Gail Wagner's Blog, page 3
April 16, 2014
News, News, and more News
Hi all! I just thought I'd keep you updated on the latest goings on. Some of you may have noticed that my book has been removed from Amazon. As bummed as I am, this is good news! My agent is currently looking for a new home for the Donegal Sidhe series as well as one for Dream Walkers. I still have copies to sell here...at least till my supply runs out.
Oh...I finished Obscures!! Well, at least the first draft! I'm about half-way done with the first round of edits and then onto beta readers!
Also, I have teamed up with two other amazing YA authors to start a Street Team. We're sending out an open invitation to anyone who would like to help us get the word out about our books.
Members will have access to:
-free review copies of our books
-chance to act as beta readers
-promo pictures to share everywhere
-advance notice of new releases, cover reveals, sales, etc.Members will be expected to:
-Share links that we post on the street team page
-post reviews on Amazon/Goodreads
-follow our author pages, twitter, tumblr, etc.
-vote for us if we happen to need votes for an eventMember Perks:
-Free books for review
-book swag to hand out to friends or post locally (mainly bookmarks)
-monthly giveaway for books/swag for those who refer the most readers to our blog/twitter/FB page
You can check it out here. We look forward to getting to know some of you better!
Oh...I finished Obscures!! Well, at least the first draft! I'm about half-way done with the first round of edits and then onto beta readers!
Also, I have teamed up with two other amazing YA authors to start a Street Team. We're sending out an open invitation to anyone who would like to help us get the word out about our books.
Members will have access to:
-free review copies of our books
-chance to act as beta readers
-promo pictures to share everywhere
-advance notice of new releases, cover reveals, sales, etc.Members will be expected to:
-Share links that we post on the street team page
-post reviews on Amazon/Goodreads
-follow our author pages, twitter, tumblr, etc.
-vote for us if we happen to need votes for an eventMember Perks:
-Free books for review
-book swag to hand out to friends or post locally (mainly bookmarks)
-monthly giveaway for books/swag for those who refer the most readers to our blog/twitter/FB page
You can check it out here. We look forward to getting to know some of you better!
April 3, 2014
Bullies and Trolls
Okay, so I typically try to keep my mouth shut about most things that annoy me. The whole "if you don't have something nice to say" adage, and let's be honest, too many people online are bullies or trolls. I have seen more than my fair share of rudeness online but I have about reached my limit with one particular site (and no it's not Goodreads, which has had more than a little controversy surrounding it recently).
I love Wattpad. It's a great place to meet people, both authors and readers. But lately it seems to just be a place where people complain about not getting all their reading material for free. If it's not good and it's on there, they complain about the quality. If it is good and it's up there then they complain there isn't more.
One of my novels has been up for almost a year now. It is the first in a series and it does end on a cliffhanger. It is not my only series and I have written two other books since then. I'm currently working on the sequel for it but not a day doesn't go by without someone yelling at me about not being done yet. I don't know what they think I do all day. I have three kids, a husband, and all the things that go with that. Not to mention all the authory things I do.
I have also gotten more than a few comments/messages accusing me of being one of those authors that just want people to go buy their book. I have to say I was shocked, How dare I want to make money for something that I've spent countless time and effort on. I work hard on writing, researching and editing. I edit a minimum of four to five times, sometimes tossing the entire books and completely rewriting from scratch.
So I ask you. Why do you think people feel it's so horrible to pay for a good book? Is it because there are so many self-published (and I AM NOT dissing self-published authors! I know several AMAZING ones!!) books that are of inferior quality (ie. not editing or well written in general) that the ones that cost more to produce (including the self published ones with paid editors, book jacket artists, etc) are just not as appealing.
Are readers saying they would rather have poorly written, cheap books than great, more expensive literature? Why do people feel entitled to treat others this way? Is it just the anonymous internet culture in general or something else?
I'm interested in your opinions. Particularly any of you that might be on Wattpad.
I love Wattpad. It's a great place to meet people, both authors and readers. But lately it seems to just be a place where people complain about not getting all their reading material for free. If it's not good and it's on there, they complain about the quality. If it is good and it's up there then they complain there isn't more.
