Category: Outlander Events

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2019 SDCC Interview with Cryptozoic’s Justin Porras

Greetings Outlander fans. Day three at 2019 SDCC. Wonderful things are happening!

Although Outlander is not here in force this year, its presence is still felt. One presence important to many in the Outlander community is for fans who buy, sell or trade Outlander Cryptozoic cards or those who May wish to start this rewarding activity.

Cryptozoic, SDCC booth #115, has beautiful, original Outlander cards created especially for fans. I visited with Dustin Porras yesterday to learn about this year’s cards. Dustin is now the creative energy behind the Outlander cards continuing the legacy started by the late George Nadeau.

Dustin proved to be a delightful interviewee, easy to Interview, a fountain for info and exuding gobs of enthusiasm  and energy.

I hope you will take time to watch our interview, learn about the type of Outlander cards available and where and how to find them.

Please enjoy my interview with Dustin!

 

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Acknowledgements:

Cryptozoic; Jody Chang, Videographer

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2019 An Evening With Diana and Arizona!

The title of this post is a bit misleading as my 3 1/2 day trip was too brief to see much of Arizona, but the part about an evening with Diana Gabaldon is true enough.

I was invited to this private event, benefitting Diana’s favorite charity, which was organized by this tireless, fearless and faithful fan, Dorianne Panich, and her crew. Psst….she is also very nice!

Photo courtesy of Dorianne Panich

Arrived Friday (March 22) evening to meet  two lovely roomies, Auntie Toni and her niece, Laura. We bonded instantly, sharing wonderful experiences, stories, wisdom, and interests.  Couldn’t have asked for more splendid roommates. Outlander creates community!

Photo by Laura Acuto

Toni greeted and gifted me with a wonderful T from one of her three Outlander groups, Sisters of the Blades, and a beautiful hand-made pocket book with key fob! Check out its lovely Outlander fabric festooned with for-get-me-nots, Scottish thistles, and Stuart roses.  

Saturday found us at The Poisoned Pen, a local bookstore specializing in Diana’s tomes.

Surprise! Many of those attending the main event were also browsing this fabulous Scottsdale bookstore;  small, but packed with a terrific selection of books and assorted paraphernalia conducive to curling up with the written word. 

Photo courtesy of Dorianne Panich

Not far away was Hole in the Rock, an attraction just outside Scottsdale – not to be confused with Hole in the Rock  at Lake Powell.  Lots of folks enjoying this stunning sandstone rock. 

Excited to join the crowd, I scampered up the rock and gasped at the wonderful view. Easy to see what so many were eager to see!

Turns out there are two “holes in this rock!” Looking up, a second one pierces the ceiling!

Then, we went next door to the splendid Scottsdale Botanical Gardens!  Some cacti were in bloom!

Some were not. But, a wonderful, well-designed desert garden. Plants are thriving!

Then back home to change for the big night: “An Evening With Diana Gabaldon!”  A local restaurant hosted our group with festive tables, good food and an assortment of refreshing libations.

Photo courtesy of Dorianne Panich

The organizing committee offered thoughtful swag including honey, a photo of Diana from Outlander episode 104, The Gathering, and a beautiful teal scarf printed with lines from Love Songs by Catullus. 

Diana soon arrived, wrapped in a splendid shawl of brilliant red – perfect color for her! We enjoyed a four course meal, followed by short chats, autographs and gift-giving. 

 

Photo by Lori Sterns

My gift to Herself was a beaded necklace created with Peyote and Ndebele stitches.  The piece was made to honor the presence of Native Americans in Drums of Autumn. Clearly, I was inspired by Native American beadwork, but, the design is my own. 

Needless to say, I was delighted when she opened the box and put it on. I had no idea the necklace colors would complimented her beautifully embroidered top!

Our evening then came to a closed. A splendid time was had by all.

Next day, we headed north to Sedona with a stop at Montezuma’s Castle, a 20-room cliff dwelling build some 800 years ago by the Sinagua people. I wonder: will our homes still be standing after eight centuries?

Dedicated as a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt, the site is beautiful, serene and inspiring. 

Then, on to Sedona where we stood on a magnetic mesa outside town. Purported to be a vortex because iron deposits in the ground form a giant magnet, I pondered Ley Lines and I tried my luck at “finding Jamie!”

It worked!

Well, sort of. I hastened back to the mesa because Angus was waiting on the other side! 

A very competent driver, Laura was our patient and lovely chauffeur for all these expeditions.

That evening I dined with Kirsten Carpenter Norling, who lives in Phoenix. Kirsten is an administrator for the Outlander Online FaceBook group.  Again, I had never met her, but we bonded like old friends. 

Kirsten became the second admin of this group because its originator is Australian and needed someone in another time zone to help. A few hundred friends at that time, Outlander Online now boasts six admins and 15,000 followers!

Like many of us, Kirsten was a late comer to Outlander books and didn’t begin reading them until 2016. She read Outlander in four days. Then, over the next two months, she binged seasons one and two and read ALL big books, novellas and LJG series!  Today, her favorite method of “reading” is listening to the divine voice of Davina Porter on audio books.  

