Literature – Page 4 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Serial Killers, Friday the 13th, and Jana Monroe- Murder By The Book

By Cinthia Villarreal

Friday the 13^th is known for being an unlucky day; however, LEAP students felt the exact opposite when they had the opportunity to meet the former FBI agent Jana Monroe! Jessica Cuevas, Olivia Discon, and I went to my newfound favorite bookstore, Murder by the Book, to listen to the one-of-a-kind author talk about her new memoir Hearts of Darkness where she talks about her journey through the FBI as one of the first analysts in the FBI Behavioral Science Unit, where she oversaw over 850 homicide cases.

In order to approach the book mindfully and explore Jana Monroe’s background and inspirations, former FBI agent John Iannarelli flew from Arizona to converse with Monroe about her life experiences before and throughout her influential career. Iannarelli read from the foreword, written by Joe Navarro, describing Monroe as “the single most influential woman to ever serve in the FBI.” Iannarelli did a great job asking the questions we all wanted the answers to.

Monroe spoke about an instance in which she attended a job fair in high school, where she inquired with a recruiter about a future career with the FBI. She asked about the coursework recommended to prepare herself for the academy and after a back and forth discussion, the agent told Monroe she would never have the necessary criteria to be an agent, since women were only employed at the FBI as secretaries or file clerks.

As the years passed and minds opened, Monroe served as a special agent and became the first assistant director of the FBI Cyber Division. Monroe is passionate about women staying true to themselves no matter their line of work. In fact, she mentions how she got in trouble with her supervisor once because of the polka dot heels she would wear to work. “There was no language that says that I cannot wear high heels because you have never had a woman agent before”, she countered.

During the Q&A space, Olivia asked Monroe about the impact her career as an agent and analyst had on her writing.

A question from the audience prompted Monroe to choose her favorite serial killer, and without a second thought, she chose Edmund Kemper. She described Kemper as a “true sociopath” who would copy people’s emotions and expressions. He killed his parents when he was 15 years old “to know what it would feel like”. The six foot nine inches serial killer killed seven people, and once walked around downtown with the head of one of his victims inside a clear plastic bag. He anticipated someone would call the police and have him arrested, but no one did. According to Monroe, he knew he was not going to stop killing people, so he turned himself in, not before calling the police inept.

Students had the opportunity to get their books signed by Monroe, and through small talk, Monroe spoke about her current and future projects, including two TV shows.

The LEAP Ambassadors and I thank Jana Monroe for her enthusiastic talk. She has truly carved the path for young women like ourselves. I was able to chat with Monroe and describe what an inspiration she is for us, she might not have had a role model, but she definitely is ours!

After the formal event, we headed to Taste of Mulan for some delicious Chinese cuisine. We were all impressed by the variety of the menu which included meats like chicken, beef, shrimp and even duck. Olivia got the General Tsao’s Chicken and a side of egg fried rice while Jessica and I went with basil fried rice with chicken. The night luckily ended without any trickery, making this meal was an excellent close to our night in Houston!

Jeff Guinn Discusses Waco and Tragedy at SHSU

After a full day of events, the ever-generous Jeff Guinn was up for a another full day of events–this time, with larger crowds. Bringing together Public Health, Criminal Justice, and Political Science students, the LEAP Ambassadors were also ready (or mostly ready) for a busy day.

Yvette Mendoza led with the introductions, performing well in front of a crowd of more than 100 of her peers.

This session covered the Waco tragedy, of course, but with a bit more focus on the sexual offenses that occurred at the Mt. Carmel compound. In the audience were Dr. Holly Miller and students in her Understanding Sexual Offending class, alongside Dr. Tamara Waggener’s “Texas Government” class and other interested audience members.

In all, when counting radio, podcasts, book signings, and television appearances, Guinn made more than 200 appearances discussing his Waco book. It was perhaps no surprise then, that, Guinn was his usual entertaining self, and his experiences and observations went over well among the audience. Indeed, there were more than 25 questions from the engaged audience, many of which showed insight, and understanding of the subject matter, and genuine curiosity.

Following a quick transition and discussion of what tweaks could be made for the second session, the LEAP Ambassadors were at it again. Yvette again did the introduction, this time in front of more than 300 people.

The audience also included Dr. Ivys Fernandez Pastrana and Dr. Christine Cardinal from Public Health; Dr. Jason Enia, Chair of Political Science; Jennifer Alexander, Tabitha Shanley, and Kaley Hunter, from the Office of the President. Dr. Gene Roberts, Director of the Student Legal and Mediation Services, was also there. Indeed, his office helped sponsor the event!

