Watch “Tony Hillerman Writers Conference 2014 – Felicia Lujan” on YouTube

Missing this conference…

Watch “Hillerman Writers Conference (2015)” on YouTube

Going though my personal archive and realized I hadn’t shared these memories on-line! I really miss this conference and working for and with wonderful, creative spirits every year.

That’s Dr. Poison to You

“Remember it all, every insult, every tear. Tattoo it on the inside of your mind. In life, knowledge of poisons is essential.”     
                    ••~ Janet Fitch

I think I have my idea ready for 2018 ABQ ComicCon and if work appropriate, potentially Halloween! I’m rolling with Dr. Poison this year. DC… Villainy Inc. baby!! Since I was feeling this gas masky villainess, I created a gas mask themed gym shred just for fun! Excited about becoming Dr. Poison and playing with creating a broken mask to disguise her scars. I liked her revamp in Wonder Woman. I’ll likely mashup the versions.

Intellectuals Love Pop Culture

I had a great learning experience at the 2016 Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPACA) Conference thanks to scholarship funds. If I can’t find outside funds to attend this conference again next year, I would gladly pay my own way. I thought ARMA San Diego was the best conference I had been to until SWPACA. I love being around like minded intellectuals. There is really nothing like it. I do want a PhD someday.

I made it a point to keyword search the program (which was close to 150 pages) for the words archive(s), culture, history, and New Mexico. I focused my time at the conference on those sessions for the greater good. I love learning things to benefit both my knowledge and my agency. Everytime I could, I supported New Mexico professors and students by attending their presentations. There was so much great research presented during this conference. I also made a presentation there.

I did attend a small handful of sessions that were chosen because of personal interest. One was a session titled “Myth and Metaphor in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien,” which happened to be delivered by a University of New Mexico (UNM) professor. Another awesome presentation gave an analysis of “Penny Dreadful,” which I love, by a teacher from Texas. That session featured another presentation on the research of a UNM professor and student on violent video games and children. There was one on how Batman’s suit employs STEM!! Then there was one on fetishism and the villainess. You know I went to that one!!

The mission of SWPACA is “to promote an innovative and nontraditional academic movement in Humanities and Social Sciences and to celebrate America’s cultural heritages. To provide an outlet for scholars, writers, and others interested in popular/American culture, to share ideas in a professional atmosphere, and to increase awareness and improve public perceptions of America’s cultural traditions and diverse populations.”

Amazing…

The Rundown

Wow!! You haven’t heard from me since Saturday because I’ve been super busy! I’ve been swamped from: the gym; to the printer; to meetings and a hearing and more meetings to come; to homework and school politics; and the completion of my Killer Frost cosplay.

This busy week is far from over. I still have: two all day meetings; an early morning to work magic, become Killer Frost and turn D into The Scarecrow; and a Friday night dinner party at my house! It never gets easier, but it’s all worth it and rewarding when I can breathe!! So what do I have to report?? Hear is the best news from the last four days.

#1 !!!~
On Sunday, I hit my personal best on the dumbbell bench press with two 50 pounders for 12! That means my 1RM for that movement may be 70z!! I love it!! It’s straight comedy to Google pics of women using dumbbells for this (which is why I choose this pic). They are always like 3 to 5 pound weights. Commmee on! Really?

••NOT CUTE••

#2 !!!~
The Tony Hillerman Writers Conference is next week and I completed the program. I met with the printer yesterday and signed off on the proof. Yeayyyyy!! The final looked awesome and I added great quotes from writers this year! I had some resolution issues with Adobe InDesign, but got it all figured out in perfect time. Phew!

••MY 2015 PROGRAM DESIGN••

#3 !!!~
Tonight I put the final stitches into my blue velvet, Killer Frost dress. This cosplay keeps with the trademark icy theme of this super villainess. I attached icicles to the bottom of the dress. Tonight I stitched in the sparkling tulle and silver snowflake cape. Hopefully I can pull this frozen look off. I’m hoping this cosplay comes together just right early Friday morning.

••A HINT OF KILLER FROST••

P.S.
I was HQ in 2013, though I liked Poison Ivy better in 2014. Interesting that this year in the news, Harley Quinn is the Most Popular Halloween Costume Nationally on Google Search. That’s old news to me. This year be like a sea of Harley Quinns. Like Young Jeezy says in his awesome song Me OK… “Mister if I’m talkin’ you should listen, game is free OK.” Maybe in 2017 everyone will be Killer Frost?

