Wishing Michelle Duff a Happy Retirement!

Michelle Duff, who has been with Severn House for twenty-six years – over half of our history – retires this week. We want to bid her a fond farewell, a very happy retirement, and salute her twenty-six years of helping build Severn House into the publisher it is today.

Michelle (or Shell, as she’s fondly known) joined Severn House in 1998 and has held many roles in the company – from admin, to sales, to marketing, to operations – she’s touched every part of the business (except for editorial!). Reflecting her can-do attitude and self-effacing sense of humour, her business card used to read “Chief Cook and Bottle Washer”.

When Severn House was acquired by Canongate in 2017, Shell was essential in smoothing the transition to our new home. Taking on the title of Sales & Operations Director, she carried forward the legacy of Severn House – our unique commitment to libraries, to physical print publication, and to great genre fiction.

For many out there in the publishing world, Shell was your first point of contact with Severn House. She was our ambassador, the keeper of the Severn House secrets, and a fierce advocate for our authors and books. We wish her a very happy retirement in her new-found home of Australia. Enjoy some well-earned rest, and some time with your family and with your beloved dogs!

Here’s to you, Shell!