Marlow & TideIndependent Children's Publishing · Est. 1987

The Team

There are seven of us, two of whom are part-time and one of whom is a dog.

Celeste Filho in her office, with a spaniel figurine on the shelf behind her

Celeste Filho

Editorial Director

Celeste has steered the list since 2009. She reads every submission twice: once for the story, and once for what the story is really about. Colleagues describe her as "thorough" and then look over their shoulders. Out of hours she is a devoted owner of Biscuit, a spaniel of firm opinions, named after the only food he refuses.

Ashton Whinge with a red pen, a barometer on the shelf behind him

Ashton Whinge

Senior Editor

Ashton edits with a red pen and a barometer. He maintains that most manuscripts contain at least one physical impossibility, and that this is usually the problem rather than the point. He has been wrong about the point exactly once, and won't say when.

Heidi Stern at her desk, mid-note

Heidi Stern

Editorial Assistant

Heidi joined us three years ago and does the work of several people, some of whom are senior to her. She answers the post, the phone, and, when no one else will, the questions. If you have corresponded with us, you have corresponded with Heidi.

Sadie Marder at her desk beside the reading pile

Sadie Marder

Reader

Sadie reads the pile. All of it. She says the best manuscripts feel less like they were written and more like they were remembered, and we have stopped arguing with her about it.

A photograph labelled Kent Highsted, at the Night Desk. Provenance of the photograph is unrecorded.

Kent Highsted

Keeper of the Night Desk

Kent handles our overnight intake. He works hours that do not overlap with anyone else's, which he prefers, and communicates chiefly by summary. The overnight intake is a Marlow & Tide tradition dating to the founding, about which the less said the better, Kent says.

Biscuit at his desk, with nameplate and biscuit bowl

Biscuit

Office Dog

Security. Morale. Crumbs.