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Meet our team

Specialists you can email directly.

Every project names its editorial, rights, audio and distribution leads. Each biography describes the work that person actually does here. We publish no awards, ratings or credentials we cannot evidence.

Leadership

Accountable people, each reachable by email.

Language lists reflect working languages used in client communication and editorial review.

Portrait of Alex Preston, Managing Director, Publisher & International Acquisitions

Managing Director, Publisher & International Acquisitions

Alex Preston

Working languages
English, French
Direct contact
Alex.preston.publisher.expert.intl@gmail.com

Alex leads the agency as Managing Director and Publisher, and heads international acquisitions. He sets publishing strategy, holds author relations at director level, and reviews rights and licensing decisions alongside the rights desk.

Publishing expertise

  • Publishing strategy
  • International acquisitions
  • Author relations

Areas of specialization

  • Rights and licensing oversight
  • International submission packages
  • Editorial standards
“A book crosses a border well only when the author still recognises their own voice on the other side.”
Contact Alex
Portrait of Catherine Clark, Literary Agent

Literary Agent

Catherine Clark

Working languages
English
Direct contact
catherine.literaryagent@meridianpressinternationalpublishing.com

Based in the United Kingdom, Catherine works with authors on representation and submission, reading manuscripts against the markets they are intended for. Her biography will be expanded with details she confirms for publication.

Publishing expertise

  • Author representation
  • Submission strategy
  • Manuscript reading

Areas of specialization

  • Author support and shortlist preparation
  • Publisher matching
“An agent's first duty is to read honestly, then to argue well.”
Contact Catherine
Portrait of Gabriel Isaac, Literary Translation & Publishing

Literary Translation & Publishing

Gabriel Isaac

Working languages
English
Direct contact
gabrielisaac@meridianpressinternationalpublishing.com

Gabriel isaac works across literary translation and publishing delivery, supporting translated editions from brief through to publication. Further biography details will be added once confirmed for publication.

Publishing expertise

  • Literary translation
  • Publishing delivery
  • Translation review support

Areas of specialization

  • Author support during translation
  • Edition coordination
“A translation earns its place when readers stop noticing it is one.”
Contact Gabriel
Portrait of Gabriel Edwards, Website Developer & Digital Experience Specialist

Website Developer & Digital Experience Specialist

Gabriel Edwards

Working languages
English
Direct contact
websitedeveloperexpertjen@gmail.com

Gabriel builds and improves websites for authors, publishers and businesses, covering design, front-end development, performance, accessibility and SEO-ready structure. Selected work is shown in the development portfolio.

Publishing expertise

  • Website design and development
  • Performance and accessibility
  • SEO-ready build structure

Areas of specialization

  • Author and publisher websites
  • Website redesign and improvement
  • Business and portfolio sites
“Every website should communicate credibility before the visitor reads a single paragraph.”
Contact Gabriel
Portrait of Rebecca Dot, Client Enquiries & Author Support

Client Enquiries & Author Support

Rebecca Dot

Working languages
English
Direct contact
rebeccab.dot@gmail.com

Rebecca looks after first enquiries and author support, making sure every message reaches the right desk and that authors receive clear, timely answers while their projects are under way.

Publishing expertise

  • Client enquiries
  • Author support
  • Project coordination

Areas of specialization

  • First-response enquiries
  • Routing requests to the right desk
  • Author communication
“A prompt, honest first reply sets the tone for the whole project.”
Contact Rebecca
Portrait of Evan John, Book Club Manager & Head of Book-to-Screen Development

Book Club Manager & Head of Book-to-Screen Development

Evan John

Working languages
English
Direct contact
evan.meridianpressinternationa@gmail.com
Screen development: Evan.meridianpressinternational@gmail.com

Evan manages the Meridian Book Club, coordinating author participation and reader activities with the moderation team. He also leads the Book-to-Screen Development & Adaptation division from the United States, overseeing adaptation assessment, pitch development and market positioning.

