< Previous38 AZFOOTHILLS.COM AMY WALTERS has had an incredible six months. She was newly promoted to assistant vice president of Technology Operations at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), Inc., obtained a Master of Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in December and was crowned Mrs. Arizona America 2019 in June. As the new Mrs. Arizona America, Walters is dedicating her reign to continuing to be an advocate for cancer prevention, early detection and helping support patients throughout their treatment. This is not just a platform for Walters; she lives and breathes this mission every day. As a cancer survivor and an executive with CTCA, she has had the privilege of helping patients navigate their cancer journey by enabling cutting-edge technology to enhance their overall experience. Walters is honored to serve as a board member for Arizona Assistance in Healthcare (AIH), a nonproft organization that raises funds for cancer patients who are treating throughout the Valley with their non-medical expenses like rent, mortgage, groceries and daycare expenses. Walters is extremely active in the Arizona community. As the 2019 co-chair of Make A Wish’s Wish Ball, where she helped raise more $3 million for wishes, to being a Big Sis to a young teen in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Walters is dedicated. She is an advisor for the Arizona IT Symposium and sits on the Information Technology Committee for the YMCA Valley of the Sun. Walters is happily married to her best friend and husband, Andrew, who is nicknamed Mr. Arizona, and share their Scottsdale home with their two fur babies, Lola, the Pomeranian and Peanut, the Chihuahua. Walters is looking forward to promoting her charities and representing the married women of Arizona throughout her reign and at the 2019 Mrs. America pageant in Las Vegas in August. BY MOLLY STOCKLEY TO LEARN MORE INSTAGRAM @MRSARIZONAAMERICAPAGEANT A Triple Threat INSIDER'S GUIDE az health @azfoothills #azfoothills 45 Untitled-2 14/9/19 8:39 PM May Covers Backup.indd 455/8/19 6:53 PM PHOTO BY DAVID RITTER Fall Society.indd 388/15/19 3:28 PMPage Turners @azfoothills #azfoothills 45 Untitled-2 14/9/19 8:39 PM May Covers Backup.indd 455/8/19 6:53 PMFall Society.indd 398/15/19 3:28 PM40 AZFOOTHILLS.COM “The Chelsea Girls” by Fiona Davis Author Fiona Davis is a historical fi ction maven and her latest novel, “The Chelsea Girls,” is no exception. Set in The Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan, a space known for the many artists, musicians and actors who called it home, readers follow the trials and tribulations of two women in the 1950’s who want nothing more than to shine on Broadway. Maxine Mead is a stunning young actress on the rise, while Hazel Ripley is a budding playwright hoping to make it big. When the women meet while on tour for the USO during WWII, they are completely unaware of the path their lives are about to take, from fame to politics and the witch-hunt of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Told through Davis’ rich historical detail and characters who light up the page, “The Chelsea Girls” is a novel that will delight readers and enchant historical fi ction fans. INSIDER'S GUIDE lit “The Dragon Lady” by Louisa Treger For the society women of London in the 1920’s, Lady Courtauld was someone to despise, exclude and avoid. They shut her out of their social events and luxurious lives. They had to. She was The Dragon Lady. Told through a blend of fact and fi ction, “The Dragon Lady” is the story of Lady Virginia Courtauld, a mysterious and unconventional woman of her time, with an exotic snake tattoo that twisted around her leg, ready to strike anyone who got too close. Her snake tattoo was only one of the many racy choices that placed her in the role of an outsider, yet her marriage to textile millionaire Stephen Courtauld sent the city into a frenzy. This half-Italian, half- Transylvanian was not of the proper pedigree, and she was reminded of this fact repeatedly. Lady Courtauld, while wounded by the rejection, did not let it sway her path. She used her exuberance to fi ght for a variety of causes, particularly regarding racial equality. And while she lived with few friends or family members at her side, she never veered from what she whole-heartedly believed in. “Beside Herself” by Elizabeth LaBan Author Elizabeth LaBan has a particular charm about her writing. She has a way of crafting characters that feel like someone you know, possibly your best friend or sister, maybe even you in another day or time. And with her latest novel, “Beside Herself,” it is no different. Hannah and Joel are a typical couple; married with two kids and a loving, happy life. Until, Hannah discovers that her husband’s hushed phone calls and sudden increase in quiet computer time is not actually the surprise party she was expecting, but an affair. Through moments of desperate devastation, Hannah must decide if forgiveness or revenge is the answer to her heartache. Will an affair of her own even