About halfway through my second shift signing books and chatting with passersby at the California State Fair Authors Booth. My feet hurt from standing here for hours. I am simultaneously hungry and nauseated from the overpowering fragrance of the nearby Cinnamon Bun stand. And I’m really getting tired of the constantly repeating loop of cheerful banter. “Hi! What do you like to read?” Why did I decide to do this again this year??

The tedium is briefly alleviated by an occasional interesting conversation, and at least today there are a few more visitors. During my last shift I chatted with a pile of popcorn-eating kids hauling siblings and cousins around in a wagon while Grandma looked at another author’s books. The highlight of that shift was probably the conversation with a man who tried to convince me he could sell thousands of my books. He had quite a line and I listened just for the laughs. It later turned out he was on break from his real job, which was as a “pitch man” for one of those miracle mops. You know the ones: they last a lifetime, never miss a spot, and eliminate all the muss and fuss. Whatever. Although as I think about it, I suppose an author could do worse than to hire a professional “pitch man” to sell books.

My shift finally over, I detoured through the food booths, fully intent on purchasing some disgusting salty greasy thing for dinner. My big chance to eat fair food! (yes, that says ‘deep-fried cheese curds’) But I couldn’t do it. Every time I veered close to one of those booths, my stomach rolled over. Stand in line for twenty minutes with aching feet and pay eleven dollars for some hideous pile of fake food that I would throw away after three bites? No thanks.

On my way to the car, I cruised through the animal barn, my favorite place at the fair, and look what I found. Get your ‘ahs’ ready. Everyone likes to hear Estela Nogales stories, even cows! This one is named Rita, and she is rolling her eyes and snickering with her friend at one of the funny bits. (So cute!)

Send me a photo of yourself reading one of my books to your animal friend and I’ll post it on my web page or my Facebook page and my office wall, where it will inspire me to keeping working on the next story. Thank you for your support!