Publishing expertise

  • Adaptation assessment
  • Screen development
  • Market positioning

Areas of specialization

  • Film and television format strategy
  • Pitch package development
  • Industry positioning strategy
“A book earns a screen life when its characters, conflict and world can carry a camera, not because we wish they could.”
Contact Evan
Portrait of Precious Adrian, Library Management

Library Management

Precious Adrian

Working languages
English
Direct contact
prciousliterally.author@gmail.com

Precious manages the author and title library, keeping catalog records, discovery metadata and reader-facing book information accurate and current across the website and distribution feeds.

Publishing expertise

  • Library metadata
  • Catalog organisation
  • Title discovery

Areas of specialization

  • Catalog record maintenance
  • Author and title data integrity
  • Reader-facing book listings
“A well-kept library is the first place a reader trusts.”
Contact Precious
Portrait of Andrea O. Barnes, Publishing Partnerships & Author Development

Publishing Partnerships & Author Development

Andrea O. Barnes

Working languages
English
Direct contact
andrea.o.barnes@gmail.com

Andrea works with authors and partners on publishing relationships, author development and strategic introductions. She focuses on understanding each book's audience and building the right connections across the publishing ecosystem.

Publishing expertise

  • Author development
  • Publishing partnerships
  • Strategic introductions

Areas of specialization

  • Author onboarding
  • Partnership coordination
  • Audience-aligned outreach
“The right introduction at the right moment can change a book's path.”
Contact Andrea
Portrait of Levi, Literary & Screen Development Manager

Literary & Screen Development Manager

Levi

Working languages
English
Direct contact
levi.meridianpressinternational@gmail.com

Levi works across literary and screen development, supporting projects from manuscript assessment through adaptation positioning and development coordination.

Publishing expertise

  • Literary development
  • Screen adaptation support
  • Development coordination

Areas of specialization

  • Manuscript assessment for adaptation
  • Story development
  • Cross-team project coordination
“A story's screen potential begins with the strength of its characters and the clarity of its world.”
Contact Levi
Portrait of Benjamin Clarke, Manager, Libraries Placement

Manager, Libraries Placement

Benjamin Clarke

Working languages
English
Direct contact
benjaminclarkemeridianlibrary@gmail.com

Benjamin leads the Libraries Placement Programme, researching the libraries, reading groups and literary communities where each book naturally belongs and coordinating respectful, personalised introductions. He supports library-related collaborations with the Book Club team.

Publishing expertise

  • Library outreach
  • Book club and reading group introductions
  • Community research

Areas of specialization

  • Libraries Placement Programme
  • Library collaboration
  • Reader community mapping
“A book finds its readers fastest in the rooms where its subject is already being discussed.”
Contact Benjamin
PS

Book Club Moderator

Pearl Sage

Working languages
Not published
Direct contact
info.pearlsagemeridianteam@yahoo.com

Pearl Sage is the Meridian Book Club moderator. Contact Pearl about reader discussions, review moderation or concerns about Book Club content.

Publishing expertise

  • Book Club moderation

Areas of specialization

  • Reader discussions
  • Content reports
Contact Pearl
Portrait of Matteo, Head of Rights & Licensing

Head of Rights & Licensing

Matteo

Working languages
Italian, English, Spanish
Direct contact
Alex.preston.publisher.expert.intl@gmail.com

Matteo manages territory strategy and negotiates licence terms with publishers across Europe and the Americas. He also maintains our rights register and reversion calendar.

Publishing expertise

  • Rights negotiation
  • Contract drafting support
  • Fair licensing

Areas of specialization

  • European territories
  • Co-edition deals
  • Sub-rights tracking
“Good licensing is not the highest advance. It is the right publisher, in the right market, at the right moment.”
Contact Matteo
Portrait of Liam, Director of Audiobook Production

Director of Audiobook Production

Liam

Working languages
English, German
Direct contact
Alex.preston.publisher.expert.intl@gmail.com

Liam oversees casting, recording direction and audio delivery. He builds production schedules that keep narration, editing and mastering aligned with distribution dates.