This session was even more engaging than the previous sessions. In addition to discussing the Waco tragedy, the author also discussed his work on Jim Jones, Bonnie and Clyde, Santa Claus, and Charles Manson. In fact, he recruited an audience member–ironically named Charles–to demonstrate the techniques of stabbing that Manson’s family used in the execution of crimes. Charles (the student) was a good sport, and he was rewarded with a book.

Guinn discussed the larger implications of his subjects and the aftermath of the tragedies associated with them. Subjects such as Jim Jones and David Koresh, whatever their original motivations, became enamored of power and control, which often manifested itself in sexual control over the female subjects. And, in the case of Waco, tragedy also resulted from blinders on the part of law enforcement officials. There was no conspiracy or ill will; the ATF and FBI simply didn’t stop to consider the perspective of religious zealots and how their perspective might prompt them to reach to encroachment.

Guinn took pains to point out that no such outcome has occurred in the last 30 years, suggesting that lessons have been learned on the part of law enforcement. Other legacies, however, such as increasing ideological polarization in the American public are less promising.

Following the event, Guinn gamely endured another hour or so of signings.

….before saying goodbye to the LEAP Ambassadors…

…and heading back to Fort Worth, where he had research to do for an upcoming HBO special.

The LEAP Ambassadors would like to thank Tabitha Shanley for her tips on event planning and Student Legal and Mediation Services for co-sponsoring the event.

A Day in the Community with Jeff Guinn

An Educational Lunch at Rotary

The LEAP Center specializes in unique learning opportunities, and it’s pretty special to spend a day with a New York Times Bestselling author. And it’s particularly special when that author is Jeff Guinn, one of the genuinely nice guys in the book world.

Our day, of course, began at school, with a morning full of classes. For lunch, however, we to the Walker Education Center, where we had the opportunity to bring Guinn to speak to the Huntsville Rotary Club. Our visits to Rotary have always been friendly, and it was good to see friendly faces such as Derrick Birdsall, Mac and Leanne Woodward, Dr. Darren Williams, Rob Hipp, Ray Hernandez, Ken Holland, and others.

With Michelle Lyons as President taking care of business efficiently…

and Professor Yawn quickly introducing the author…

…it allowed Guinn maximum time to speak to the group. He mixed humor, tragedy, drama, and history, while discussing his work on Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage.

Worth noting, Guinn closed by praising Rotary and similar groups, which help foster trust in the community, preventing the type of discord that is now so prevalent in the years since the Waco standoff.

The audience was also lively, asking questions, offering comments, and giving Guinn a standing ovation at the end, ending with time for much interaction, catching up, and photographs.

On Campus with Jeff Guinn

SHSU is, of course, part of the community, and so it was to the campus we headed for the second event of the day with Jeff Guinn (he was a great trooper). Although we did not heavily market this afternoon event, we had 65 students (and Gene Roberts, whose Student Legal and Mediation Services was a co-sponsor of the event) attend, eager to hear about Guinn’s research and writing.

It was a run-through of sorts, with us getting the hang of event planning, public speaking, and using other division’s technology (not all laptops or projectors are the same!) Yvette Mendoza, a fourth-year LEAP Ambassador, did the introductions, and then Professor Yawn and Mr. Guinn took the “stage.”

What followed was more than an hour of interesting discussions, some great questions from the audience, and a lot of knowledge about cults, power, and tragedy.

Capping a Busy Day at 1836

While it was a busy day for us, it was a busier day for Guinn, who had driven in from Fort Worth early this morning. Nonetheless, he agreed to a dinner at 1836, where we joined Drs. Amy and Tim Salazar, Dr. Gene Roberts, and Professor Yawn and Ms. Stephanie.

It was two hours of fascinating discussions. Guinn shared stories of his subjects (Charles Manson, Santa Claus, Bonnie and Clyde, Jim Jones, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford), his research process, and the business of publishing. He also asked questions about LEAP, and he offered some nice words to us, comparing our program to programs on other campuses he visits. It was a nice to hear such nice things from an author of the stature of Guinn.

We also had the opportunity to visit with the Salazars, who moved to Texas less than a year ago. It was great to learn more about them, hear their ideas about education, and help us to think about careers and community in a new way. Moreover, Dr. Roberts and the Salazars found some things in common, particularly their interest in innovative ways to approach conflict resolution.

It was a productive and enjoyable evening, one that was a fitting cap for a productive and enjoyable day.

Sleuthing from the Cheap Seats: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

It was a sunny and bright day, but murder was in the air. We were at the Alley Theatre, and its cast was performing Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”

It was a nice mix of people, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP alumni, and “friends of LEAP” together for an enjoyable afternoon. With lunch at Post Houston, a new favorite recommended by LEAP alum Will Phillips, we caught up, talked about classes, and explored food from multiple continents.

