Embarking on the journey of self-improvement through literature is an empowering endeavor, and finding the right self-help book that resonates with you is paramount. But behind every impactful self-help book is a masterful editor who fine-tunes the manuscript into a beacon of wisdom and guidance. They ensure that the message is not only clear and engaging but truly transformative.

In this post, we celebrate the top 10 self-help book editors in the US, who, through their expertise and dedication, help authors create books that inspire, motivate, and change lives. Let’s dive in and discover these editorial maestros!

1. Tori Thacher

Tori Thacher is a seasoned editor specializing in Christian nonfiction (including self-help), leadership, and memoir. With a background in English Literature and Rhetoric & Writing from the University of Texas at Austin, complemented by a Graduate Certificate in Publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute, Tori brings a comprehensive understanding of publishing to her role​​. Her services include developmental editing, editorial assessments, and query letter reviews, with a focus on improving structure, flow, tone, and voice​​. Tori’s experience spans working with first-time authors to NYT bestselling authors and leaders across various fields, underlining her versatility and ability to enhance a wide range of narratives​.

2. Chris Murray

Chris Murray, a nonfiction book editor since 2006, has a rich history of working with authors across diverse fields such as business, personal development, sustainability, and social issues. With experience spanning indie authors and those backed by traditional publishers, Chris has collaborated with notable publishing houses including HarperCollins, McGraw-Hill, Penguin, and more. His portfolio is diverse, covering topics like corporate strategy, marketing, personal success, professional development, and even suicide prevention. Offering services such as developmental editing, copy editing, and editorial assessment, Chris brings a wealth of experience to the table. Notably, he also served as the Vice-President and Editor-in-Chief at Soundview Executive Book Summaries, summarizing business books for leaders​​.

3. Ellen Tarlin

Ellen Tarlin is a seasoned copy editor and proofreader with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Her extensive background includes editing fiction, nonfiction, and screenplays for esteemed companies like Kirkus/CreateSpace and Scholastic​​. Holding degrees in dramatic writing and creative writing from New York University and Emerson College, Ellen brings a profound understanding of story to her work​​.

Ellen’s experience spans print and online, journalism and books, with roles as a copy editor at Martha Stewart Omnimedia and copy chief at Slate magazine​​. She has worked on hundreds of manuscripts, offering services in copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading, always striving to meet or beat deadlines​​. Her expertise in self-help and self-improvement books makes her an ideal choice for authors in these genres​​. With rave reviews and a dedication to under-promising and over-delivering, Ellen Tarlin is an impressive choice for your self-help book editing needs​​.

4. Jacqueline Parkison

Jacqueline Parkison is a kind and meticulous editor who specializes in social sciences, humanities, self-help, memoir, and fiction. With over 15 years of experience, Jacqueline has honed her craft in a range of writing projects, from nonfiction books to technical dissertations and fiction. She holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has an impressive work experience, including an eight-year stint as a copyeditor with Prometheus Books. Jacqueline offers a variety of services such as developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading, making her a versatile and competent choice for your self-help book editing needs​.

5. Andrew Dawson

Meet Andrew Dawson, an expert copy editor and proofreader with two decades of versatile experience. A keen professional, Andrew has a knack for helping authors produce their best work, often going beyond deadlines and never missing one. He honed his skills in journalism, communications, and publishing, and carries the lessons he learned from the start of his career as a reporter into his editing work, treating each manuscript with empathy and respect. His passion for the self-help, career guide, and business book genres is evident, having worked on an array of publications from architecture to sci-fi. Andrew offers copy editing and proofreading services, with specific expertise in non-fiction genres such as biographies, business, career guides, and self-help. His experience extends from managing a busy government press office to being a news editor for weekly newspapers, ensuring accuracy in communication for large audiences. Andrew’s certification in newspaper journalism and his proficiency in both UK and US English further underscore his qualifications. He’s not just a great person to work with; he’s an excellent self-help book editor who can bring your work to life.

6. Clelia Lewis

Meet Clelia Lewis, an exceptional self-help book editor with a special focus on spiritual literature, self-development, memoir, and poetry. With over thirty years of spiritual practice and a rich understanding of diverse spiritual traditions, Clelia brings a unique depth to her editing work. Known for her clear, sensitive, and thorough approach, she excels at ensuring your unique voice shines through while maintaining elegance and consistency in style​​. Her services include copy editing, proofreading, and indexing in both non-fiction and fiction genres​​. Clients applaud her for enhancing their work with precision, discernment, and a warm collaborative spirit​​. Since 2016, she has been serving as an Associate Editor at Hohm Press and offering freelance editing services​​.

7. Erin Lund

On to our next self-help book editor: Erin Lund is a seasoned non-fiction editor and book coach with a strong focus on memoir, self-help, alternative spirituality, and holistic wellness books. With over a decade of experience, including as a managing editor and the owner of her editing business, Erin has worked with both indie and traditionally published authors, aiding them to deliver compelling transformations to their readers through her suite of services, including book coaching, manuscript evaluation, developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and query letter editing. Erin’s understanding of both the details and overall vision of a work, alongside her ability to highlight an author’s unique voice, has been lauded by her clients. She has provided comprehensive editing services to numerous books and has worked with publishers like Red Leaf Publishing and Familius​​.

8. Marisa Solis

With over 23 years in the publishing industry, Marisa Solis is a seasoned book coach and developmental editor, specializing in self-help, wellness, and psychology genres. She has assisted over 100 professionals in various fields, from therapists to life coaches, in polishing and publishing their manuscripts. Marisa is also adept at making clinical language accessible to a lay audience, ensuring that the books she works on are reader-friendly. She is certified in professional copy editing from UC Berkeley Extension and has experience with a range of non-fiction genres, including cooking, parenting, and travel. She has worked with multiple renowned publishing houses and her work is recognized as collaborative, straightforward, and satisfying to her clients​​.

9. Trinity McFadden

Trinity McFadden, a seasoned copy editor and proofreader with over 15 years of experience, has a rich career in the publishing industry, specializing in memoirs, parenting, educational, religious, and academic books. Her areas of expertise span non-fiction, memoir, historical, inspirational, academic, philosophical, and religious manuscripts, with proficiency in the Chicago Manual, Associated Press, and Christian Writer’s Manual styles. Trinity is also a distinguished award winner, taking third place in the MPA/MCPA College Newspaper Contest for Editorial Writing in 2006. With a significant role as a Senior Literary Agent at The Bindery and a four-year tenure as a Senior Manager of Public Relations at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, she offers a wealth of industry knowledge and connections​.

10. Richard Poper

Richard Roper is a highly accomplished editor and novelist with a distinct global footprint. His novels have been published by Penguin (US), Orion (UK), and translated into 20 languages, even garnering recognition as Barnes & Noble Fiction Book of the Month and being optioned for TV​​. As a senior non-fiction commissioning editor at Hachette UK, he has an impressive track record of nurturing numerous Sunday Times bestsellers and award-winning titles​​.

With a portfolio encompassing both fiction and non-fiction genres, he specializes in self-help, memoirs, contemporary fiction, and more​​. Roper’s services extend beyond editing to encompass book coaching, query letter review, and proofreading​​. His empathetic, solutions-based approach, coupled with his fluency in English (AUS, UK, US), ensures that he is well-equipped to bring out the best in any manuscript​​.

Our curated list of top self-help book editors in the US is the roadmap to the professionalism and expertise you seek. By choosing to collaborate with these seasoned professionals, you’re not just investing in your manuscript’s refinement, but also in its potential to inspire, uplift, and make a significant impact in the self-help genre.