Publishing expertise

  • Narrator casting
  • Production direction
  • Retailer compliance

Areas of specialization

  • Multi-voice productions
  • Studio and remote workflows
  • Audio quality control
“Listeners forgive almost anything except a voice that does not belong to the book.”
Contact Liam
Portrait of Akira, Lead Translation Editor

Lead Translation Editor

Akira

Working languages
Japanese, English
Direct contact
Alex.preston.publisher.expert.intl@gmail.com

Akira reviews translated manuscripts line by line against the source text, coordinating with translators on register, terminology and cultural reference.

Publishing expertise

  • Translation review
  • Terminology management
  • Localization

Areas of specialization

  • Japanese-English pairs
  • Literary register
  • Style guides per title
“Accuracy is the floor. Rhythm is the work.”
Contact Akira
Portrait of Merlin Gabriel, Global Distribution Manager

Global Distribution Manager

Merlin Gabriel

Working languages
English, French
Direct contact
merlin.global.acquisitions.intl@gmail.com

Merlin manages distribution channels, metadata quality and royalty reporting. He is the point of contact for authors with questions about where and how their book is available.

Publishing expertise

  • Channel management
  • Metadata
  • Royalty reporting

Areas of specialization

  • Print and digital supply chains
  • Retailer onboarding
  • Sales reporting
“Distribution is a promise: if a reader looks for the book, the book should be there.”
Contact Merlin
Portrait of Sophie Bennett, Editorial & Proofreading Lead

Editorial & Proofreading Lead

Sophie Bennett

Working languages
French, English
Direct contact
sophiebennettsbookclub@gmail.com

Sophie Bennett runs the final editorial pass on every manuscript we deliver, maintaining per-title style sheets and coordinating proofreaders across languages.

Publishing expertise

  • Copy editing
  • Proofreading
  • Style governance

Areas of specialization

  • French-English pairs
  • Style sheet design
  • Pre-press checks
“The last read is the reader's first read. It deserves the same care as the first draft.”
Contact Sophie

Extended network

Translators, narrators and proofreaders.

Beyond the core desks we work with a vetted freelance network. Contributors are selected per title, briefed in writing and credited where the author agrees.

Literary translators

Selected by genre, register and target market, with sample translations before appointment.

Narrators

Native-language voices auditioned per title against the author's guidance.

Proofreaders

Final-pass specialists working to a per-title style sheet.

Designers

Cover and interior adaptation for each market's conventions.

How we hire

Selection is slow on purpose.

Contributors join the network only after sample work is reviewed by the relevant desk lead.

Sample first

Every applicant completes a paid sample assessed blind by two reviewers.

Reference checks

Prior publishing work is verified with the commissioning editor where possible.

Ongoing review

Work is reviewed per project; the network changes when standards are not met.

Working with us

Questions about the team.

Will I speak to the person doing the work?

Yes. Desk leads are your direct contacts, and translators or narrators join calls when it helps the book.

Why do you not publish awards or years of experience?

Because we will not print a number or a credential we cannot evidence. Each profile lists the work that person actually does here, and their email address so you can ask them directly.

Can I request a specific translator or narrator?

You can, and we will assess availability and fit. Where we disagree, we explain why and offer alternatives with samples.

Do you offer roles or internships?

Openings are listed on the Resources page when available. Speculative applications with samples are always read.

Where we work

Our desks are in Chicago, Illinois.

Reach any desk lead by email, or call the Chicago office during working hours.

City and state

Chicago, Illinois

United States

View on Google Maps

Telephone

+1 (575) 766-1804

Call our Chicago desk

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm US Central Time (Chicago). Enquiries answered within two business days.

contact@meridianpressinternationalpublishing.com

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