Editor
Experienced editorDiana Collis
Diana has 25 years of experience in writing and editing non-fiction, specialising in Mind, Body and Spirit.
She has worked extensively with Orion (Laurence King), and on specific titles with editorial teams at Quarto (Kaddo), Hay House, Dorling Kindersley and Flare Publishing.
Diana has years of editing and mentoring experience in Memoir and more general non-fiction work for Jericho Writers. Whilst Mind, Body and Spirit is her specialism, manuscript focuses have included areas as diverse as interior design, diet/food/cookery, hypnotherapy, parenting/family issues, meditation, mountain trekking, feng shui, positive attitude, religious and transcendental experiences, travel and immigration, addiction recovery, healing, and physical and mental health challenges.
Most of her Jericho Writers authors have gone on to either win contracts with agents and publishers or successfully self-publish their work—frequently with excellent reviews on Amazon.
A strong technical ability in writing and an honours degree in English, Drama and Film, combine with practical experience in the holistic field to make Diana uniquely able to appreciate the challenges of conveying material in both niche and traditional areas. She enjoys author support as much as developing her own projects, which, in recent years, have included consultancy and writing for the bestselling, Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition deck/booklet set (attracting over 1, 350 positive reviews on Amazon), plus a follow-up Tattoo Tarot Journal book, further, similar projects of Movie Tarot and Music Tarot, and research for the text of the Tarot Colouring Book, all with Laurence King Publishing.
If you’d like to work with Diana, get in touch with our Writer Support team; tell us about your book and what you’d like support with, and we’ll help you identify your next steps.
Excited about my proposal
Lucy B
Wonderful and supportive
Dawne G
Encouraged and fired up
Melanie S
In-depth editorial report
Harold L
Extensive report
Jonathan and Miriam
Well beyond what was expected
Marc P
Turned on the light switch
Breda M
Generous and perceptive comments
Y. E
Goes above and beyond
C. Pollard
Absolutely invaluable
N. Walsh
Astutely guided
John M
Validated my hope
James Hawley, author of 'My Favourite Colour is Red'
Extremely thorough
Caroline C
Manuscript Assessment
Successfully self-published
Harold Lawrence received a manuscript assessment from Diana while writing his memoir of stroke recovery, At a Stroke, which he self-published in 2019.
Agent Submission Pack Review & Line-Edit
Successfully self-published
Daniel Harrod received an Agent Submission Pack Review and a Line-Edit from Diana while writing diet guide Mind Over Matter: How to Build the Ultimate Dieting Mindset.
Manuscript Assessment
Published by Troubador
Diana prepared a Manuscript Assessment for Peter W Bennett’s memoir of life as an NHS ward patient, A Bed With a Viewm published by Troubador in 2024.
Manuscript Assessment
Successfully self-published
Diana worked with James Hawley on a Manuscript Assessment of his OCD memoir My Favourite Colour is Red: A Cautionary Tale of OCD, published 2022.
Line-Editing
Successfully self-published
Award-winning author and entrepreneur Pamela Sommers received from Diana a Line-Edit of her self-help lifestyle book, Fabulously You: Feel Amazing and Thrive, published 2021.
Manuscript Assesment
Successfully self-published
Sue Tredget received a Manuscript Assessment from Diana before self-publishing her memoir Days Like These in 2023 through her imprint, Causeway Books.
Manuscript Assessment
Successfully self-published
Dave Kobrenski received a Manuscript Assessment from Diana for his memoir of healing, Finding the Source: One Man’s Quest for Healing in West Africa, which he published through his own imprint, Artemisia Books.
Manuscript Assessment
Successfully self-published
Paul Sorgule received from Diana a Manuscript Assessment of his culinary-themed crime novel, A Cook on the Run, published 2025.
Manuscript Assessment
Successfully self-published
Diana consulted with Mary Gallagher Hannigan through a Manuscript Assessment of her spiritual memoir, Journeys to Other Planets, published 2023.
Opening Section Review
Successfully self-published
Magnus Hird received an Opening Section Review from Diana before publishing his farming memoir, New to This: A Year on our East Lancashire Farm, in 2022.
Edited by Diana Collis
Published by Orion Spring
Diana worked with Sarah Norris on The Baby Detective, a parenting book published by Orion Spring in 2017.
Edited by Diana Collis
Featured on US news channels
Diana worked with Helena Grace Donald on Learning to Love the Girl in the Mirror: A Teenage Girl’s Guide to Living a Happy and Healthy Life, a confidence-boosting guide for teenage girls.
Edited by Diana Collis
Successfully self-published
Philip Jackson worked with Diana on his moving memoir, Unseen Paths: Beyond the Hospice Doors, which he self-published on Amazon in 2018.
Diana's specialties
Why we love Diana
Diana’s reports are always extremely detailed and useful. Her positivity and engagement with all the work sent her way is infectious – we love working with her as much as our writers do!
What Diana says about editing
I enjoy helping aspiring writers, since I recognise the spirit to express something important, alongside the need to find the best ways to reach other people through writing. Good writing is more than just stringing sentences together, or having a written form of a conversation with readers; publishing requires more awareness than just knowing our subject matter well. In essence, people who love to write, or have something they wish to share, need and deserve good support – and I love when I can help to provide that, especially when the writing requires work and persistence; then, faith, confidence and motivation may need an extra boost!
I especially love manuscripts that focus on a positive approach and outcome, and which engage with an uplifting focus, whatever the topic. I also have a personal love of humour, music and cult films.
Most of my work is in manuscript assessment, but I sometimes have scope to take on copy editing, line editing and mentoring, especially where an author may be keen on a developmental editing approach. Whilst non-fiction is my forte, I sometimes assist with fiction works that fall within my areas of interest and experience.
What Diana works on
By purchasing any of these products, you'll have the opportunity to express your interest in working with Diana.
Manuscript Assessment
Developmental Editing
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Post-editorial guidance
Line-editing
Copy-editing
Opening Section Review
Diana's published books