That Frost is Killer

**This would have been an easy costume to make ha? Just a shredded green dress. I think this picture of Killer Frost is awesome and perfect! As the Robert Frost poem goes...
"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great And would suffice."
What does the "world" symbolize?**

For Halloween I *gotta* be oh so cold. I’m feeling rather icy this month. My boots are done, hand painted and furry. My cape is still in the works. It really needs black for the darker vibe suitable for a supervillainess. I’ll be working on the final piece of my cosplay this weekend. The actual suit. All accessories are done. I haven’t seen Killer Frost at any of the ABQ ComicCons. 2016 here comes the chill!

**My boots and my cape that's about 75% done.**

I’m going to be a frosty mix of several versions of this supervillainess. Crystal Frost of the Secret Society of Super Villains, Louise Lincoln of the Suicide Squad and Injustice League and Caitlin Snow of S.T.A.R. Labs. If I could rock a wig, I’d so run with the blown back short hair that I love, but I’m keeping it long and painted up! Hopefully it all comes together well.

The son’s gonna be The Scarecrow (Dr. Jonathan Crane). The doc is a dark, sinister supervillain, also of DC Comics (for those of you who don’t know). I finished the son’s creepy hood too. I love DC and making costumes!!!

Lullaby for Chase and Cady

Love this song by Nickelback set to this fan’s video… I’ll have to ask Craig Johnson why he killed off Chase (?) in season 4 of Longmire when I see him at the Hillerman Writers Conference in November. If you’re a fan of this show, don’t forget to participate in the fan stampede on October 8th for a season 5 (use the hashtags #Longmires5 and #Netflix). 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hint of this Year’s Villainess

Any guesses? I took away the color to make it harder. Here is a hint of the costume I’ll be making to become this year’s villainess. I’ll become her for Halloween at work and also for the 2016 ABQ Comic Con. First to guess correct gets an iced heart!

My Lil Hillerman Interview

————————————–
This interview is from the 2014 conference. It just went up on the Wordharvest channel on YouTube this week, so I wanted to share it. I’m honored to have my interview footage alongside those of several famous and infamous authors. Unfortunately, the sun was in my eyes, so I’m squinting through the whole thing!

Coincidentally, the video footage was edited by a guy from my gym. He recognized me and told my boss he knew me. He knows me from a very different world LoL. He was proly like… “is this the same gal? Hummm?” I never knew he did stuff like this. I guess you never know what iron lovers do on their spare time eh?

I’m looking forward to the 2015 conference. The author of Longmire will be there to talk about the move to NetFlix, which is awesome!!! I loved meeting him even though I don’t love any cowboys. Maybe I’ll ask him if he killed off Chase since I’ve only watched the first episode. I thought it was kinda symbolic in my real world.

A Visit to Lake Travis

Lake Travis in Austin Texas was a straight blast. Once the 2015 NAGARA/CoSA Conference ended, we rented a utility vehicle and a speed boat. It was so fun to spend the last afternoon in Texas swimming and soaking in the sun. We also rented a convertible Mustang and cruised around in that one evening, which was a fun (‘cept Crystal’s hair got tangled LoL). If I had my choice, I’d choose the boat because I once had a convertible! I’ve loved the water since I was a youngster.

An Educational Trippy Trip to the Lone Star State

•••Flight Out•••

Last week I went to a conference in Austin, Texas to make a presentation and accept a leadership award. I learned so much during the course of the week and networked with many people. I visited the beautiful capitol and the Texas State Archives while I was there. 

Austin is an interesting city to say the least, and I can see why they have the saying “keep Austin weird.” After 5 was always a trippy adventure… from the crazy street people, to the bat bridge, to good eats. I didn’t take photos of the weird stuff though!

Amongst a gazillion bars, there was one real gym. It was a Gold’s. I like having a few drinks occasionally, but a gazillion bars is a far cry from my cup of tea! In my off work/downtime, I had the most fun on Lake Travis on my last day there.

•••Amazing Stonework Here•••

•••TX Archives actually had up a NM Archives Poster and a View of the Capitol from my Hotel Room Window•••

•••D Loooooved This Car and Lady Bird Lake•••

•••Me and D on the Bat Bridge on Congress Street and Our Ride in an Electric Car•••

Crime Writing: Here is to a Killer Future

Yeah… I would say crime writing is a viable option for me. I knew that before I worked and attended day one of “Finding Your Inner Sleuth.” It was a great day. I love learning and with every bit of knowledge I get, I feel more and more empowered. I want to be both a physical and intellectual monster! I’ll be Queen of Iron and Ink!!!

