Who's Who At The Madrid Review
James Hartley
FICTION & POETRY EDITOR
I'm the idiot who thought this would be a good idea.
I come from Liverpool in the UK. After growing up there, and in Singapore and Oman, I wandered about some more before ending up in Madrid, Spain, where I now live with my wife and two children. I work as a teacher here but I've also published a series of YA books called Shakespeare's Moon (Lodestone, London) and poems in various anthologies and websites. I'm an Associate Editor at Tint Journal, which publishes the best in worldwide ESL writing in English and have wanted to do something based in Madrid for years. You can read more here.
For my sins, I'm also an Evertonian.
Here's an interview with me on RTVE talking about the magazine.
Thanks to Ana Gómez for heading our Translation Department.
Cliff Shephard
BOOKS
Cliff Shephard has variously been an actor, script editor, postman and comic shop manager. He was at Totnes Bookshop for 18 years and is now at The Bookery, which in 2021 won the UK Independent Bookshop Of The Year and Children's Bookseller Of The Year. He lives in quiet Devon.
Sonia González
EDITOR, LITERATURA EN ESPAÑOL
Me llamo Sonia González y soy castellana de nacimiento y madrileña de adopción. He dedicado mi vida a la enseñanza del español fuera de España y del inglés dentro de ella. Fanática del deporte y la lectura, he vivido en EEUU, Gran Bretaña y en los últimos 20 años en Madrid. Me pierde una buena historia de misterio o una gran historia de amor, y me maravilla el poder de la palabra escrita y cómo vas descubriendo otro mundo según lees, página a página.
Bélen Pérez Diaz
ART EDITOR
Queridos subscriptores, soy Belén, natural de Madrid, amante del buen comer, del buen beber, de la música, del cine, del arte en general. De todo lo que provoque buenas vibraciones, de todo lo que te transporte a lugares fantásticos, recorriendo, a través de imágenes, música, olores y sabores el pasado, el presente y te haga sentir con fuerza que el futuro "lo molará todo".
Jane Appleton
COPY AND PROOF EDITOR
Jane Appleton has spent most of her life as a Maths teacher (41 years in schools and 2 years, since retirement, tutoring) 33 years in the same school has meant that she has had the joy of seeing many hundreds of pupils grow from children to young adults and then, as many keep in touch, how their futures go.
She enjoys reading and has always had a good eye for spotting errors – so likes proofreading articles, magazines and books.
She lives in England, in sunny Surrey
Ellen Merryweather
PODCAST EDITOR
Ellie Merryweather is a writer and podcaster from Bournemouth, but after eight years in Madrid she considers herself a full Madrileña adoptada. With a BA in English Literature and Classical Studies from the University of Reading, she’s passionate about stories that echo through time. Her career in digital marketing keeps her busy as she works on what she hopes will be her first published novel, as well as a handful of short stories. In her spare time she produces and hosts The Madrid Review podcast where she chats with guests about literature, culture, and the thriving arts scene in Madrid.
Namita Chawla
STAFF WRITER & RESTAURANT CRITIC
Hey! My name is Nami, and I’m currently a junior at Saint Louis University-Madrid. I’m double-majoring in Communications and Psychology, with a minor in Performing Arts (dance). I’m from New Delhi, India and I am also a staff writer and copy editor at my university newspaper. Excited to join the Madrid Review as a staff writer and restaurant critic! As someone with a multicultural background, one of my favorite ways to translate culture has always been through food! I’m excited to tap into the Madrid food universe, as well as offer insightful pieces on travel, film reviews, and more! Feel free to reach out to me through email, if you have any restaurant recommendations for me to try!
Santi Aguila
STAFF WRITER & MUSIC EDITOR
Hello! My Name is Santi, I am currently a senior at Saint Louis University Madrid. I am majoring in English Literature with Minors in Creative Writing and Music. I am originally from the Philippines but spent a majority of my life in Australia. I am currently the President of Convivium, our universities arts and literature magazine, as well as the founder of the Bossa Nova Club. Music is something that has always been a large part of my life and identity from an early age and I love to share my passion through writing. I am excited to share this interest through articles detailing some of the amazing musical events, spaces and artists in the Madrid community. As well as bringing attention to some of the amazing musicians throughout the world!