the score or set her into a world of regret? “Beside Herself” is a sweet story of self-discovery, forgiveness and fi nding out where you truly belong. Amanda Goossen of Phoenix-based blog @books_and_bites shares what’s on her fall-reading radar. Page Turners Fall Society.indd 408/15/19 3:28 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 41 Amanda Goossen of Phoenix-based blog @books_and_bites shares what’s on her fall-reading radar. INSIDER'S GUIDE lit Meet the Author There are very few things the Valley’s Mycal Anders hasn’t done. This dad-of-two is the founder of CrossFit PHX and the 20 Percenters podcast, attended Air Force academy, has a master’s degree from Arizona State University and was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, to name a few of his accomplishments. Most recently, Anders authored "Inner Circle: Focus & Fulfillment Habits of the Enlightened,” with a second book planned for late 2020. BY MELISSA LARSEN AFM: What inspired you to write a book? MA: I have been putting my thoughts on paper since I was 16 years old. Along the way, I became obsessed with what made people successful. As I became aware, I discovered that success and fulfillment begins with a mindset: a mindset of abundance. So I started The 20 Percenters podcast with my friend Jeff. In more than 150 conversations with immensely successful people, I noticed some themes kept coming up. So I set out to condense that dialogue into something palatable in which I would highlight these reoccurring themes and demonstrate how those themes have played out in my life. AFM: In one sentence, what is your mission statement for “Inner Circle”? MA: I want to expose the reader to a conversation of abundance and create awareness as to how they can manifest the life that they really want. AFM: What was the biggest challenge in writing and releasing a book? MA: Writer’s block and overthinking it. It is short, and that is by design. However, once the manuscript was complete, I fought with myself about making it longer. I let a handful of people take a look at it while it was in the editing process and the consensus from those initial readers and my publisher was that its length is what makes it great. It is a concentrated dose of real lessons learned and principles applied. AFM: You have lived all over the world. Did that influence you as an author? MA: Absolutely! My perspective on the universe is truly based on my exposure to new ways of thinking and cultural immersion. AFM: What advice do you have for budding authors? MA: Write the book! Get it out there. The world needs your words. Yes, it is scary. Yes, it is worth it! Fall Society.indd 418/15/19 3:28 PM42 AZFOOTHILLS.COM CREATIVE Genius After an inexplicable urge to stop at a craft shop after a friend’s funeral more than 20 years ago, Valley artist Niki Woehler found her passion and a natural talent she didn’t realize she possessed. Now, Woehler’s remarkable works—mostly acrylic on canvas and resin—can be spotted at Found:Re Phoenix Hotel, in galleries across the nation and on the walls in luxurious Bel Air and Beverly Hills homes. Here, get to know this bold, brilliant talent. INTERVIEW BY MELISSA LARSEN INSIDER'S GUIDE aesthetic AFM: You studied marketing and broadcasting. What prompted your career move? NW: I’ve always been a creative; marketing is creativity in another form. However, after almost 30 years in the biz, I found myself taking more and more hooky days to paint. Painting was something just for me. It was my release. Then one day, a client called while I should have been working—but was creating instead—and she asked to see my paintings. I sent her some images and, to my surprise, she sent me back an image of a bare wall with dimensions and asked me to create something for her. I almost fell over! That prompted me to take a chance and post a painting on Facebook for some feedback. Shockingly, it sold within an hour. I decided to see if it would happen again if I posted another, and it did. At that point, it was really hitting home that I might be able to do this for a living, so I looked up at the sky and told the universe that if it happened one more time, I’d do it. I’d make the leap and do what I really loved: paint for a living. It happened again. I shut my agency down within 30 days and embarked on a whole new career path. That was six years ago. AFM: How would you classify your work? NW: I am a contemporary abstract artist working in two distinct types of mediums. I paint highly textural, almost organic in feel, acrylic on canvas paintings, most often in a very neutral color palette. For me, if someone doesn’t want to reach out and touch my work, I feel like I’ve failed. And then a few years ago, after a lot of research, I found a non-toxic, water-based resin. So for the last few years, I’ve also been doing these really beautiful resin pieces that are super high-gloss, rich in color, multi-layered and highly dimensional. Almost like looking at a piece of natural stone, especially when natural light hits them. AFM: What is your process