Gail Wagner's Blog, page 7

Happy Holi-Craze!

I'm not sure when Christmas quit being quite so fun...probably when I left home and realized exactly how much work goes into it.  Especially when you have kids.  When you are the kid all you see is the tree go up and presents go under...and then you wait and you wait and you wait some more.  It felt like forever from Thanksgiving to Christmas morning.

Now?  I get to the Saturday after Thanksgiving and panic sets in!  Presents to buy and wrap (family, friends, extended family, teachers), cards to send out, food to prepare and that's just the beginning!  I tend to keep things pretty simple too, so I can only imagine how crazy it gets for other families.

I'm pretty much done though: cards out, and presents mailed.  So, hopefully I can just relax and enjoy the rest of the season...oh wait, I forgot stocking stuffers.  Guess it's back out to brave the crowds.  :)

The Biscuit Gene

I am one of those people...you know, the kind that if I'm not good at something the first time I do it I won't ever do it again.  I know.  It's not a good attitude to have and but at least I'm aware of it and acknowledgment is the first step, right? 
When I was about 14 I made my first loaf of bread by hand, no machine.  My mom was disgusted.  She said my first loaf ever was better than hers had been as a married woman.  I thought no biggie, you just follow the directions...then I tried to tackle biscuits.  My dad makes amazing biscuits: big, fluffy and golden.  Buttermilk, sourdough, plain.  You name it he can make it.
Yeah...so apparently I didn't inherit the biscuit gene.  I have tried for years (one of the few things I've tried more than once after failing miserably)!  My dad even gave me his marble rolling pin and easiest, no fail recipe.  They still came out barely taller than they'd gone in.  I finally had to just accept I'm not good at it and use Bisquick ..or canned.  The shame!  
The other night the Monster (my 10yo son) wanted to help make dinner.  I charged him with making the biscuits.  From scratch.  I figured they couldn't possibly be any worse than mine and he's more likely to eat dinner if he helps make it (he's my picky one).  I was blown away.  They certainly weren't the prettiest but they sure tasted good.
Tonight he made them again and I give you photo evidence that the biscuit gene must be inside me somewhere dormant because heaven knows I passed that sucker on!!  This was only his second time ever baking!
These weren't even the tallest ones...those were the first to get eaten.  These babies went in at just under 1/2 inch and came out more than quadruple that in some cases.  *sigh*
Do you know what's it's like to be out baked by a 10 year old boy?!  Guess we know who'll be making all the biscuits at our house!

Another Addiction....

I have a confession...not only am I addicted to Pinterest but I LOVE to go garage sale-ing.  Hey, a girl has to get stuff to full that Pinterest addiction, right?

 I have some amazing friends that love to go as well and it's not unusual to see all of us piled into one car way too early on a Saturday when the weather is nice and sometimes when it's not so nice.

  It drives my husband nuts (despite all the wonderful things I've brought home for him)  :)  I tend to see potential in things and he has a hard time and since it sometimes take me a while to finish (or get started on) my vision, he has an even harder time with pieces I've picked up sitting in the garage for months.  Or in our living room for years before I get to them  (sorry about those hideous gold/green chairs, honey.  I swear I thought I could recover them!).
One of my scores this summer was this lovely side table.  Actually I got two of them.  They aren't identical but coordinate which is more of my style anyway.  I really liked the lines but it was dirty and SCRATCHED!!  
I mean look at this table top!  This isn't even the worst of it!  I actually didn't get a picture of the other top which was way worse.  Honestly it looks like something my kids would do to the furniture in their rooms...scratch their names into the paint and then act like someone else did it.  Really?  Who else is going to carve YOUR name on YOUR nightstand?  (can you tell I've had this conversation before?  *sigh*) Anyway...after MUCH sanding and I do mean A LOT of sanding and multiple coats of stain, not to mention primer and new paint.  This is what I ended up with.  I think it turned out pretty nice.  I love dark wood with white/off white paint.  Unfortunately around here dust is a wayof life.  It's not uncommon to have dust storms and it's impossible to keep dark furniture clean.  Oh well, we all pay a price for beauty, right?  

So what have you been up to lately?  Do you take an enormously long time to get projects done too?

Plot Changes

I usually start writing a book with a fairly good idea of where I'm going.  Once in a while though a character takes on a life of its own and becomes a much bigger part of the story than I had originally intended.  I love when that happens because the character takes on a life of his/her own.

I finished the first draft of Sea of Despair a while ago.  I have amazing beta readers who did a fabulous job and I'm working on round two.  During this round I have made a fairly significant plot change.  I'm super excited about it and eager to how my readers will react when they get to read it!

Since I'm nearly the end of book two I've started kicking around ideas for Isle of Darkness.  I've know how it was going to end when I started Army of Sorrow.  However, I've come to the decision that I need a little more drama...or as my husband says "Someone's gotta die."

I'm not going to say anymore...just wanted to give you a hint.  :)

So do you find that projects you start end different than you had originally planned?

Cyber Monday Sale

I know I'm technically a little late to be calling this a Cyber Monday Sale...however, since it will go through till Dec 19 I guess it's okay.