All of the presenters did a great job today! I had such a good day. My bosses keep pushing me to write a book, and I’m getting closer to jumping. I love that I have found my place in the world of writers. I fit in there like hand-n-glove. I learned some interesting things from Detective Mark Manary, Christine Barber, Dr. Irene Blea, Laura Sanchez, and Don Bullis.

I’m looking forward to working in Albuquerque again tomorrow! I wanted to share some of the photos from today and a few of the more interesting things I learned. Here is to a killer future of crime writing!!!

Interesting things about Detective Mark Manary:

å He went into homicide work because he is the survivor of an unsolved cold case. In 1989, his father was murdered.

å His career in law enforcement started as a military cop with the Air Force.

√• He went to a Handwriting Analysis School, where he “learned so much about writing and the use of words.” 💜’ed that!!

å He is President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP- Albuquerque Lodge#1).

å He had to read and look at data for six months straight to get up to speed on the West Mesa murder cases.

√• His first step as lead in the 118th West Mesa Murders Task Force was to secure the records room. He allowed only two keys. 💜’ed that!!!

Interesting things about Author Christine Barber:

√• She is an amazingly smart woman, former journalist/editor, and friend who I have known for years. 💜 her!!!

å She took the show hands down today!!!

å Her current research into the West Mesa murders will likely give Detective Mark Manary great tips.

√• She is working with an anthropologist who is using scientific techniques to conduct soil analysis for potential West Mesa murder burial sites. 💜’ed that!!!

√• As part of her research for her new book “Rules of Survival,” she has completely emerged herself into the world of sex workers in Albuquerque.

√• She is now publishing the “Bad Guy List.” It is a freaky scary, but informative printout which highlights Albuquerque’s criminal activity.

√• She knows a lot more than anyone I know about serial killers, sex acts, what they cost, who is involved, and the dark fate of Albuquerque’s sex workers.

√• I met Christine years ago… not as an archivist, but as a writer. I invited her to the archives to conduct research for her book “When the Devil Doesn’t Show.” That book is about David Parker Ray, the “Toy-Box Killer” from Mountainair, New Mexico. He was a suspected serial killer. Though no bodies have ever been found, Ray is said to have murdered at least 60 people between Arizona and New Mexico. Together, Christine and I uncovered possible burial locations on mining property owned by Ray.

Work and Mingle Birthday Bash

Yesterday I worked the kickoff for the Tony Hillerman Literary Landscape Writer’s Series. We had a celebration in honor of the late Tony Hillerman’s 90th birthday. His daughter, Anne Hillerman said a few words and signed her newest book while we were at the Tony Hillerman Library.

•••George and Felicia and then Angela "Spence" Pacheco, Felicia and Ana Pacheco•••

The party was hosted by veteran radio and TV personality, Larry Ahrens. Ahrens is currently a Producer and Creative Director at Studio 34 Broadcast in Albuquerque. There were about 75 people there to listen and mingle. It was a really good turnout and the flowers growing at the library were beautiful.

I’ve been working with George for years. He and I can sell some books! We make a good team. Ana Pacheco is also a blast to work with. She is a writer and editor with a great personality. This time she brought along her sister who is the First Judicial District Attorney here in Santa Fe. I liked her! Angela “Spence” Pacheco and I really hit it off. I had never met her and she is super nice.

It was awesome visiting with Judith Van Gieson for a long while. My mom introduced me to Van Gieson’s work so many years ago because she had heard her books were about an archivist. The Claire Reynier series contains some of my favorite historical fiction books. Claire Reynier is indeed a fictional archivist and rare book buyer with the Center for Southwest Research (UNM) in Van Gieson’s books.

Cheers to a very successful event. I can’t wait to work a few of the others in this writer’s series. There will be a two day crime writing workshop in Albuquerque with Dr. Irene Blea at the end of June. Her newest book is about the West Mesa murders. Dr. Blea is a very accomplished woman. I’m excited to work that workshop!

•••Anne Hillerman speaks, a musician, and veteran radio and TV personality, Larry Ahrens•••

Harley Quinn: 5150 @ the 2015 ABQ ComicCon

2015 ABQ ComicCon

•Daryn and Isaiah•

•Daryn and Isaiah•

•Me (Harley Quinn) and Mini Me (Verne Troyer) and Sergeant Slaughter•

•Brian P~~ My *fav* artist complimented me on my Harley Quinn cosplay. He said "you look great!" I told him I was thinking of being Lady Death next year! 💀💜•

•Ize got his shield autographed by one of the first artists who inked Captain America! Also loved, loved, loved these paintings of Subzero and Scorpion!!•

•Artwork that I 💜ed!!•

•Awesome!! Freddy K Grover from Nightmare on Sesame Street!! Hahaaa!!•