About Me

Greetings and salutations. My name is Noemí, and I have a passion for the darker elements of humanity. Since my childhood, I've always had a fondness for mystery and suspense. When it came to book reports and silent sustained reading assignments during primary school, I always chose mystery books. As I matured, so did my choice in reading material. I started reading detective fiction. In college, reading assignments focused more on Gothic Fiction. At that time, detective novels didn't have a place in the lectern, but I always managed to read detective and crime novels for pleasure.

As for visual arts, my dad largely influenced my taste in classic films. We always sat together watching old films from the 1940s and 50s. It was during that time when film noir had its golden age, and it dominated the classic film programming. My mother was (and is) a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan, and naturally I became interested in his films and television series. In addition to the plots, I've always admired the wardrobe and set direction. The style was very classy for both sexes, yet there was still a subtle sexiness and allure. Naturally, I would focus most of my interests in vintage apparel and antique furnishings. Today I have amassed a large collection which I showcase on my other blog: Musings of a Painted Lady

When I decided to pursue my PhD in literature, I thought about which angle to take. Do I pursue the practical or the passion? Well, my master's degree is already in the practical, so lets make my highest degree in my passion: Detective Fiction, Crime Novels, Film Noir and The Wrong Man element. Okay, so it's not exactly a great dissertation title, but this is my start. I'm really excited about laying the foundation. I'm planning to pursue my studies at UC Santa Cruz.

And that brings us to my background. I hail from the San Francisco Bay Area in the city of Burlingame (where Sam Spade rushes to rescue Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon). I am a college instructor in American Literature and Expository Writing down in Silicon Valley. Outside the classroom I am an avid swing dancer, vintage/antique collector, and an occasional model. I spend my free time attending various classic film festivals, vintage fashion shows, hiking, surfing and getting tattooed. That is me in a nutshell.

Ciao!