like when creating? NW: Creating is such a personal process for me, as I’m sure it is for every artist. Each piece I do holds a little bit of me in it. It’s as if I’m sharing what I’m feeling and thinking in the moment through my use of color and movement. I can tell you that I need to be barefoot. I know it sounds strange, but wearing shoes feels like a disconnection, a disturbance in my flow. And the other thing I need is music. Sometimes, I even write down my playlist for a painting and give it to whoever purchases it so they can take the same musical journey I did when I was painting their piece. For me, color represents specific feelings. Orange is happiness. Blue is peace, love. Red is passion or anger (although it could be argued that anger is passion). I use a lot of metallics, gold, silver, rose gold. Those are always hope. Unlike when I first began painting, I almost never use brushes anymore, opting for hard-edge tools and my hands. When I’m painting on canvas, I’m a retractive painter, which means I paint by adding paint, and then removing most of it until I get the look I want. My work typically has anywhere from 20 to 30 layers on it, which is the beauty of working with acrylic. It allows you to keep layering and layering until you get this incredible depth. AFM: Where might we have seen your works in public? NW: Here in Phoenix, CBRE commissioned a 54-ft.-long resin installation for their corporate office in the Esplanade. It’s really something to see! I also created a custom logo art installation for Indeed’s new corporate office in Scottsdale as well, which is pretty cool. I’m incredibly fortunate to have my work represented by several galleries in beautiful places like Aspen, Telluride, Breckenridge, Scottsdale and Texas. Here in the Valley, you can find it at the Found:Re Hotel in Downtown Phoenix, as well as a few pieces at House of Anderson in Scottsdale. AFM: Do you have a favorite project? Or perhaps most memorable? NW: If pressed to choose one over all of the others, it would have to be a painting I did called “Silent Partners” (as seen at the bottom right on P. 43). In 2015, I went to Art Basel in Miami with someone who is very influential in the L.A. art scene. I went anticipating seeing some really great art, making connections with some cool art world people, and having a lot of fun at the various VIP functions. I really underestimated that trip. I had no clue that I’d come back with some unbelievable gifts. I’ll never in a million years forget how it felt the moment I walked into the building. It was as if I could feel the energy from the thousands of paintings hanging on the walls all at one time. It actually brought me to tears and made every hair on my body stand on end. I felt like I was home. One of the mediums that intrigued me most was enamel, so I came home and started researching it. I happened upon something called the “Siqueiros” method, which states that different colors have different weights and will react in different ways depending on how you lay them down. Next thing I know, I was exploring his theories on my own, and from it came the most spectacular painting that went on to win awards, and gained me representation by one of the best art galleries in the country. But maybe the best gift of all, and the one I’ll carry with me forever, is that she told me that I was good enough to be there, to have my work on those Art Basel walls, which is precisely why she wanted me to come with her, so I could see that for myself, and that gave me a confidence I’ll always be grateful for. AFM: What are you working on right now? NW: A collaboration with David Adler Fine Rugs; we’re turning "Silent Partners" into a hand-knotted silk and wool rug which has me incredibly excited. I’m working with a couple of incredible designer/builders in L.A. to create custom works for multiple luxury homes in places like Bel Air, Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. A whole new venture into aluminum as a substrate for my resin works, so we can create enormous walls of art that defy the constraints that wood and canvas present (like the effects of heat and humidity), especially for commercial purposes, but also equally adaptable to residential needs as well. And of course, all new bodies of work for the galleries. TO LEARN MORE NIKI WOEHLER NIKIWOEHLER.COM. PH O TO C RE D IT : C A RL SC H U LT Z Fall Society.indd 428/15/19 3:28 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 43 INSIDER'S GUIDE aesthetic PH O TO C RE D IT : C A RL SC H U LT Z Fall Society.indd 438/15/19 3:29 PM44 AZFOOTHILLS.COM INSIDER'S GUIDE connoisseur U & IMPROVED UANDIMPROVED.COM. Crimson Tıde It is no surprise that the new MERKIN VINEYARDS Old Town Scottsdale-based wine bar would have exceptional sips. But the food? Just as memorable and remarkable as the whites and reds. Dishes on the vegetable-driven tapas menu really allow the sips to take flight. A cheese plate and some crusty bread are in order, naturally. But the real standout is the beet tartare. It isn't just pretty on