Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013 New Year's Blog Hop




WELCOME to DAY THREE!
 
Rmember - There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

 
Now what are those prizes?

 
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!



_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Again today we are participating in Carrie Ann's New Year's Blog Hop. Another year has come and gone, the end of the world didn't happen and now we are stuck in a year ending in Unlucky Number 13! But don't let that stop you, this year is a clean slate, the chance to right the problems from the previous one. What is the strangest New Year's resolution you ever made? Did you keep it? Chances are probably not.

The tradition of making promises on the turn of the year goes all the way back to the Phoenicians who promised their gods to return any borrowed objects and pay all their debts. In ancient Rome, promises were made to the pagan god Janus, for whom January is named, and the knights of the Middle Ages took a 'peacock vow' at New Year's as a symbol of their renewed commitment to chivalry and chastity.

There is no hard and fast formula for resolutions. Some people say you must make them before the final stroke of midnight on New Year's eve. Others are more liberal and say it should be done before the end of the first day of January. I'm not sure if there is any research as to success rates depending on when you make your vows.

The overall success rate for those who swear this year will be about 20%. Men are more capable of lasting than women; I would say because of their hard headed stance about failure. I quit making any resolutions when I stopped to think about the hypocrisy of the whole thing. Either I would keep these promises because I was truly sincere about the change asked for; or it was something I already do.

But expecting life long behavior changes because of a day seems a waste of time. So take them as you will. Let me know about the strangest New Year's resolutions you've made, and did you keep it. There will be two prizes, a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice) and a signed copy of my ebook, "Catalyst - Guardian Rising".


 



Now Available From Keith Publishing: Catalyst - Guardian Rising


In a post-apocalyptic future, the fate of the rebuilding world hangs in the balance. An unknown power seeks the forbidden knowledge needed to unleash total devastation once more upon a fragile Earth. It falls to one woman to safeguard the future of the Five Kingdoms.

Princess of the West, Vivienne has been plagued by nightmare visions of past and future since the moment of her birth. Now, to save all she loves from destruction, she must rise above the crippling self-doubts that have assailed her since childhood to become the prophesied Guardian—because the enemy is moving, and the world will soon plunge into a war of sword and sorcery.

But who is the enemy? And who is a friend? Can Vivienne trust anyone apart from her sworn protector, Devon?

The answers lurk in the past—but should the past be destroyed to protect the future?



Excerpt from "Catalyst - Guardian Rising" :

My Nightmares

"...The Council of Elders thinks I am insane, unlucky to be born a woman and too young at the age of nineteen for the responsibility as my father’s only heir. Perhaps I am crazy. I did not ask for these dreams, these voices directing my actions. I have been cursed to spend my life reliving the nightmare of my birth. It has haunted my dreams since early childhood. The dreams created within me a deeply ingrained sense of doubt, questions of worth and abilities. Perhaps if the birth had been normal, all the torment and guilt which burned itself into my psyche would have ceased to be the essence of who I am. Instead, I was fated to have this repetitive horror as much a part of my nature as the blood streaming through my veins. My birth was a circus of violence, bloodshed, war and death. Hallmarks that created the basic characteristics of my personality were defined at the time of my voyage into this life.

For most of my life, from childhood through present, my dreams have encompassed a vast array of subjects, some familiar, others not. Sometimes I’ve dreamed of a strange world, where the sky pulsed a sickening shade of reddish-orange and the ground ran slick with blood. Other dreams contained mere shadows of people I did not know, doing things I could not see. Those dreams did not impress my brain enough to record their intimate details into my memories. But the complex details of my most horrific nightmares … those I have remembered with excruciating exactness. Those nightmares have at times driven me to the farthest reaches of my sanity where madness beckoned with welcoming arms, laughing when I gasped for air and tried to recoil from the horror.

In these repetitive, abominable shows, there is no past, no future — only an uneasy sense of existing simply in the“now.”

My worst and therefore most prevalent nightmare always starts at the same place: the laboring of my mother just prior to my birth. In this horror show, I can see the room and the people involved through several different sets of eyes, some at the same time. This gives me some interesting perspectives on everyone and their motivations. Despite the impossibilities involved in the complex process of dreaming, when I am locked within these nightmares, events never seem to be a part of my past. Everything and everyone seems to be moving in the “now,” not the “then.” But the pain and terror and the horror are always mine. I need bear no other person’s baggage — I have enough of my own.

