About Me
THE STORY SO FAR
I was born in Madrid, Spain but moved to the UK just before the millennium, so basically I have been living in this country waaaaaaay too long!
My academic background is in the field of Art History (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, First) and I have a Masters in Art Gallery and Museum Studies by the University of Manchester. For a number of years at the beginning of my career, I worked in renown institutions in Spain (Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, CAC Malaga), Italy (Peggy Guggenheim Collection) and the UK (AS Antiques Galleries).
During the past 15 years however, I have dedicated myself to my true passion:
the written word.
I started selling books for Waterstone's, and managing the YA and children's literature section, which I loved from day one. From here, I moved onto public libraries both in Stockport and Manchester, working as a senior library assistant, delivering story time for little ones and running reading groups for children, adults and families.
I used all my previous experience coordinating exhibitions and my personal interest in the field of reader development to secure the role of Manchester Book Award Coordinator, a prestigious YA literary festival developed in partnership with authors and publishers from all over the country plus students from high schools and public libraries in Manchester.
After a spell working as public library manager, I decided to start my own business as Reader Development Consultant (The Travelling Librarian). My great ambition however was to open my own bookshop c/ cultural centre, which in a way I achieved during my time at Stretford Grammar where as their school librarian ( Dec 2013 to May 2017) I organised a wide variety of book-based activities, authors' visits, book-fairs, creative writing sessions and all sort of whole school initiatives to increase literacy and promote reading for pleasure amongst staff and students.
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I am an associated CILIP member and have been part of the School Library Association committee (Manchester, branch, newsletter editor). I've also written book reviews for the School Library Journal and for book-recommending websites such as lovereading.co.uk. To round it all up, I am a literary translator (with no experience!) and a qualified Spanish teacher (with some experience!).
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During 2017-18, I worked as a Digital Project Officer at Chetham's Library, the oldest public library in the English speaking world, digitising and promoting their collections of broadside ballads. I'm currently part of the University of Manchester Main Library Shelving and Stock Management Team (P/T supervisor).
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In September 2019, I will be starting my PhD at the Institute for Cultural Practices (University of Manchester), researching the reading experience in the context of book exhibitions, and the concept of the book as a "numinous" (emotionally charged) object.
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In my spare time, I write and continue to study any subject that attracts my attention. I enjoy reading and learning about Amsterdam in the XVII century; about the history of botany and gardening; and about XIX century plant hunters and women explorers.
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I'd love to be able to speak Dutch and Latin, bend like a professional yogi and identify species of trees and flowers with just one look. So far, I have managed to achieve none of the above...But I love trying!
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Keep clicking around this website to learn more about my works as writer and librarian.