the plate (constructed to look like a traditional beef tartare), but it offers a medley of great flavor and texture with capers, chilies, shallots, heavenly pickle vinaigrette and some toasted bread on the side. merkinoldtownscottsdale.com. Pair it with a glass of The Diddler! Fall Society.indd 448/15/19 3:29 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 45 INSIDER'S GUIDE connoisseur I Think I Can Corkscrew, schmorkscrew. Canned wines are the new black. Queen B Sparkling Malvasia. $12 per can or $44 for four-pack. merkinoldtownscottsdale.com. Bonterra 2018 Rosé. About $20 for four- pack. bonterra.com. 2017 Sterling Vineyards Vintner’s Collection Canned Rosé. About $8 per can. sterlingvineyards.com. Fall Society.indd 458/15/19 3:29 PM46 AZFOOTHILLS.COM INSIDER'S GUIDE jetset Before arriving in Paso Robles, I took a solo trip up the coast from San Luis Obispo to just north of San Simeon along the Highway 1 Discovery Route. Recently reopened after a mudslide shut it down, it stretches 101 miles up California’s central coast from Nipomo to Ragged Point, where the iconic entrance to Big Sur is. My stay at Cambria’s Oceanpoint Ranch was accompanied by a visit to the Brown Butter Cookie Company, Hearst Castle and my first horseback ride at family-owned Covell’s California Clydesdale, the perfect prep for what was soon to come: wine. After two days along the coast, I headed inland for 40 minutes on a winding road toward the land of sunshine and grapes: Paso Robles. Located in between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles is more approachable than its more famous counterparts up north. It’s also warmer and easier on the wallet. While a Napa wine tasting might easily cost you $50, most in Paso are a mere $15. That means more wine tastings, which means more happiness. And that warm weather and cool nights during grape- growing season translates to prime conditions for those deep reds, even Rhône varietals. Say no more. Since many wineries in Paso are still family-owned and -operated, don’t be shocked to find yourself getting a personal tour by the winemaker in between sips of vino. I even found myself climbing the ladder up the side of a vat to peek into the churning red grapes during harvest season (thanks Joe at Grey Wolf Cellars!). And since the community is so small and friendly, many winemakers know each other and sometimes even collaborate. Forget competition; this place is just a lot great wine and a lot of friendly faces. Book a stay at either the 16-room boutique Hotel Cheval in the heart of downtown or at the city’s first luxury hotel, Allegretto BY SUZANNE KOCH Through the Grapevine It may not be Napa, but that’s why you go. Fall Society.indd 468/15/19 3:29 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 47 INSIDER'S GUIDE jetset Vineyard Resort. The eclectic stay is backed up by a vineyard where they produce their own wine label. From the Italian villa exterior, you’d never guess the inside was lined with art from the Far East, a Moroccan-inspired cupola and other worldly elements. It even has its own tasting room just off the lobby so you can get to sipping immediately post check-in. The wineries in Paso are located on the west and east side of Highway 101. Consider dedicating one day to each side for the easiest way to explore (and drink). On the west side, Parrish Family Vineyards has recently opened a new tasting room with amazing vineyard views and interiors that will give Pottery Barn a run for its money. Other standouts include SummerWood Winery, Grey Wolf Cellars/KROBAR Distillery and PasoPort/Pendray’s Distillery. When on the east side, you’ll find one of Paso’s bigger names, J. Lohr, which is still family-owned and -operated. A short distance from there, Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery is home to an on-site amphitheatre (yes, you read that right) that’s hosted big name acts like Willie Nelson and Kip Moore during their yearly concert series April through November. They also boast killer food. Be sure to try the Älplermagronen, a Swiss version of mac and cheese, and the to-die-for truffle potato chips. Clearly, with great wine comes great food and eating in downtown Paso is just as divine as drinking. The upscale Mexican restaurant Fish Gaucho is a must-try, with items like duck confit empanadas and short rib enchiladas. It also offers an easy break from wine with its great tequila selection. Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ has all the classic fixings from tri-tip sandwiches to award-winning mac and cheese. And for after-dinner drinks search out 1122, a speakeasy lounge that F. Scott Fitzgerald would definitely approve of. Think sound- proof tufted walls, a mirror-backed bar, gilded bar carts and smoking cocktails—literally. From casual wineries to standout food, and the coast to the vineyards, Central California is full of surprises, both delicious and adventurous. TO LEARN MORE HIGHWAY 1 DISCOVERY ROUTE HIGHWAY1DISCOVERYROUTE.COM. PASO ROBLES TRAVELPASO.COM. Fall Society.indd 478/15/19 3:29 PMNext >