Everyone is a product of their past. Since well before my birth my father, the Western Kingdom and the Northern Warrior tribes had been defending their borders against repeated incursions by followers of Minnlin, a renegade Druid, with exceptional talent for Mysticism and War Craft. Fifty years before my birth the Druid Master of that time, a grim fellow named Reave, gave his permission for the young Minnlin to be given instruction in both areas.

The Druids gave him free rein over the knowledge contained in their massive libraries. In their folly they allowed the young man to study unobserved and unsupervised within the forbidden Books they were sworn by oath to protect from abuse. With this lack of oversight from his teachers, Minnlin grew in talent but with apparently no sense of right and wrong. The Masters tried to keep the monster they created confined in the safety of the community. Too late they realized the potential for destruction he possessed. But Minnlin had seen his future, and he knew it did not lie within the thick stone walls of the Druid's Mountain Fortress. For half a century, the threat of a druid unbound to the Oath hung over the Five Kingdoms.
In fall, early November to be precise, the first winter snows began storming in from the oceans. Our lands, the Five Kingdoms, were thrust into sudden and horrific warfare. As the heavy, black thunderclouds began rolling over the craggy mountains that marched across the Western horizon, enemy forces in the East streamed up from the Plains through the rapidly closing passes and into the Forbidden Mountains, leaving behind the more hospitable lower climate. They continued fighting skirmishes and ambushes over the next six weeks. Both sides gained and lost territory during these encounters.

Even though my birth was imminent my mother, Katarina, decided to make a visit to see my father, the Western king, in the field becauseshe was determined not to give birth alone. She traveled to his headquarters, close to the actual front line, the manor home of friends King Der, ruler of the Northern Tribes, and his wife, Mari. With Der’s youngest brother Devon and Hana, a Tracker who was retraining as a Healer, also in residence, the king’s house was a safe harbor in the midst of war. My father, Philippe, was a nervous wreck having his very pregnant wife anywhere close to the fighting. But he was so happy to see Katarina after an absence of more than two months, for the first and only time in his life, Philippe threw caution to the winds and left his field tent for the traditional Winter Solstice Celebration truce and returned to the manor house to stay with Katarina. Before he could arrive, my mother went into labor."

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f792290/






52 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking part in the blog hop and Happy New Year. I made one that my mom and I would eat more donuts and she cracked me up by bringing us each a new donut each week for a while.

    miztik_rose@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's an awesome resolution! What a great thing to share with your mother.

      Happy New Year and thanks for hopping.
      Nancy

      Delete
  2. I don't make resolutions generally, but I did make one to not curse for the whole year. I think that lasted for about two days. Guess you can't fight an upbringing with sailors, mechanics, fishermen, and truck drivers that easily. LOL

    Thank you for participating in the blog hop! This is fun! Michel_Lee_King(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried to use the 'swear jar' concept but that lasted about two weeks. I still owe the jar abaout $20! But it's the thought that counts.

      Thank you for stopping in!

      Delete
  3. Happy New Year. strangest resolution I have made was being more social. (I am an introvert so I made this resolution and surprisingly met my now husband!)

    susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, there ya go! Open up the windows and sunshine can just pour in.

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  4. My hubs always has a way of making me smile!
    I don't really do resolutions.

    Kassandra
    sionedkla@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good for you! I really hate people who make a big 'production' out of resolutions. I try to find humor in the practice.

      Thanks for hopping in!

      Delete
  5. I don't make resolutions. Happy New Year.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good for you! Happy New Year, and I hope it is a wonderful year.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  6. I haven't really made any weird resolutions for myself, but one year my friend and I decided to make resolutions for each other, which kind of devolved into us choosing ridiculous things for each other. I ended up having to dye all my food blue for a month.

    aircdrewood(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you lose weight? I've heard blue is supposed to be the least appetizing color. But you saw the humor and that is awesome.

      THanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. None strange ones.
    Happy New Year!
    t.abule (a) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope this year is an excellent one!

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  8. i don't make new years resolutions

    Thanks for the great hop.Happy New Year!

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't any more unless in jest. Have a great 2013!

      Thanks for dropping in!

