Meet DJ Hill | Author, Artist, Poet, Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with DJ Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DJ, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking is where it’s at! In my younger years, playing it safe was my mantra. Yes, I learned to play piano, figure skate, write, sing, create, but never challenged myself to see what would happen if I went ‘all in.’ 

As I’ve grown older, I’ve become much more influenced by my peers, including artists and writers who’ve come before me and pushed the boundaries of both their gender and work. Workshop leaders, professors, mentors, my partner, friends, and fellow creatives saw something in my capabilities that might be worth pursuing and challenged me to explore those capabilities. 

I still struggle with perfection and being driven by outcome vs. process. The risk of experimentation, play, and ‘putting it out there’ has proved enormously beneficial in my creative and personal life and often provided the most unexpected and delightful of outcomes. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This may sound trite, but I’ve spent a lifetime on a journey back to my essential self. Yes, I had written poetry since age twelve and puttered with art projects when I was young but earning a BFA in Creative Writing at 57 made me realize I might be capable of anything! And the opportunity to work with extraordinary creatives fearlessly pursuing their passion was all the permission I needed to find my own niche in the artistic world. 

Having yet to settle into a specific medium is one reason my work is unique. Not ‘just’ a painter, pianist, or poet, but being an amalgam of all three comes with great freedom. I can explore the unlimited potential of an idea. Whether doing mixed media, collage, or found art, or marrying poetry with images, the possibilities are endless.  

I’m working on cover art for short stories written around guns and gun violence. I never realized how little I knew about the sport of paintball and how eerily real it feels to hold a paintball gun, but here I am visiting gun ranges, gun stores, and learning more than I ever wanted to know about weapons of all kinds. I have no idea if this concept—which came in a dream—will pan out, but how exhilarating! If it does, brava. If not, another idea might be even better. 

I’ve published two award-winning books, and a third collection, Of Ash & Fire, is now available from Finishing Line Press-  

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/of-ash-fire-by-dj-hill/ 

My latest project is a collaboration with Film Nest Productions (here in Santa Fe) to produce a children’s program, Owlets & Co. (reminiscent of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood), and I was recently cast in the role of Bernadette for the movie, My Seven Grandmas, filming in my home state of Minnesota in September.  

The process of creating is daunting at times. But since making a commitment to ‘go for it,’ to step out of the shadow of imposter and into the light of my own artistic possibilities, risk has become its own reward. Sharing who you are at the deepest level of your soul—that’s the marrow. 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me, the key to a great trip is finding the balance of exploring and relaxing. Starting with accommodations not too far out (to take full advantage of spur of the moment encounters which Santa Fe is known for), here is our weekend itinerary… 

Let’s start our day with a leisurely breakfast at one of my favorite spots: Cafecito. Before the busy day ahead, we’ll enjoy a selection of regional specialties—the staff is happy to advise you of the best chilis, green or red, to satisfy or challenge your taste buds—seasonal favorites, and traditional Southwestern dishes which will leave you begging for more… 

Now on to our first adventure: a literary walking tour including the Los Cinco Pintores (“The Five Painters”), a group of early 20th-century artists including Will Shuster, Fremont Ellis, Walter Mruk, Jozef Bakos, and Willard Nash who moved to Santa Fe and formed an artist collective in 1921. We’ll see their homes, hear the stories, imagine the creative genius that inhabited these streets a century ago. Several blocks away we’ll pass by the residences of architect and designer Alexander Girard and wife Susan and hear of their influence on this community. A frequent guest of the Girard’s was legendary painter Georgia O’Keefe who earned a designated bedroom at Girard Gardens. 

When the midday sun intensifies, The Compound Restaurant on Canyon Road provides the ideal respite. We’ll delight in a contemporary American menu by acclaimed chef Mark Kiffin (either indoors or alfresco), while keeping an eye out for celebrities and local dignitaries. 

After palettes are sated, we’ll walk the half-block back to Canyon Road, one of the oldest and best-known streets in America. On this narrow, one-way avenue, you can literally find anything your heart desires. 

As the afternoon winds down, we’ll continue to my latest find: Dinner for Two, named Best Steakhouse in New Mexico. But steak isn’t the only thing on the menu, nor should you order a full dinner entrée. From 4-6 pm, choose from a wide variety of salads, apps, and cocktails from their Happy Hour menu. Dine in or out on their pooch friendly patio if you have brought your canine companion along. Following a nightcap or cappuccino, we’ll say goodnight and bed down for the next day’s adventures. 