One of my novels has been up for almost a year now. It is the first in a series and it does end on a cliffhanger. It is not my only series and I have written two other books since then. I'm currently working on the sequel for it but not a day doesn't go by without someone yelling at me about not being done yet. I don't know what they think I do all day. I have three kids, a husband, and all the things that go with that. Not to mention all the authory things I do.
I have also gotten more than a few comments/messages accusing me of being one of those authors that just want people to go buy their book. I have to say I was shocked, How dare I want to make money for something that I've spent countless time and effort on. I work hard on writing, researching and editing. I edit a minimum of four to five times, sometimes tossing the entire books and completely rewriting from scratch.
So I ask you. Why do you think people feel it's so horrible to pay for a good book? Is it because there are so many self-published (and I AM NOT dissing self-published authors! I know several AMAZING ones!!) books that are of inferior quality (ie. not editing or well written in general) that the ones that cost more to produce (including the self published ones with paid editors, book jacket artists, etc) are just not as appealing.
Are readers saying they would rather have poorly written, cheap books than great, more expensive literature? Why do people feel entitled to treat others this way? Is it just the anonymous internet culture in general or something else?
I'm interested in your opinions. Particularly any of you that might be on Wattpad.
March 4, 2014
MSG, Red Dye and Gluten...Oh My!
I am stubborn. I admit it. Really this isn't news to anyone who has known me for any length of time. I'm actually fairly proud of the fact. Sometimes my stubbornness is a good thing. I don't back down on things I'm serious about. BUT, sometimes it causes more trouble than good.
I suffer from chronic migraines. At times I'll have them every single day. In an effort to get them under control over the years I've cut several things out of my diet: msg (goodbye Doritos and most Chinese take out), red dye #40 (farewell to all my favorite candies...m&m's, skittles, twizzlers, pop rocks...so sad!) and high fructose corn syrup (there goes pretty much all the rest of my favorite junk food!). Are you feeling sorry for me yet? To be honest, I can still tolerate a little HFCS. Thank goodness because it's in EVERYTHING!
This all helped quite a bit at first, once I stuck to it and quite trying to sneak foods I shouldn't. As though I could hide my indiscretions from my own body. Gradually the benefits began to wear off as my migraines crept back up on me. Soon I began to realize I'd get one after I ate yogurt. So there went another food...even fro-yo! Then milk went. Most recently though I stopped all gluten intake. This has proved by far the hardest thing I've ever done. You never appreciate what all has wheat in it till you can't have it.
Like this:
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and this:
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even this (I mean really? It's SOY sauce!!):
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and of course this:
If you were feeling bad for me before you should be weeping for my plight now! I stuck to it (not easy!!!) and within 3 days I felt like a new woman. I truly had no idea how much pain I'd been in until it stopped. For the last year or more I'd been running a low grade temp constantly. It disappeared as well.
Does it suck? Heck yes!! But feeling well for the first time in years more than makes up for it. And I've found that gluten free chocolate cake rocks! So where does my stubbornness come into play?
5 years ago when my doctor found my other sensitivities he said that enriched white flour was a mild trigger. I refused to even imagine life without wheat and mostly ignored it. I didn't think it was worth it. Boy was i wrong. The only positive in waiting so long is that the gluten-free lifestyle has gained more followers. Partly due to more people being diagnose with celiac and partly as a fad diet. There are a lot more options for those of us that have to live this way.
It makes me wonder though...What could I have accomplished over those 5 years if I'd done it earlier?
I suffer from chronic migraines. At times I'll have them every single day. In an effort to get them under control over the years I've cut several things out of my diet: msg (goodbye Doritos and most Chinese take out), red dye #40 (farewell to all my favorite candies...m&m's, skittles, twizzlers, pop rocks...so sad!) and high fructose corn syrup (there goes pretty much all the rest of my favorite junk food!). Are you feeling sorry for me yet? To be honest, I can still tolerate a little HFCS. Thank goodness because it's in EVERYTHING!
