New Year’s Blog Hop!!

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Crack that bottle of Champagne; 2013 is on!! It’s sure to be an exciting year, and I’m celebrating the season with another of Carrie Ann Ryan’s blog hops — the New Year’s Blog Hop. There are more than 200 authors and bloggers participating, mostly of the romance variety. So check out the list and drop by for prizes on each blog.

What does the New Year mean to you? Do you have any special traditions or ways to mark the year gone by or plan for the coming year?

Each year, my husband and I choose a theme that fits where we are and what we’re working toward in the coming year. We talk over possible themes during the fall, and choose one right around Christmas.

In 2012, the focus was balance. We have two small children, our careers and our passions (writing for me, music for him). The balance theme was definitely applicable and I thought about it all year long. I used that focus as a compass to check my thoughts and my actions against. There were times that word flashed into my mind and let me know I wasn’t on the right path. That was always a signal to refocus my attention. Choosing balance made my life happier and more fulfilling in 2012.

For 2013, we’ve chosen the theme more good. The idea is that instead of focusing on things we aren’t, or things we can’t have or can’t do, all of that energy should go into progressing toward our goals. One of our greatest laments is the lack of time to do what we truly love — but the more we lament it the more time we waste. No more! This year, instead of focusing on the ice cream I love to consume in the evening but feel I shouldn’t have, I’ll focus on eating tons of fresh, green things, so there’s less room for the worse choice. Instead of worrying over lost writing days, I’ll sit my butt in the chair and produce. Instead of worrying over how little time I’m able to spend on social media, I’ll make the time I am there FUN, like life should be. πŸ™‚
That’s our idea for 2013. What’s yours? I’d love to hear about it. 

Since I’d love to reach some new readers with this hop, you can buy either (or both!) of my paranormal romance novellas on Smashwords for half off this month using coupon code NX74A for Tribute, and WL57F for Vessel. I’m also going to give away a $10 Amazon gift card to one reader who comments on this post during the hop — please be sure to include your email address so that I can send you the gift card if you win. πŸ™‚

Then, of course, there are the grand prizes for the entire hop!

Here’s the information about the grand prizes: 


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!



Get to hopping, folks! This is your chance to start the New Year off making new author and blogger friends!

About J.R. Pearse Nelson

J.R. Pearse Nelson is a fantasy and romance writer from Oregon, USA. She lives with her husband and two daughters among the plentiful trees and clouds of the beautiful Willamette Valley. J.R. is always searching for the magic in our world. She weaves tales rooted in mythology, bringing legend to life in modern-day and fantasy settings. J.R. is the author of the Of the Blood fantasy romance series, the Foulweather Twins fantasy series, and the Water Rites fantasy series. You can connect with J.R. and learn more about her fiction at her website. Visit jrpearsenelson.com.
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72 comments on “New Year’s Blog Hop!!”

  2. Great approach to the New Year. In regards to eating more green leafy things, have you considered juicing? It’s where you blend fruits and vegetables (including green leafy ones) into a smooth drink. There’s the juice fast in which you only eat these drinks. You will lose weight with that. I started juicing before Christmas. I’m not doing the fast. I’m just adding it to what I normally eat as a health drink. I feel amazing every time I do it. It gives your body a big nutrient blast. I feel immediately healthier as I consume it, especially with increased mental alertness. Check out the films Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and Hungry for Change to see what I’m talking about.

  10. As I sit here, my husband is working on what we want to do this year…take a real family vacation. We have been married for 15 years and haven’t taken the kids anywhere. Many reasons why, but this year, we are changing that. Looking for a pet friendly cabin for a week’s vacation. We will do it.
    Best of luck in your goals and Happy New Year.
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

  15. Thanks for the chance. This year I want to read 50 books and attend comic con πŸ™‚ If those count haha

    Thanks so much! Have a great year!

  19. New Years means to me a time to be with family play board games, laugh loud, eat seafood and indulge in great fatty foods lol! A tradition we have for New Years day is to have mashed potatoes, ham and sauerkraut. It’s an old German tradition that my Grandfather brought over with him. If you don’t eat those foods, he would say, you would have bad luck sometime in the upcoming year.I want to continue it when I have kids too….And just saying…My sister didn’t eat her sauerkraut and she was unlucky last year…So I dont know…lol

    I really want to try your books. They are just what I love to read! I just now had to check to see if they were on amazon. I am so glad they are!!! Can’t wait to try them!

    Hope you and your family have a great New Years this year!

    Ash

    ashwayvpa@aim.com

  21. Uhm yeah, I totally want to win one of the prizes so I am commenting…

    I love hearing about your family’s annual theme. We do the same kind of thing — goals and a family “motto” each year. It’s nice to work together as a couple, huh?

    Hope it is a wildly successful year for you, with many (at least three :o) new books published. Looking forward especially to Queen Witch!!!!

    at hotmail dot com: bdjwbusiness

    P.S. I wish there was a way to privately share the email addy on the blog hop. Tell the organizers to look into that, okay? Ha.

  24. I’d like to try out the motto “slow down.”
    I’m bad at talking before I have time to think about what my words can mean.

    chelseawoodring at hotmail dot com

  26. No resolutions or traditions for me this year, hubby and I just plan to live one day at a time and see where life takes us – LOL Life can get so busy and time flys by so fast so the best thing is to make sure we are together everyday and enjoy life at every turn. Wishing you a great new year and hope you get to accomplish every future goal for this year.

    Happy New Year
    mrsqueentutt@gmail.com

  31. i loved what you wrote,balance is so important in our lives especially if lives are busy, I like keeping my goals small, so they don’t seem overwhelming or like a punishment. like people who want to lose weight..don’t say diet..say eating khealthy..and do not deprive yourself osf something. just eat way less than normal. I love to 3 bite rule for things that are real fattening..like pie..you can have it..only 3 bites..it is when you get the most flavor satisfaction and cure that craving.I make a goal and break it down into what sounds acheivable. I am just getting mobile again..and one of my goals is to stand and walk for 5 min…after I reach that goal I will add more time limit….Hope your new year is full of warm memories, laughter and balance
    peach_hugs@yahoo.com

  34. For me the new year is about starting things fresh and letting go of things that make you unhappy. I don’t do resolutions so much as goals. I have several reading goals this year!

    grapeapril75(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  35. If i had a word for this year it would be (Me)… Sounds kinda of selfish but in a way it is… I have to remember to take time for myself and not get so stressed… I am finally finishing college in October and plan on getting an accounting job before then. Thanks for being part of the hop.

    j.m.platt83@gmail.com

  38. My idea for 2013 would have to be completion – there are so many projects around my house – from arts and crafts to decorating, that really need to be finished.

    Happy New Year!

    jochibi AT yahoo DOT com

  47. I like your positive focus. It is so easy to have a negative outlook on things. I am learning to look on the positive side to get through some rough times… πŸ™‚
    Happy New Year
    koonie2888 at yahoo dot com

  48. I made a goal to be kinder to myself this year. I often do things for other people to the detriment of myself.
    planterofhope at aol dot com

  54. My resolutions are the usual — to lose some weight, work out more, read more & write more.

    Happy New Year & thanks for the amazing giveaway!
    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

  62. Hi! Happy New Years! Hmm. I dont really make new year resolutions. I kinda just take it one day at a time and go from there. Thanks for the awesome hop and all the giveaways! This is so fun! I love these hops! I always meet new authors, reconnect with old ones and my TBR list grows by leaps and bounds! Thank you!! Have a great day! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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