But we had come to Houston for the play, and it was something of a process to actually see the play. Many of us had read the book, with at least half of us stopping before the end so as to not spoil the “whodunit” aspect of the performance. In July, we attended a Murder by the Book presentation by Mark Shanahan, the play’s director, a presentation that left us even more excited.

Unfortunately, when we drove to our scheduled performance, the Alley had to cancel the showing because a cast member wasn’t available!

So, with more than a month of anticipation and at least one false start, we were more than usually ready for the play to begin.

And it did not disappoint. It was expertly adapted to the stage by Shanahan, with clever techniques of compressing time and space.

It was humorous, with a wonderful cast that included two SHSU alums (Dylan Godwin and Melissa Pritchett)!

During intermission, we speculated as to who the culprit might be. Victoria couldn’t identify a key suspect; Nick, with all the creativity he could muster, thought “the butler did it;” and Katherine thought that the house staff conspired together to kill their employer, Roger Ackroyd. (If I were Katherine’s employer, I’d lock the doors at night.) Morgan, whose literary tastes lean toward bodice-ripping romance, had trouble keeping up with the characters and the narrative. She nodded a lot as we discussed things.

The second act was delightful, with more humor and variation in pacing. The plot, as they say, thickened, ending with all the cast gathered together to identify the murderer. We will, of course, stop there, and engage in no spoilers. But it surprised all of us–with the exception of Olivia, who, when it was over said, “I knew it all along” to an incredulous group and an ever-nodding Morgan.

Kudos to the cast of the Alley, the timeless appeal of Hercule Poirot, and the camaraderie of LEAP students, present and past.

Engaging with Theater–at Murder by the Book

The LEAP Center is known for its emphasis on civic and community engagement, and for good reason. But LEAP students also value a well-rounded education, and that involves the performing arts. So, in a month in which Ambassadors have seen the play “Wicked” and “Pirates of Penzance,” Ambassadors also decided to attend a book discussion of Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”

What does this novel have to do with the performing arts? The Alley Theatre is currently performing this play, and we will be attending it on August 13. In advance of that performance, however, we visited Murder by the Book, where the book store hosted Mark Shanahan, the Director of Ackroyd and, as it turns out, a wonderful storyteller!

Shanahan discussed his career on the stage, both as a director and as an actor, and he also shared with us the fact that his sister (Christin Brecher) is a crime novelist, and she had a couple of books in the store!

Shanahan also explored the challenges and intrigues of presenting an Agatha Christie play. While Christie was a playwright of note, but The Murder of Roger Ackroyd hasn’t been adapted to the stage. It’s always challenging to adapt a beloved book, especially a whodunit that has been around for almost 100 years–because people already know whodunit!

But Shanahan obviously relishes the challenge, and many in the audience had seen some of the preview performances, and they had good things to say. With that encouragement, we sought out Shanahan for some photos, and we were fortunate to be joined by a couple members of the Ackroyd crew.

Although these preliminary reviews were very positive, we will return with the definitive review following our visit to the Alley on August 13!

Traversing the Low Country: Savannah to Charleston

With today being the opening of the 2023 Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, SC, we (sadly) were forced to depart from the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. Before we left, however, there were a few spots we wanted to explore.

Bonaventure Cemetery

By Olivia Discon

We wanted to see Bonaventure Cemetery for a couple of reasons: (1) it was featured prominently in the book (and movie) of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil…

…and (2) the great singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer is buried there.

Mercer was a prominent singer-songwriter from the 20th century, writing more than 1,500 songs in his lifetime. Some of his most notable songs include Moon River, Somethings Gotta Give, Too Marvelous for Words, and Come Rain or Come Shine. Mercer’s talent for crafting clever and evocative lyrics, combined with his smooth vocal style, made him a beloved figure in the music industry. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including four Academy Awards for the Best Original Song. Johnny Mercer’s contributions to American music continue to resonate today, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated lyricists of all time.

And Savannah, Georgia is both the birthplace and resting place of Johnny Mercer, who lies alongside his family in the same cemetery section.

Many headstones were engraved with some of Mercer’s lyrics. For instance, inscribed on his mother’s grave is the line “My mama done tol’ me” from Blues in the Night.

Though this visit was certainly somber, the morning sun cast across the greenery and marble tombstones was a lovely way to start our day and commemorate our time spent in Savannah.

Tybee Island

Morgan Robertson

Continuing on our morning adventure, we went on to visit the beautiful barrier island: Tybee. The island proved both fun and educational, a great way to energize us despite an early start.