This all helped quite a bit at first, once I stuck to it and quite trying to sneak foods I shouldn't. As though I could hide my indiscretions from my own body. Gradually the benefits began to wear off as my migraines crept back up on me. Soon I began to realize I'd get one after I ate yogurt. So there went another food...even fro-yo! Then milk went. Most recently though I stopped all gluten intake. This has proved by far the hardest thing I've ever done. You never appreciate what all has wheat in it till you can't have it.
Like this:
[image error]
and this:
[image error]
even this (I mean really? It's SOY sauce!!):
[image error]
and of course this:
If you were feeling bad for me before you should be weeping for my plight now! I stuck to it (not easy!!!) and within 3 days I felt like a new woman. I truly had no idea how much pain I'd been in until it stopped. For the last year or more I'd been running a low grade temp constantly. It disappeared as well.
Does it suck? Heck yes!! But feeling well for the first time in years more than makes up for it. And I've found that gluten free chocolate cake rocks! So where does my stubbornness come into play?
5 years ago when my doctor found my other sensitivities he said that enriched white flour was a mild trigger. I refused to even imagine life without wheat and mostly ignored it. I didn't think it was worth it. Boy was i wrong. The only positive in waiting so long is that the gluten-free lifestyle has gained more followers. Partly due to more people being diagnose with celiac and partly as a fad diet. There are a lot more options for those of us that have to live this way.
It makes me wonder though...What could I have accomplished over those 5 years if I'd done it earlier?
February 12, 2014
Exciting News!
Hi All!! So we're finally in our own house!! Yay! Can I just say it was a nightmare? I can't believe how many problems we had before actually closing....whew! So here is our beautiful new home:
Yes I realize it's the listing photo...that's the only one I've got right now! So we moved in last Monday...the same day book fair started at my kiddos school. My friend and I are known as the book fair ladies at our kiddos school. It's a full week of work but I love it! Have I ever mentioned how much I love books? :) Needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of unpacking done last week, so I'm playing catch up this week.
Sooo....in other news. I GOT AN AGENT!! I know a lot of you won't understand the significance of that but it's a huge step!!
Yes I realize it's the listing photo...that's the only one I've got right now! So we moved in last Monday...the same day book fair started at my kiddos school. My friend and I are known as the book fair ladies at our kiddos school. It's a full week of work but I love it! Have I ever mentioned how much I love books? :) Needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of unpacking done last week, so I'm playing catch up this week.
Sooo....in other news. I GOT AN AGENT!! I know a lot of you won't understand the significance of that but it's a huge step!!
January 16, 2014
I'm Baaack!!
I know, I know. You probably thought I fell off the face of the earth. No such luck. No I've been dealing with massive housing drama! We tried to buy a house in November but due to differing opinions on what had to be fixed we ended up terminating. Naturally I was upset and kind of felt that maybe we weren't meant to get a house here after all. We finally decided to wait till spring and see if the hubby still wanted to work in this area or if we should move on to other (greener...literally since we're in the desert) pastures.
Then we got a phone call from the property management company we rent from. The owners of the house we've been renting for 3.5 years had sold it and wanted us out asap! First of all we didn't even know they were trying to sell (no one came to see it....) and second of all it was Christmas time!! We have till the end of January.
Now at this point we had literally looked at every house anywhere near our price limit in town so we expanded our search to nearby towns. Long (very long, and tiring!!) story short, we found one and we close this month! Yay!
So our house currently looks a bit like this:
I'm kidding, I'm kidding. It's not really on fire. No, that would be easier than packing up all the junk we have managed to accumulate since moving in here. I'm trying to get stuff packed but it's hard when all I have left are things we use everyday and they keep pushing the closing date back on us. Cross your fingers we won't have to bunk in a hotel between houses...we've done that and I don't care to do it again!
In other news, I nearly had OBSCURES done and decided maybe I should make a trilogy. *sigh* I just can't leave anything alone. Needless to say, I have set it aside for a bit while I figure out if I actually have enough material for a third or if it will just be a long sequel. So for now, between packing and all the mom stuff I'm working on ISLE OF DARKNESS, the final book in my DONGEGAL SIDHE series.
