Gail Wagner's Blog

The chupacabra is relatively new to cryptozoology having first been spotted around 1995. It is also fairly contained to areas with high Latin populations since they first started being spotted in South and Central America. I hadn’t heard of them until we moved here to New Mexico.
Some people believe they are a mythological creature that sucks the blood of smaller animals particularly goats (which by the way is what chupacabra means, goat sucker), while others think they are actually aliens. It’s kind of interesting how the stories evolve around the chupacabra. Most mythological creatures are just that. I’ve never heard of a vampire being thought of as an alien.
When chupacabras first arrived on the scene they were described as walking on their hind legs, reptilian looking, and being up to 5 feet tall.  More recent descriptions have them more doglike and much smaller. In fact in once case where a farmer found what he thought was a chupacabra carcass on his land and had an autopsy done on it. It ended up being a coyote with a bad case of mange.
Which brings up the third theory of what the chupacabra really is: just a mutated dog, or coyote, whichever the case may be.

I’ve lived here in the Southwest for about 6 years now and I’ve met people that believe in a lot of strange things but chupacabras are one of those things that most people still kind of scoff at…at least the ones I know.  
So what do you think? Are chupacabras mutants, myths, or aliens?

1. Wear comfortable shoes and if you don't be prepared for a special kind of hell.

I suppose this is self explanatory but you wouldn't believe the number of girls (and guys too!) I've seen limping around about halfway through the day. I firmly believe that if someone set up a booth selling flip flops they would make a killing!

2. Epson salt and ice is your friend.

This is a little trick that I learned from a fellow author who has been to many more comic cons than me. If you ignore number 1 and wear your crazy shoes, Epson salt will save you. Run a hot bath and put a good helping of salt in. Soak your feet. If you do wear good shoes your feet will still hurt, just not as bad. In that case, a good ice bath will do wonder for them!

3. People watching is the best sport ever.

There are so many people who put so much time and effort in their costumes. Getting to see them is

the best part of comic con! There are also the inevitable what-the-heck-were-they-thinking costumes. I have definitely seen more than my fair share of those!

4. Take a chance.

If you want to cosplay, do it. If you want to dress up like some obscure character from a show only you will know, do it. If you decide you want to be a jedi Disney princess, do it too! (and yes I've got that costume hanging in my closet! LOL!) There are no wrong answers. Creativity comes in all shapes and forms.

5. Comic Con people are some of the best people!

I have met some of the nicest, most talented people at comic con. They'll go out of their way to help when you need it (thanks to the lovely volunteers that watch our booth so we can go run and eat, etc!). It's like a lovely, weird, extended family and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

At least I'm sure as heck going to try to keep them coming. It's a new year and I will do my best to keep this blog at least somewhat updated...I promise.

We had a crazy year though most of it involved hospitals and doctors' offices so I won't bore you with the details. I did get to attend Denver Comic Con in May which was crazy and exhausting to say the least!  And of course we had to make all new costumes for it, because:


No, no, it's an event! We (by we, I mean Amanda Strong, DelSheree Gladden, and I) decided to go as a steampunk version of one of our characters, Disney jedi princesses, and 50s style Doctor Who.

We also attended Santa Fe Comic Con which was a blast and I got to meet Mike Welch...such a sweetheart!

This last month we did Albuquerque again though Sheree couldn't join us and we missed her terribly! So much fun and so many fabulous people!!  I won't tell you how badly I embarrassed myself with Jason David Frank when the amazing Jim Burlson personally introduced me to him. Let's just say I was speechless and I can always talk!!  Here I am in my little Green Ranger happiness stupor.


So that's my catch up post in a nutshell. I've got lots to say but if I don't divide it into more than one post I'll never have anymore posts at all! LOL! Talk to you later!

Hello everyone.  I should be more ashamed at the fact that I haven't been on here in months.  Unfortunately I am not.  This is probably a symptom of a larger problem but for now I have accepted it for what it is: a lack of blogging talent.

From here on out I will do my best to keep this site updated with current information but I will not be writing blog posts.  I simply do not have the time nor inclination.  :)

However, that doesn't mean there will be a lack of my presence on the internet.  You can keep tabs on me on these various social media sites:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Toodles!

I know I'm a couple (okay six) days late, but Happy New Year!  With the new year upon us, everyone is making resolutions.  I have opted not to do the traditional one this time around...not that I don't want to lose 20 lbs and get more organized.  :)

I am going to make a master to-do list (what can I say?  I'm a list maker!).  It's less intimidating and more concrete for me...don't get all technical and tell me that it's really the same thing, you'll ruin the reverse psychology I'm very cleverly trying to use on myself.  Resolutions sometimes feel more like wishes to me than realistic goals....

To-Do List 2015

Fnish my Donegal Sidhe series and publish at least book 2Finish my Dream Walker seriesAttend at least two cons this yearBlog more consistentlyOn those notes I'm starting to do the last one right now.  :)  I really need to improve my social media skills....and possibly my people skills as well.  Maybe I better add that to my list.  Also, I'm doing half of the third one this weekend.
That's right.  I am going to Albuquerque Comic Con this weekend!