The Tybee Island Lighthouse has existed since 1733, albeit in different iterations. The first structure was 90 feet tall, but it succumbed to its proximity to the beach. Unfortunately, the lighthouse builders didn’t learn from this fate, and they again built too close to water that often encroaches upon hitherto dry land. The third structure was more fortunate, in that no acts of God befell it; but it did suffer from the onslaught of the Civil War and the destruction it brought.

Fortunately, the base of the lighthouse was salvageable and a fourth structure was built upon the base of the third. At 154 feet, this structure narrowly misses being one of the ten tallest lighthouses in the United States.

This being our first visit to a lighthouse, it shone light on the advance of technology. In 1791, for example, 15 lanterns were used to signal ships. Between the 1930s-1960s, 1,000-watt incandescent bulbs were standard practice. One-thousand-watt quartz bulbs were used until 2010, which were followed by the use of the 1,000-watt quartz-halogen bulb.

Lighthouse wasn’t an easy job and, in fact, a lighthouse might have up to three keepers, plus support staff. We were able to tour the houses for these staff, and, as part of the much-maligned “Gen-Z,” we saw many unfamiliar objects!

Despite the nice accommodations, comfortable amenities, and short commute, lighthouse-keepers definitely had a long climb to work. In the case of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, the climb consisted of 178 steps.

On the other hand, the occupation offers some beautiful views!

It was a great start to the day, bringing the past to life, offering great views, and getting our blood pumping.

The Tybee Island Lighthouse is 30.29 times taller than Jessica Cuevas–and, despite being obsolete, is also twice as technologically advanced as Ms. Cuevas, who single-handledly destroys group communications by using Android.

Zunzi’s

Michelle Cardenas

After a beautiful morning of exploring Tybee Island we headed to Zunzi’s, one of Georgia’s most famous restaurants. Their menu included a variety of platters, salads, and sandwiches that did not disappoint. Our entrees included the Oliver’s Lunch Bowl, the Johnny Roll, and The Conquistador.

The Conquistador placed Zunzi’s on the map when it was named one of the best chicken sandwiches in America by the Travel Channel. I decided to put this to the test and indulge in one, and I must say it had very distinct flavors that made it overall delectable. This was the best way to say goodbye to Savannah and begin our South Carolina oddyssey.

Southern Legislative Conference

Ingrid Cuero and Michelle Cardenas

Fittingly, the first event of the Southern Legislative Conference was the “welcome evening.” And what a welcome! What an evening!

The event was held upon the deck of an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown.

We soon enjoyed southern hospitality, from the greetings of the staff to the conversation with other guests.

Arkansas Senator Clint Penzo, and his wife, Allison, generously shared time and dinner with us. Senator Penzo discussed his varied career path into politics, and how each of his careers has helped him in the political world.

Our education, however, wasn’t only vicarious. We also learned about the art and science of flying when we boarded a flight simulator.

Mimicking the experience of a pilot flying a military aircraft (or a passenger in a vehicle driven by our advisor, Professor Yawn)…

…the simulation included radio conversations, target strikes, and even an air stop for refueling.

It was a rather unique experience that we were not fully prepared for–clenching on to our seats and trying not to fall. Beyond the intensity of the simulator, it was a rather gratifying and educational experience

We proceeded to make our way through the aircraft carrier stopping by a couple landings to take pictures of the gorgeous view. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge paired up perfectly with the multi-colored sky allowing us to take some spectacular photos!

Our last stop on the Aircraft carrier was the flight deck, but just getting to the deck was an experience. We saw long corridors, war rooms, elaborate equipment, and steep stairs.

Morgan and Jessica Contemplating Waging War (on each other)

The deck featured stunning lights, military aircrafts, and a band.

Jazz bands filled the air as the sun set, and then the sounds of fireworks were accompanied by strings of colors decorating the Charleston skyline.

The band began playing patriotic songs, and as we looked over the harbor, which was harbor surrounded by forts (Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson), we had a small sense of what Francis Scott Key might have felt when writing “the bombs bursting in air.”

For us, it was a day of new experiences, of looking back and forward, capped with a truly welcoming reception.

The charm and southern hospitality of South Carolina were made very evident as we ended our magical evening.

“What Remains” with Wendy Walker

June 13, 2023

Yvette Mendoza

One of the LEAP Ambassadors’ beloved bookstores for murder mystery enthusiasts is Murder by the Book, where we had the opportunity to meet the wonderful author Wendy Walker at her book signing. Known for her psychological thriller novels, she is currently on a book tour for her latest release, “What Remains.”