From now till December 19 Army of Sorrow will be on sale.  $10 for a paperback and $15 for a hardback.  I thought this might make it easier to give copies as gifts.  I will even mail it to the recipient for you!  :)  Just make sure to put that as the address and if you want me to include a note saying who it's from put it in the notes.  Simple!

Just a reminder, I'm participating in a charity event that will benefit Childhaven here in Farmington so if you'd like to help with that just purchase a copy of my book from Maria's Bookshop in Durango, CO between December 1-7.  Or better yet, come see me December 7 from 6-8pm!  All of the authors will be making Christmas goodies to share!  Cookies are always a great reason to do anything!

Fall Craziness

Well Halloween came and went...along with about a month of continual illness here at our house.  We've had everything from Shingles to 104 fevers, not to mention food poisoning due to a fridge going out (don't even get me started on that one!).
We did however get to celebrate and attended our big Haunted Barn Dance we put together with some close friends.  We decided to go as Little Red Riding Hood and the Woodsman.  This is what I started with for my costume:

I didn't actually end up using that pattern because I wanted a shorter cape but here is what I ended up with:[image error]Just in case it's hard to tell who's who there, I'm on the right.  :)  The lovely pirate by my side is my friend Amanda who is also the other half of our Novel Nibblers site!  This was actually our kids' trunk or treat at their school as she went as Alice in Wonderland for our dance but this is the best picture for my costume....sorry Amanda!
On to other news.  I have four book events next month!  I am participating in The Giving Back Gang Holiday Party at Maria's Bookshop in Durango, CO.  Each author involved picks a nonprofit that matches their book and proceeds from sales Dec 1-7 go to that charity.  I chose Childhaven here in Farmington.  I'm super excited!
I'm also a part of Readings and Writings for Kids 1-101 at Andrea Kristina's on Dec 8.  There will be several middle grade and young adult authors in attendance.
The last two are book signings in MO around Christmas time.  I have one at ABC Books in Springfield, MO on Dec 22 and one at Heroes Coffee in Branson, MO on Dec 28!
I'm still plugging along on Sea of Despair and my currently unnamed project.  What have you been up to lately?

More Pinteresty Things

I mentioned a while back that my friend and I had started another Pinterest inspired craft.  We saw the cutest Halloween wreaths and just had to make them.  The original one was actually listed on Etsy and as much as I believe in supported the artist I could not afford it.  Here is the inspiration: Isn't it gorgeous?  I didn't copy it exactly (partly because I couldn't find everything) but I think I got the basics.  I still want a sign that says Black Hat Society.  Here is mine:
We currently live in a rental and have two front doors.  Yes, two.  It's highly confusing to people who come visit...us too, honestly.  Anyway, to further confuse people, I decided I needed a wreath for the other door as well.  I kicked around doing a really cute mummy one I saw but then I saw this one and knew I had to do it!Partly because I just thought it was so cute...partly because my husband thinks candy corn is an abomination to mankind! Mwahahaha (yes, that was my pitiful attempt at an evil laugh)!  My oldest, who loves it, was horrified, but that's okay, he got all the broken ones I couldn't use.  I ended up using a pool noodle (also an idea from pinterest) and didn't wrap it in ribbon before I started.  If I were to do it again I would.  However, I like my bow better and don't mind that it's slightly oval shaped.
So that's one more for my 30 before 30 list!  What do you think?

Chinese Takeout

I LOVE Chinese food.  It's hard for me to find a place to eat it though since I can't have MSG or red dye #40 (can you say sweet and sour sauce?)  One of my favorite things there are egg rolls.  So I tackled those this week.  What do you think?

I even made homemade sweet and sour to dip in!  I always feel  like I get in a rut with my cooking and I have a hard time figuring out what to make, so I've been trying to branch out.
What's your favorite meal to make?

A Poll and Another Giveaway

Okay, first of all I'm doing a poll on Facebook to see which story I should write.  If you haven't had a chance, please go vote here!

Second, Goodreads is hosting another giveaway of Army of Sorrow in honor of the Kindle and Nook version release.  You can enter to win a signed copy!


.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway Army of Sorrow by Gail Wagner Giveaway ends October 19, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Scallops Take One

I used to hate fish.  Seafood of any kind really...unless it was shrimp dipped in batter and deep fried.  Then I discovered the wonders of shrimp scampi.  Yum, who can resist anything covered in garlic butter?  As I've gotten old, my seafood horizons have expanded exponentially.  I've even developed a taste for sushi (no octopus though!!  The rubbery texture is just wrong!).
My husband's favorite: scallops.  Now I don't know if you've seen the prices of scallops on most menus but they are pretty pricey.  So this weekend I decided to attempt to make some.
We've been huge fans of any show Chef Gordon Ramsey does for quite a while now, so I've watched my fair share of scallops being cooked (and undercooked, and overcooked).  Anyway....here is my first attempt at cooking a jumbo scallop:


My husband said they were the best he'd ever had so I guess they turned out okay.  They were still pretty pricey ( over $6 for 4 of these suckers, but they were huge!) but WAY cheaper than the restaurant variety and I knew exactly what it was seasoned with (sea salt and fresh ground pepper).  So check one more off my 30 before 30 list!
So, how about you?  Have you ever tried making your favorite restaurant dish? How did it turn out?