Before you get upset and say that the second book isn't out yet, I know. I'm exploring my options with the series right now since I'm not real happy with my current publisher. If all else fails I will simply self publish! Wish me luck!
October 23, 2013
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I know most people's favorite time of year is Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas too, but Halloween is the most fun! I love any excuse to dress up in costume. We have an amazing group of friends here that all share that love...maybe a little too much! :)
We throw an annual Haunted Barn Party and get super excited to see what everyone will come dressed as. This year we even had a couple go all out with Despicable Me costumes! My hubby and I went as a knife throwing act...and not a good one! Haha!
Last year we went as Red Riding Hood and the Woodsman.
Last year we also had a friend's 30th birthday Prom...80's style! Once again I reiterate that we like to dress up way too much.
For my 30th birthday and Amanda's 35th we did a 50's murder mystery night. I have to say, besides the hat, I have actually worn this outfit multiple times since this night...
And I'm almost ashamed to admit that this isn't the only times we've dressed up in the last 12 months. We had so much fun with the first murder mystery we did another one. This one was Old West style! Sadly I wasn't assigned the cool saloon girl character...no I was the women's rights activist!!
So what's your favorite costume you've ever worn?
September 4, 2013
How the AR System is Flawed
I don't know how many of you are aware that I run another blog called The Novel Nibblers. My friend Amanda and I read and rate books...more like movie ratings than is this book awesome or not. There are just too many YA books out there and there is no way of telling what's in them. Just because it's in the YA section doesn't always make it appropriate for your teen...or middle-grader.
I've ranted about this before, but it just keeps rearing its ugly little head. In elementary now they use a system called Accelerated Reader or AR. The kids read a book in their level and take a test on it. The better they test, the higher their reading level goes. I have two kiddos (4th and 5th grade) that read at high school level. Now some teachers are more strict than others about staying at or above their level and let me tell you how hard it gets to find book with a 9th or 10th grade level that are age appropriate for my 9yo daughter...HARD!!!
When Amanda and I rate books we list their AR level and points (another part of their system..essentially the longer the book, the more points it's worth). This makes it easy for people who need that info. I just reread City of Glass (which I love by the way!) and rated it. It deals with some very adult themes such as rape, incest, suicide, child abuse, homosexual romance, etc. Now I'm not judging what other's read and everyone has their own limits but I do not believe that this is a good book for my elementary age kids. Do you know what it's reading level is? 5.3...yes 5th grade!
Now I will say that the AR website will suggest what grades it's appropriate for (upper, middle, lower) but still....as far as I know, none of the teachers check that before letting a kid check out a book at the library.
Anyway...sorry for the rant but until they take content into account for their ratings I will be keeping a very close eye on what my children read (not that I wouldn't anyway but sometimes I have to fight with a teacher over this.). So if you are wondering what your child is reading, feel free to pop by our blog and see if we've rated it yet. Or, if you think what we're doing is worth helping with, we would love to have you help us rate books because we're only two moms (who write, volunteer, etc) and can only read so fast!
I've ranted about this before, but it just keeps rearing its ugly little head. In elementary now they use a system called Accelerated Reader or AR. The kids read a book in their level and take a test on it. The better they test, the higher their reading level goes. I have two kiddos (4th and 5th grade) that read at high school level. Now some teachers are more strict than others about staying at or above their level and let me tell you how hard it gets to find book with a 9th or 10th grade level that are age appropriate for my 9yo daughter...HARD!!!
When Amanda and I rate books we list their AR level and points (another part of their system..essentially the longer the book, the more points it's worth). This makes it easy for people who need that info. I just reread City of Glass (which I love by the way!) and rated it. It deals with some very adult themes such as rape, incest, suicide, child abuse, homosexual romance, etc. Now I'm not judging what other's read and everyone has their own limits but I do not believe that this is a good book for my elementary age kids. Do you know what it's reading level is? 5.3...yes 5th grade!
