RIP Barbara Mertz, Barbara Michaels, Elizabeth Peters.

According to Twitter, one of my all-time very favorite authors has died:

Sad to hear Barbara Mertz (Elizabeth Peters) has died (85). I had the pleasure of attending her last birthday party: http://t.co/pofEFDJ7Dq

— Ron Charles (@RonCharles) August 8, 2013

I haven't seen the news pop up anywhere else yet, but I trust the source.

Rather than incoherently going into all of the reasons I loved her, I'm going to point you to the Elizabeth Peters Lovefest I arranged earlier this year. I think the fact that I put that all together speaks to the level of my devotion.

So sad.