When in Santa Fe, rise with the sun! Day 2 begins with breakfast at The Chocolate Maven. Spaces fill up quickly at this quaint bistro. We’ll hold out for an intimate spot in front of the expansive viewing window where bakers prepare dough by hand and bake the restaurant’s daily selections. 

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Next, we’ll focus our attention on the area downtown affectionately named The Plaza. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Plaza is the heart and soul of the city. Here we’ll explore downtown on foot, passing landmarks like Loretto Chapel, Palace of the Governors, The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the oldest house (next to the oldest church in the oldest neighborhood), and visit the ongoing flea market or artist fair. 

At the lunch hour, we’ll have our pick of Coyote Cantina—offering Southwestern fare with one of the best rooftop views in the City Different—or down the street at Del Charro, Santa Fe’s Watering Hole. ‘Good food, good drinks, good prices.’ Looking for a traditional Santa Fe spot? This is a win-win no matter which you choose. And if we don’t have reservations and need to wait, remember the state’s unofficial slogan; mañana, mañana. 

From here we’ll take a short walk to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, where we’ll absorb O’Keeffe’s paintings and photographs, learn of her life in Northern New Mexico, and discover what makes her a local and worldwide artistic and style icon. 

No trip to Santa Fe is complete without a keepsake, and Doodlet’s is the place to find it. Since 1955, “folks have delighted in its many happiness essentials for the home and heart.” The storefront is not only charming but brimming with gifts for wee ones and the young at heart. Doodlet’s and its owner Lisa Young support and carry the work of many local artists/authors (myself included): handcrafted creations which will serve as a reminder of your weekend in Santa Fe for years to come. 

Having spent the day on the go, we’ll slow things down and settle in for a casual dinner at Rooftop Pizzeria and Draft Station. This spot affords the patron a front row seat to another gorgeous Santa Fe sunset and the evening happenings on the Plaza; anything from live music and ceremonial Native American dancing to film crews on location shooting a movie. After a delicious thin crust pizza and salad, lemonade, or one of New Mexico’s best microbrews on tap, we’ll wrap up the evening discussing the many artists we’ve encountered during our day, and people-watch, one of my favorite past times. 

On our final morning, what better way to make the most of it than to meet at sunrise at Old Fort Marcy Park. Built by the U.S. Army in 1846 to protect the American presence here, the remains of this historic military fort overlooking the city is the hike my husband and I first took when contemplating a move to Santa Fe. The vistas and rainbowed sky are breathtaking. 

We’ll cap off the weekend by boarding Sky Rail for the 11 a.m. Lamy Brunch Run. This 4-hour railway adventure will take us to the historic and beautifully restored Legal Tender restaurant in Lamy, New Mexico. While traveling through the breath taking Galisteo Basin, we’ll unwind over live music, a selection of complimentary beverages, and a world-class buffet.  

Upon our return to the station, we’ll make a last-minute stop into Beastly Books, an Indie bookstore around the corner, which carries autographed and collectible books of fiction and fantasy, a mix of local and best-selling authors, and a fascinating collection of memorabilia from George R. R. Martin’s career (and every volume of Game of Thrones). Over a steaming cup of English Breakfast tea or an espresso, we’ll bid each other adieu until next time; whether you relocate to this southwestern oasis or simply add it to your list of yearly sojourns.  

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Bob who cheers me on and pushes me outside of my comfort zone; family and friends who’ve supported this creative journey; publishing partner Alyssa Ohnmacht at Light of the Moon; editor and fellow writer/creative Jenniey Tallman; web designer Christine Rousu at So It Goes Design; audiobook producer Dave Taylor at Cool Brick Studios; Dani Werner Photography, illustrator Julie Adriansen, Finishing Line Press; Kirsten Miles and Tupelo Press; Film Nest Studios; Nancy Eike at Tiger Oak Media who hired me for my first paid writing gig, professors at Hamline University and Century College; the host of creatives who have and continue to mentor me along the way; and my mother Margaret, who showed me what it means to love the process of creating. My deepest gratitude~ DJ 

Website: https://djhill-writer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djhilldebbie/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dj-hill-89222423

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DjhillDebbie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Djhillauthor/

Others: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/of-ash-fire-by-dj-hill/