It's County Fair Time Again!

Why hello, there Smokey. In a time-honored tradition for our Fair (insert sarcasm) a dozen wildfires sprouted up the very next day after our parade. No, I'm not kidding. For those long time blog followers, you may remember last year's never-ending fire. These are being attacked much more aggressively, and so far are a tiny fraction of the 75,000 acre monster we endured last autumn.

I have no clue what this even is, but both boys found it hilarious. Like fall-over-laughing funny. Almost as funny as when I shrieked and squealed because I hadn't been paying attention when they fired the anvils. Right. Next. To. Me.

This was the highlight of my fair experience. It's so delightfully corny. Alaskan Racing Pigs (who, incidentally, had Oregon plates). How can you not love tiny little piggies with pun-ny names like Ham Solo or Hog-mione?

But wait! There's more!! I took video, too. Just for you.

Audiobook Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Format: digital download
Length: 15 hrs 6 min
Pub Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Recorded Books
Narrator: Renee Raudman

I'm kind of over the whole "Can't wait for xyz book" phase I had when I first started the blog. Don't get me wrong, I love books. I still have my favorites. But with so much overkill on the buzz factor for new books, I've developed a finely tuned filter. Meaning...I don't pay attention. I certainly don't preorder books. This year, I preordered exactly three books: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs, Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh, and Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews. Both the Briggs and Andrews books I also purchased on audio.

When I first read that Ilona Andrews had gone with a different publisher for the new Kate Daniels audiobook, I was disappointed. I love Recorded Books, but I was attached to Renee Raudman, the narrator for the previous installments. I don't know what magic they employed, but somehow, the publisher managed to snag the same narrator to continue the series. With that news, I was on board to listen to the newest installment.

Barbara Mertz ( aka Barbara Michaels / Elizabeth Peters ) Passes Away at Age 85

Sad news from William Morrow this morning:

It is with great sadness we relay the news that our beloved author, Barbara Mertz, (a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters) passed away this morning at the age of 85.
Under her pseudonym as Barbara Michaels she has written twenty-nine novels of suspense. As Elizabeth Peters, she had produced more than 35 mystery-suspense novels, many of them set in Egypt and the Middle East, featuring the intrepid Amelia Peabody. Under her own name, she authored several nonfiction books about ancient Egypt, still in print today.

My Amelia Peabody reread soldiers on, but I'm a little depressed to know that Amelia's adventures are complete. Pith helmets off in respect to this pioneer of both the romance and mystery genres.