Her favorite book is Written in My Own Heart’s Blood; fav character is Jamie (naturally), and fav Outlander season is the first!  Her favorite episode is Castle Leoch with The Reckoning and The Gathering close seconds!

Kirsten is a supportive and positive fan of both book and TV Outlander. Her group also maintains a thoughtful, civil and kind fan group, without sacrificing interesting and thought-provoking discussions and fun posts. If you are looking for an inclusive FB group to join, you might try this one. 

Thank you, Kirsten, for letting me pick your “outfander” brain! 

Next day was time to return to the Pacific Northwest. Farewell to a beautiful state, lovely friends, old and new, and our fav author! 

A deeply grateful, 

Outlander Anatomist

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OV 2018: John, Lauren, Cesar and Steven!

Greetings Outlander Fans! Many of you saw my conversation with Diana as we attended Surrey International Writer’s Conference (SiWC). For those who did not, you can see my post here: Diana Shares at 2018 SiWC.

Concomitant with this august meeting, Pacific Northwest Sassenachs (PNS) sponsored the 2018 Outlandish Vancouver (OV) fan event.

I managed to attend both and they were wonderful! The OV event allowed attendees the opportunity to interact with four cast members, the organizers, and like-minded fans and I had the privilege of meeting many new fans, most from the Pacific Northwest.

Who should be present at the Outlandish Vancouver 2018 event? PNS admins wrangled John Bell, Lauren Lyle, Cesar Domboy and Steven Cree to attend, hence, the title of this post. <g>

The first PNS event was a Party at the Suites on Saturday night.  Shortly after 8:00 pm, all four stars swept into the room in roaring high spirits. They were greeted with cheers largely because it was John’s 21st birthday (also Claire’s). He was greeted by with happy birthday wishes which he received with style and joy.  He rushed around the room giving hugs and promptly forgot who he had embraced – as I enjoyed three of them over the course of under three minutes!

For the next hour, we drifted between the cast members enjoying conversation and sharing. John, gushed about a trip to Gucci’s! His lovely mum bought him a splendid gift which he was wearing, but swore us to secrecy, not to be revealed until the Outlander premier in Savanah, GA.

No photographs or videos were allowed, but as we left, each of us got a photo with the cast on our own cell phone. Here, I am holding my Outlander Anatomy tag, designed by Jody Change of the FB group, Aloha Outlanders!

The next morning began with a series of panels involving the cast. Photos but no videos were allowed.

First up was Steven who shared with us The Little Princess, an 8 minute film he has written and produced with Jason Maza. This short film is deeply moving and features an riveting premise which is powerfully executed.  You can catch a glimpse of it on IMDB.

The film was followed by Q&A session.  I asked if he had submitted the film to the various award groups for consideration because it is that good! Aye, he answered, he has done that.  I hope you get to see it soon!

Ian the elder was then joined by Ian the younger for more Q & A. John is amazingly poised and interactive for one so young! To me he looks more youthful than 21!

A 15′ break and then the entire cast entered the theater dressed in Hallowe’en gear!  Steven led the troop wearing a toothy monster mask, Cesar sported a ghoulish ghost mask, Lauren donned a dragon hat and John………  😂

Well, John appeared with a bone through his head and Rollo between his legs! <G>

Here he is with stuffed Rollo tucked under his arm for moral support –  a service pup, for sure!

Another very fun Q&A ensued. I asked John if he was as terrified during the filming of ep 312, The Bakra, as he appeared on screen?

Paraphrasing his response John explained that the bed-sitting bit was filmed entirely without Lotte even being present. He was acting to thin air and not to a bloody Mrs. Abernathy!

He further stated that they were laughing and giggling through the parts they did film together such as the witch running her little piggies across his wee cheek!

Then, he delighted us all by stating that besides, Lotte has the “peachy-est bum he has ever seen!” This unexpected response really brought the house down!

The cast was asked when they first decided to become actors. For Steven, it after seeing Jesus Christ Superstar!

For John, it was after acting in A Shine of Rainbows. Here is the trailer.

Cesar started in music and by happenstance, tried out for an acting part. It turned out to be a good fit!

Lauren has been acting for quite a long time in a number of different films. She is the only one in her family to pursue acting, but her parents supported her passion, especially after she earned her first paycheck!

In the afternoon, we headed for guess where? Why, the Fraser River, for a paddlewheel adventure.

We were joined by the cast and the organizers. Everyone mingled together, noshed on hors de’ oeuvres, sipped cocktails, talked Outlander and anything else we could think of.

This is the view from the stern of the boat.  The day was splendid, clear and warm.

A view of the river bank – facing south toward Surrey, B.C. Fall colors were on full display. The cruise lasted a little over an hour and then back to the dock.

Hopped into my trusty Subaru at 5:22 pm and pointed her nose south towards home. Sophea (my car) knew her way and 5.5 hrs later, I pulled into my driveway, entirely satiated and satisfied with my delightful SiWC and OV adventures!

Farewell, beautiful Surrey, until next time!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo credits: OA, Sony/Starz