) awards!

-Love—What's God Got to Do with It? (Congrats to Judy C. Lafler!)


And two made the semifinals for the Carol Awards (June 2023):

When Stone Wings Fly (Congrats to Karen Barnett!)

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

Hoping they make the final and even win!


Every year I have multiple authors on the 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 and line edits and copyediting and proofreading. I read memoirs, devotionals, and clean fiction (contemporary and historical), so that's what I love to edit, though I've also edited dozens of other genres of nonfiction also. My authors 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 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, pacing, 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, copyediting, and proofreading, I not only catch typos and other errors, but I apply the industry style guides (The Chicago Manual of Style) so that your book reads as smoothly as any picked out from 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 frequently work with debut authors who show strong writing and storytelling abilities.


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 Romance
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.

Kregel

Feb, 2019 — Present

Love project editing for Kregel! I provide thorough line edits to help smooth out the story and flow, while delivering a full copyedit at the same time—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
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
Rodeos, wedding bells, and one crazy will!For love…When Mandy Prescott’s grandfather dies, this determined cowgirl expects to head up the family’s rodeo company. But JM Prescott’s last will no... read more
Developmental 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
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
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
Sometimes the past reaches forward to bring hope to the future.England, 1944With the world at war yet again, Alice Galloway rejects her father’s traditional expectations and offers her pilotin... read more
Developmental 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
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
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
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
***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
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
"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
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
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
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 15 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Steven M.

Steven M.

Nov, 2023

Dori was incredibly thorough and helpful in editing my manuscript to make it consistent in style and error free, as well as pointing out small logical oversights I made. I'd highly recommend her!
Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Oct, 2023

Dori is a gem of an editor. It was a dream to work with her. She comes very highly qualified and gives excellent advice. My book is night and day from when I started working with her. She's also a wonderful person, kind and genuine and generous, and it was a delight to work with her. Thank you, Dori!!
Steven M.

Steven M.

Oct, 2023

Dori continued to help me take my stories from rough around the edges to something much more approachable to any reader, and I'm very grateful for that -- I'd highly recommend working with her in a coaching or editing capacity.
George L.

George L.

Sep, 2023

My experience with Dori has been excellent. I am a beginning writer who has read articles and books about writing, but still needed help pulling everything together. There is so much advice out there, but Dori has really helped me to focus on each step to take in my story, instead of having to wonder what direction to take next. I am really pleased with the progress made and Dori has been my mo...
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Ray A.

Ray A.

Sep, 2023

I've only worked with Dori for a short period of time. However, the quality of coaching and advice up to this point has been amazing.

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