I wish we had had a bit more notice.  We had big plans for costumes but unfortunately they were a bit too ambitious to do over Christmas break.  We had to tone them down but we're still super excited!  We're hoping to get into another one later in the year.  That way we can still do our over the top ones!  I will be sure to post lots of pictures!

NEW RELEASE!
"LET HER SLEEP"
by
Gail Wagner

Blurb
After surviving the accident that killed her mother, Cordelia Jameson’s life has been ruled by survivor’s guilt. She thinks quitting her meds is the first step to taking back control of her life, but they are the one thing that’s been keeping her safe. Rescued from her nightmares by the boy of her dreams, she finds herself inexplicably falling for him. When he shows up at her school she begins to question her sanity. 
Reid Shaw pulls her into his world of shadows and nightmares, putting her in grave danger as the evil that haunts all dreams begins to hunt her. She is forced to choose sides, and no matter what, she’ll lose someone she loves. 


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It's coming!!!  So things have finally come together.  My book will be out next week!  I've got posters printed and bookmarks ordered!  Let's do this thing!

I will be ordering some paperbacks but I'm sure they'll take a bit to get here, so if you're wanting one, let me know and I will let you know when I have them!

I wish I had better news today!  Most of you know that today was supposed to be my release date...unfortunately due to things beyond my control I've had to push the release back a bit.  I'm still hoping it'll be out by the end of the week....at least in ebook form.  I'll keep you updated!

Coming October 27th, 2014 from Gail Wagner...

Let Her Sleep is Book One of the Dream Walker Chronicles
After surviving the accident that killed her mother, Cordelia Jameson’s life has been ruled by survivor’s guilt. She thinks quitting her meds is the first step to taking back control of her life, but they are the one thing that’s been keeping her safe. 
Rescued from her nightmares by the boy of her dreams, she finds herself inexplicably falling for him. When he shows up at her school she begins to question her sanity. 
Reid Shaw pulls her into his world of Shadows and nightmaresputting her in grave danger as the evil that haunts all dreams begins to hunt her. She is forced to choose sides, and no matter what, she’ll lose someone she loves.


LET HER SLEEP will be hitting your favorite ebook and paperback platforms October 27th, and pre-order links will be available soon!

Hello again!  Nothing terribly new to announce on the book front.  I'll be doing a cover reveal for Let Her Sleep soon...and that's pretty much it.  I'm just working to get it out in time!  :)

I've really been enjoying my 10 things posts I've been doing....don't know if you have, but hey, if you don't say anything, how am I supposed to know?  ;)
Anyway, on that note, I though I would do a 10 things you might not know about me.
#1.  I placed three years running in the American Sewing Guild's annual sewing contest.  Back when it was still an actual contest of skill and not what they do now...don't get me started on that. It's a whole different blog post!  I won grand prize overall, honorable mention, and then first place.  Not too bad considering the first year I entered, I'd only been sewing about a year.  I also used to design and make boutique children's clothing.  Now I just sew as a hobby.
#2.  I am the youngest of seven kids, but raised an only child.  That's right.  By the time I came along, my nearest sibling was almost 21.  I was an aunt three times over the day I was born. 
#3.  I know how to clog.  I used to be pretty dang good at it too.  I'd take it again but they don't offer adult classes around here.  I would have liked to learn how to Irish Step but again, they don't offer that at all here.
#4.  I used to be able to play the mouth harp.  I was never stellar at it, but I had the basics down!  I can also hold my own on the violin and one handed piano....as long as it's a song I have memorized.  I can't read a lick of music, despite years and years of choir.
#5.  I have debilitating stage fright.  I know.  Anyone who knows me would laugh at this.  I love to talk and meet new people, but put me in a spotlight and I go brain dead!  Definitely killed my dream of being a Broadway star!  It has gotten a little better since I've had to do so many school presentations but it is easier when you're doing it with your best friends.
#6.  I wanted to be a Disney princess.  Still do actually. I don't mean in a cartoon.  I dreamed of getting to be one of the ones at Disneyland/world.  It was my dream job....which brings me to:
#7.  I love to dress up.  Halloween is the best holiday ever!  Anytime it's okay to come in full fairy costume or wear a steampunk corset is great by my book!
#8.  I am a walking medical journal.  I won't get all TMI on you but let's just say if there is a 1% chance for a weird reaction or something, I'll probably get it.  I've also had several illnesses that are rare at the ages I got them.  For instance, I currently am recovering from my third or fourth (I honestly cannot remember!) bout of shingles. I had my first at 18.
#9.  I want to travel.  It just takes money...and a strong constitution when you have three kids.  Eventually I will get to Ireland at the very least!
#10.  I am related to the Hatfields.  As in the Hatfields and McCoys.  And yes that grudge streak still runs in the family.  I swear it's genetic.  
So there are a few things about me.  What about you?