Now I will say that the AR website will suggest what grades it's appropriate for (upper, middle, lower) but still....as far as I know, none of the teachers check that before letting a kid check out a book at the library.
Anyway...sorry for the rant but until they take content into account for their ratings I will be keeping a very close eye on what my children read (not that I wouldn't anyway but sometimes I have to fight with a teacher over this.). So if you are wondering what your child is reading, feel free to pop by our blog and see if we've rated it yet. Or, if you think what we're doing is worth helping with, we would love to have you help us rate books because we're only two moms (who write, volunteer, etc) and can only read so fast!
September 2, 2013
Some Obscure News
So I decided to go ahead and post the first chapter of OBSCURES on Wattpad. It isn't much but I thought you might enjoy it. :)
I"m also posting all the songs that are inspiring the story so go check it out and tell me what you think!
I"m also posting all the songs that are inspiring the story so go check it out and tell me what you think!
August 29, 2013
Apologies
I have to apologize. I haven't posted in a month *hangs head in shame* In my defense I have been busy and getting things done so that's good, right?
In the last month I have:
helped several family members move (remember this when it's our turn!)loaned my husband out to move even more neighbors (aren't I kind?)took the kids swimming...a lot! watched my kiddos' first theatrical performance (<3 Willy Wonka!)got back to school shopping done (no small task with 3 kids)been shanghaied into being a PTA officer at the school againdone 1000 loads of laundry (okay, maybe not quite, but it feels like it)gotten over 18,000 followers on Wattpadand last but not least:FINISHED SEA OF DESPAIR! I know, I know...I said it was done before and it was...it just needed a little nip and tuck. Well that nip and tuck turned into a full on reconstructive surgery. It's so much better! And I got my word count up which is always good for me!I also managed to start OBSCURES early! I wasn't planning on starting till after Labor Day but this week I've managed to get 6 chapters done! I so excited about this and am completely in love with my characters (there are some really awesome new ones!). I hope this isn't just all in my head and that other people will end up liking them as well. :)
So here's to the kids being back in school and more time for me to write! I learned my lesson this summer...don't make any major writing plans because it ain't gonna happen!
In the last month I have:
helped several family members move (remember this when it's our turn!)loaned my husband out to move even more neighbors (aren't I kind?)took the kids swimming...a lot! watched my kiddos' first theatrical performance (<3 Willy Wonka!)got back to school shopping done (no small task with 3 kids)been shanghaied into being a PTA officer at the school againdone 1000 loads of laundry (okay, maybe not quite, but it feels like it)gotten over 18,000 followers on Wattpadand last but not least:FINISHED SEA OF DESPAIR! I know, I know...I said it was done before and it was...it just needed a little nip and tuck. Well that nip and tuck turned into a full on reconstructive surgery. It's so much better! And I got my word count up which is always good for me!I also managed to start OBSCURES early! I wasn't planning on starting till after Labor Day but this week I've managed to get 6 chapters done! I so excited about this and am completely in love with my characters (there are some really awesome new ones!). I hope this isn't just all in my head and that other people will end up liking them as well. :)
So here's to the kids being back in school and more time for me to write! I learned my lesson this summer...don't make any major writing plans because it ain't gonna happen!
July 14, 2013
Good Surprises
Hi all! So I went on another research trip for another story idea I've been kicking around...it's in the very, very beginning stages of development. It's got a few other projects ahead of it but I'll get to it eventually.
So I found out that someone added Dream Walkers to Goodreads. Not sure who but I have a guess. Since then, it has been added to 10 different lists for beautiful covers! Wow! I can't believe it! Not only did it get added but it's getting votes! (sorry for all the exclamation points...can you tell I'm super excited?) How awesome is that?
If you haven't seen it here it is:
I know Wattpad will be doing a cover-off for Dream Walkers toward the end of this month. I'm so excited for it!
In other news I finally finished a complete rewrite of Curiosity Killed The Crow and sent it off for a manuscript request I got! Cross your fingers for me!