      Delete
  9. I don't make any anymore.
    Thanks for the great hop.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't either unless it is something funny. Have an awesome 2013.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  10. Mine was to find a house to live in, either buying or renting.
    suzi@suzilove.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's an awesome resolution. If I were to do resolutions I think I would choose to have a goal such as paying off something or saving to purchase a major item.

      You know what, I might just try that! Thanks for the idea!

      Delete
  11. Thanks so much for a great beginning to a New Year. I don't think I've made any crazy resolutions. I don't really plan one I should say. Maybe learning how to drive and getting my license~ which I still don't have. LOL

    kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teaching my teenage daughter right now how to drive and I have many new grey hairs for sure! Good luck!

      Thanks for dropping in!

      Delete
  12. watchin the kiddos open presents
    Happy New Year
    No resolution here
    mrsbrinius at comcast dot net

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you as well!

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  13. I don't make resolutions, so thus I don't have a stangest one.

    kvmatlock(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's alright. I don't either, but I have heard of some rather interesting ones!

      Thanks for hopping by!

      Delete
  14. I used to make new year's resolutions in the past, but not anymore. The weirdest? I was practically the laziest in the family so one time I planned to 'become less of a sloth'.

    Seeing our puppies make me smile. Not just last week, but up to today :)

    Happy new year!
    bedsidelight
    ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear ya on the lazy issue. My mother would have a fit if she saw my house right now.

      Happy New Year!

      Delete
  15. When I was much younger I made a resolution that I wouldnt date any more loosers. Happy Nw Year and thank you for sharing your love and your soul with us in your books!

    angelheart618@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! And what a great resolution, I hope it worked!

      Thanks for hopping in!

      Delete
  16. I've never really had a strange on usually just your boring ones though I did resolve to not take any more crap from my (now ex) boyfriend

    fencingromein at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I don't usually make resolution, just goals. Nothing unusual that I can think of. This year my goal is to land a full time position teaching.
    zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An awesomee goal, this country needs more teachers who love books. Too much has been lost in this 'test measuring' environment,

      Good luck in this brand hew year!

      Delete
  18. I don't think I ever made a strange one mine have been same ole ones everyone makes. Like this year I want to quit smoking.

    Rafflecopter Name: Dawna Newman

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A worthy resolution, and if you find out how let my hubby know. He's been smoking for 35 years and can't seem to find a method that works!

      Hoppy New Year!

      Delete
  19. My strangest resolution, well probably the resolution to make no resolution...

    Thank you very much for the giveaway!

    celine.guissart@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrific resolution and one that I could keep without a problem!

      Thank you for stopping in!

      Delete
  20. I can't remember a weird resolution but the most often was losing weight.

    diane dot sadler at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, my perennial nemesis, weight loss. If I had a dollar for each time I resolved to lose weight I could retire!

      Thanks for hopping in!

      Delete
  21. It's not THAT strange, but to go on a juicing diet. It was very hard to keep up with, and I think I only made it 3 months. Mainly because I started college. We do have a vegan cafeteria, though, so I didn't do too bad afterwards!

    chelseawoodring at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you felt great on the juices. I really need to cut back on my meat intake, but after years of being anemic I just crave red meat every once in a while!

      Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  22. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy New Year!!!!! I can't wait for all the new books that will be coming out in 2013!

    readingdiva@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm still backlogged on my 2012 books! Oh well there's always tomorrow.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  23. LOL, I dont think I have ever made a strange resolution - Ive only known of individuals making the same ole common ones like losing weight or quit smoking and they never do. I'm not making any this year or even following any traditions. I just want to live one day at a time and hope good karma comes back around and returns the favor.

    Happy New years
    mrsqueentutt@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, here is wishing you some very good karma for 2013!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  24. Not sure I have made a strange resolution, just so many I never keep. But this year, I will read more!
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A worthy ambition! A woman can never have too many shoes or books, that's my motto

      Thanks for hopping by!

      Delete
  25. Happy New Year!

    Thanks for coming in!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Once I made a resolution after midnight new year's eve that I'm gonna learn a looong poem that day. I did it! It took me actually hours, because I was so sleepy xD
    Happy New Year to you!
    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you still remember the poem? That's an awesome accomplishment!

      Happy 2013!

      Delete
  27. Thank you for hopping by!
    Happy 2013 to you as well

    ReplyDelete