About Diane

Meet Diane O'Connell

Guiding writers to become successful published authors has always been my mission.

After working as an in-house editor for over 12 years for publishing companies as diverse as Random House, Wenner media, and Sesame Workshop, I ventured out on my own, writing over 200 magazine articles and 6 books, one of which became a groundbreaker and landed me and my co-author a coveted feature on 20/20. My latest book, The Novel-Maker’s Handbook: the No-Nonsense Guide to Crafting a Marketable Story, won a Gold Independent Publishers award for best writing/publishing book of 2015.

Because of my experience as both an in-house editor and a published author, I know what it’s like on both sides of the editor’s desk.

I know what editors look for, and understand the passion that drives authors, their desire to follow their dreams, and their determination to create their own publishing destiny. That’s why I founded Write to Sell Your Book: to guide authors through every step of the writing and publishing process, helping them make the right decisions for their goals.

Your dream of publishing success is my mission.

Over my 30+ years in publishing, I have nurtured the careers of numerous first-time writers, some of whom have become bestselling authors. I have had the privilege of helping a first-time thriller writer (now an international bestseller) land a $500,000 book deal with Bantam…a minister turn a “pile of papers” into a successful branded book series…a Nobel-prize winning physician publish a strong back-list title…a self-published author become a Kindle bestseller…and a former special agent publish a true-crime memoir, which was turned into an episode of the hit TV series Discovery Investigations.

I thrive on working with truly committed writers and will push you to be the best writer you can be so that you end up with a book that makes you proud.

Get in touch now to find out how I can help you:

My Books

Diane's Books

As the author and co-author of six published books, Diane knows what it takes to get to the finish line.

She knows the rush of enthusiasm at the beginning of a book project, the hump in the middle when you wonder if you have what it takes to get it done, and she’s felt the sense of satisfaction when you see it all come together.

The Novel-Maker's Handbook: The No-Nonsense Guide to Crafting a Marketable Story

Is your dream of writing a novel sitting in a desk drawer or in a forgotten folder of your computer? Have you spent countless hours on endless draft revisions without making much progress? Have you given up hope of writing a manuscript you can truly be proud of? Today’s the day to take charge of your writing career. Let veteran book editor Diane O’Connell show you how.
This book, which grew out of Diane’s work with successful authors, won a Gold “IPPY” award from Independent Publishers for best writing/publishing book.

Strong Force: The Story of Physicist Shirley Ann Jackson

This biography is one of the bestselling titles of the Women’s Adventures in Science series, sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and published by Scholastic and Joseph Henry Press.
Shirley Ann Jackson sees the unseen. She's an expert in the invisible particles that make up everything in the universe, including you. Shirley is a theoretical physicist, a scientist who studies the subatomic world using only paper, pencils, computers and the most important tool of all: her imagination. Shirley's passion for science blossomed during her childhood, with bumblebee experiments and go-cart races. But it's her talent for math and her drive to succeed that have taken her career in amazing directions.

People Person: The Story of Sociologist Marta Tienda

This biography is part of the Women’s Adventures in Science series, sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and published by Scholastic and Joseph Henry Press.
Marta Tienda sees life stories in numbers. She is a sociologist, a scientist who studies human society. Numbers are the tools she uses to uncover fascinating information about people and their behavior. As the daughter of an illegal Mexican immigrant, Marta Tienda understands the pain of growing up poor. When her family had to pick crops to earn money, Marta saw firsthand the tough conditions that migrant workers had to endure. It was an experience she would never forget.

Your Two-Year-Old: The Trusted Resource to Help Your Child Advance, Achieve, Succeed

Part of the Parents Picks series, this book was published by St. Martin’s Press.
From America's #1 family magazine, a guide to your two-year-old's emotional and cognitive milestones. Every day is an exciting journey when you're the parent of a two-year-old. In As They Grow: Your Two-Year-Old, the expert editors of Parents magazine tell you what your child is thinking and feeling throughout the remarkable third year-and how you can foster a safe, nurturing environment in which your child can thrive.