An editorial studio shaped by care, clarity, and perspective

Ink-Stained Hearts is Jon and Caz Cole’s editorial studio, offering thoughtful editing, writing support, and author services. Our work is guided by a simple belief: writing becomes stronger when it is handled with patience, respect, and close attention to its inner logic.

We approach words as something already alive. Editing, for us, is not about imposing authority or reshaping a piece into something it was never meant to be. It is about perspective: seeing the whole shape of a piece, understanding its intentions, and refining it so those intentions can be felt more clearly on each page.

The giraffe is our quiet inspiration because editing depends on perspective — the patience to look closely, the care to intervene lightly, and the distance to understand the work as a whole without disturbing what already works.

Alongside our editorial work, our background includes titles published under our imprint, City Stone Publishing, reflecting another strand of our ongoing engagement with books and writing.

If you’re curious about Jon and Caz Cole, you can find our personal website at joncazcole.com.

Our approach

The work at Ink-Stained Hearts is collaborative and considered. We take time to read closely, listen carefully, and understand what each piece of writing is trying to do before deciding how best to support it.

This means working slowly enough to notice nuance, and gently enough to preserve voice. Structure, clarity, and rhythm matter here, but so does trust. Writing is not treated as a problem to be fixed, but as a process to be supported.

Who we work with

We work with writers at different stages and across different forms. Some come with finished drafts that need perspective and refinement. Others arrive earlier, with ideas still taking shape.

What connects the work is not genre or format, but a shared concern for language, meaning, and integrity. Ink-Stained Hearts is suited to writers who value thoughtfulness over speed and clarity over formula.

A quiet practice

Ink-Stained Hearts is intentionally small and focused. This allows for sustained attention, continuity, and care across each piece of work we take on.

Rather than offering standardised services, we shape our support around the needs of the writing itself. Each project begins with conversation and develops through collaboration.

An invitation

If the approach outlined here resonates with how you think about writing, you’re welcome to get in touch. Conversation is often the best place to begin.

When supporting publishers and authors, Caroline takes care to understand the brief and deliver a bespoke service. Her vibrant presence across social media, supporting authors and publishers, allows her to share her delight in the written word and engage a broad spectrum of readers.

Kerensa Jennings, Author of Seas of Snow. Storyteller, Strategist, Writer, Producer and Professor