To dive deeper into the book and explore Wendy Walker’s background and writing techniques, Dr. Ashley Winstead, also an author, was on hand to moderate a discussion. Dr. Winstead, as it turns out, was an excellent interviewer.

The inspiration behind Walker’s book was a tragic shooting at King Soopers in Colorado in 2021. This event sparked ideas for the plot, which the author was able to expand and feature a female detective faced with the difficult decision of saving one life at the cost of taking another.

Although the book has intense moments, the structure alternates intensity with more contemplative and investigative elements. According to Walker, this technique was employed to add depth to the narrative, give readers a break from the intensity, and to explore deeper themes.

Walker also drew on her background in family law, which gave her insight into trauma, human nature, and family dynamics. These themes are prevalent throughout the novel, and Walker added additional layers of psychological drama, which, in her words, she “geeks out” over.

During the Q&A period, LEAP Ambassador Olivia Discon asked whether it was surreal to hear your characters’ voices portrayed by actors on audiobook after months of imagining what the characters’ voices, inflections, and verbal mannerisms.

Following the formal event, we had a chance to chat with Ms. Walker and Dr. Winstead. We reminded Ms. Walker that LEAP students had attended one of her book talks in 2017!

So, we enjoyed another photo with Ms. Walker–and, this time, with Dr. Winstead as well. Perhaps we’ll do the same at her next release!

Merus Grill

Michelle Cardenas

After getting our books signed and taking selfies with author Wendy Walker, we headed to Merus Grill in Uptown Houston for dinner. For starters, we indulged in perfectly fire-grilled artichokes and a delicious Avocado Bomb. We were all very big fans of the flavor combinations, and we were eager to dig into our main entrees.

Yvette had the Southern Salad, and Professor Yawn and Stephanie split the Grilled Trout meanwhile Ingrid, Oliva, and I ordered the Old Fashioned Cheeseburger.

Following our main entrees we decided to partake in a sweet treat by ordering the Carrot Cake and “The Very Best Chocolate Cake” served with vanilla ice cream. The dishes and dessert were all very delicious and satisfied all of our expectations.

After sharing a couple stories and conversing at the dinner table we parted ways and concluded yet another successful LEAP event.

Book Talk with Megan Abbott: “Beware the Woman”

Morgan Robertson

Just 36 hours before our summer retreat, Michelle Cardenas, Olivia Discon, Ingrid Cuero, and I made our way to Houston to see award-winning author, Megan Abbott, discuss her new book: Beware the Woman. Abbott’s seventh stop on her book tour was hosted at one of our favorite local bookstores, Murder By The Book. Like its name suggests, Murder By The Book is certainly a place for true crime enthusiasts, mystery fanatics, and of course avid readers!

In most crime novels, and in real cases, the perpetrator is often male. However, Abbott flips the narrative in her works by diving into the motives and emotions that drive women to act in malicious ways. Beware the Woman follows a newlywed and expecting couple Jacy and Jed, as they venture to Jed’s fathers’ cabin in the woods. Without giving too much away, Abbott managed to offer some teasers about the book, while also answering questions from the audience and successfully hooked us on reading the book!

Abbott chose to spend her time answering questions from the audience. In past interviews and articles, Abbott indicated that she has been heavily influenced by film noir. Professor Yawn asked Abbott if she pictures certain actors from film noir as her characters while she writes. Abbott answered of course and listed some of her childhood favorites including Robert Mitchum, Humphrey Bogard, and Gloria Grahame! However, she also mentioned how she tries to leave enough ambiguity so that readers may fill in the blanks and invasion their own protagonist or villain.

Another question from the audience, prompted Abbott to choose her favorite of her works. After pondering on her answer

Abbott chose Dare Me (2012) which details the true nature of a high school cheer squad with a dark twist. This question led Abbott to describe part of her researching process. In her example, Abbott chose The Turnout (2021) and explained that YouTube and message boards were a few of her greatest tools to uncover what the world of competitive ballet looks like. Although she interviewed countless ballet dancers and instructors, online sources also provided details needed for her thriller. Abbott noted how in preparation for a book, she will do extensive research at the beginning so that she doesn’t have to fact check every small detail as she begins to write.

Olivia most enjoyed how Abbott contemplated each question and gave genuine answers about her process and her own opinions on her work. Olivia purchased The Song is You (2007) after talking with Stephanie who enjoyed the book for its noir themes and “female fatale” character.

Abbott was kind enough to pose for a picture with our group and chat with us for a few minutes!

The LEAP Ambassadors would like to thank Megan Abbott for her lively and engaging book talk, as well as Murder By The Book for hosting such a great event!

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