Cannot create instance of object in controller - ruby-on-rails

Question

I'm attempting to validate and save an email from a form with three parameters: :name, :email, and :message, and then send the entire email. Currently, the email will send successfully without validating the parameters or creating an instance of Email.
Controller
def thank_you
#name = params[:name]
#email = params[:email]
#message = params[:message] || "Hello!"
if Email.create(name: #name, email: #email, message: #message)
ActionMailer::Base.mail(
:from => #email,
:to => 'erikvdw#comcast.net',
:subject => "A new contact form message from #{#name}",
:body => #message).deliver
end
end
Model
class Email < ActiveRecord::Base
validates_presence_of :name
validates_format_of :email, :with => /\A([^#\s]+)#((?:[-a-z0-9]+\.)+[a-z]{2,})\z/i
validates_length_of :message, :maximum => 500, :minimum => 10
end
View
<%= form_tag("/thank_you") do %>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-5">
<div class="input-group">
<%= text_field_tag :name, nil, class: 'form-control', placeholder: 'Your Name' %>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-7">
<div class="input-group">
<span class="input-group-addon" id="basic-addon1">#</span>
<%= text_field_tag :email, nil, class: 'form-control', placeholder: 'Your Email Address' %>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<div class="input-group text-area-wide">
<%= text_area_tag :message, nil, class: 'form-control text-area-wide', placeholder: 'When are you available?' %>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<%= submit_tag 'Get Started', class: 'btn btn-success' %>
<p>Skype required</p>
<% end %>

Answer 1

I think your problem in the operation
Email.create
because it's creating a instance in memory and don't save the instance to DB.
You must call save method or check validation method directly - email.valid?, like this:
email = Email.create(name: #name, email: #email, message: #message)
if email.valid?
#send email
end