What is a blog hop? That’s when several blog owners link their sites together, and readers win prizes for skipping around and commenting on as many blogs as possible. So pull up a chair, pour a cup of coffee, and have at it. Each time you comment on a blog, you are entered to win a Kindle Fire and an $80 gift certificate. Also, those who comment on this blog on January 4 are eligible to win an electronic copy of Vickie Taylor’s upcoming fantasy romance novella, Mother Nature & Father Time, A love (and hate) story.
New Years’ Memories
Blog hops often have themes, and the theme of this one is favorite New Years’ Memories. As I thought back over my life, one memory stood out for me.
My Senior year in high school, Danny asked me to the New Year’s bash at his fraternity. I was beyond excited to be going to my first college party, but I was also nervous. I’d never met Danny in person–just chatted with him online. It took three days of serious shopping, but I finally found the perfect dress, a low-cut black number with white piping that said “mature” witout giving up “sexy.”
The bash was a blast. I hadn’t realized until I got there that it was a masked party. I was handed a little half-face sequined disguise at the door. Luckily the person handing out the masks knew Danny and pointed him out to me, since everyone inside already wore their masks.
Danny and I were a perfect match. We danced, and managed a bit of conversation by shouting over music. At midnight, he told me, a toast would be made, and everyone would remove their masks for a New Year’s kiss.
I couldn’t wait.
The big moment finally arrived. Champagne in hand, everyone counted down the final seconds of the year.
“Three. Two. One. Happy New Year!”
We clinked glasses and sipped. My heart strummed. I lifted my mask, saw Danny’s lips curve upward beneath his full face piece. Slowly he slid it up from the bottom to reveal …
ZOMBIE!
I spun to run, but one of my three-inch heels caught on the carpet. I tumbled forward into a girl, her face decaying and smelling of death. A bony hand grabbed my ankle from behind and dragged me …
Oh wait … that was a book idea, not a memory. Sometimes I get the two mixed up.
In reality, New Year’s Day is the most exciting day of the year for me, but not because of any zombie encounters. It’s a time to let go of any mistakes and disappointments from the previous twelve months and contemplate the possibilities ahead. Clean slate.
I look forward to 2012 with as much anticipation as I’ve ever felt. I’ve made some big changes in my life, career-wise, and I can’t wait to share them with you in the form of books. I have three romance novellas coming out on Amazon.com in January, and then I will be starting a cozy mystery series that I can’t wait to tell you about (but I’m going to, because I want it to be a surprise).
Happy New Year, everyone!
click here for links to the other participating web logs! Win a Kindle Fire and an $80 Amazon.com gift certificate.
Vickietaylor's Blog 
Thanks for the contest. I don’t have any special New Years memory. I usually spend it with my family most of the time watching TV.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
great event, i hope the grand prize are international too
It will be interesting to see how your predictions come through.
lmjtgm(at)gmail.com
Thank for participating in the hop. I hope every one has a great New Year.
acm05atjuno.com
Your book cover is pretty. Great title. I can’t believe it’s already 2012.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
That would certainly make for a memorable New Years. Looking forward to leaving 2011 behind and getting 2012 off the ground.
linze_e at hotmail.com
I agree. I look at the new year with so many hopes and dreams and can’t wait to get started on a clean slate 🙂 richnkathy718 (at) msn (dot) com
Congrats on all your January releases! Happy new year!
mihoxli at gmail dot com
Ha, you had me going there, I couldn’t wait to find out what you found under the mask! 😉 Thanks for sharing that was fun to read!
Happy New Year to you!!!
Dprissypunk(at)gmail(dot)com
Any new year spent with family or friends is the best. ones without resolutions are just cake.
Jennifer
wocaworld @ gmail.com
Looking forward to 2012, would like to forget 2011.
All the best in 2012. Thanks for participating in this fun blog hop.
skpetal at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the chance to win!
brandon_savannah@yahoo.com
My favorite New Years Eve will always be special since it was the night my hubby proposed. After 35 years together, so glad I said yes.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the giveaway and I hope everybody will have a great new year!
mikki-mano@hotmail.com
That sounds like a good idea for a story. What is odd is this year I spent NYE with my sister, 2 of her kids watching a zombie marathon on TV. It was goofy, but so much fun.
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Wishing you a prosperous, happy new year!
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
Thank you so much for participating in this hop and for the giveaway opportunities!
I spent New Years Eve in bed with my (at the moment) fictional boyfriend 😉
Happy New Year!
Haha thanks for the contest!! Well my birthdays New Years eve so I could tell tons of stories from that! LOL But one of my most memorable would probably have to be last year just for how funny it was. My friend was 9months pregnant. Due any time and she decided that she wanted to play ‘Just Dance’ on my wii. So she seriously got into it. It was insane watching her dance with her big belly. I have it on video. Probably the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. 🙂 Thanks!
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com
well im hopping all over and i love the book you have here
i do not now if i read any of yours but going to try to read more
wishing you t he best and many more books
desi the blonde@ msn.com
One of my fav New Year’s Eve was when I was in the Navy and me and my roommates invited about 100 people over and they all showed up and brought more guests. It was everything you can imagine it would of having that many sailors in one place. It wasn’t much longer after many of us shipped out to Iraq.
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
Great idea for a story!! Loved it! I’m hoping this year will be better than the last one. Happy New Years to you and yours!
mnjcarter@charter.net
My birthday is NYE and one of my sisters is NYD so we have a combined birthday party at midnight.
snulfers at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the contest and sharing your favorite new years memory.
My favorite new years memory was of three years ago. I spent it with my best friend and her family just playing games and drinking.
charmed_sphere_mage69@hotmail.com
I don’t have any special memory. I just usually spend New Years with family watching movies, playing games eating and drinking.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I think that sounds like a great idea for a story! Happy New Year to you!
Wishing you lots of sales with your new January releases!
Thanks for the giveaway
ringpop2010 at gmail dot com
thank you so much for being part of this giveaway!!!
yankeedragon4 at gmail dotcom
I love the novella length…It’s so easy to start and finish before bedtime.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Happy New Year,
catherinelee100[at]gmail[dot]com
@capefearlibn
Congrats on your release! I love your cover. This new years was my favorite. My family stayed home and watched movies. We had tons of fun! We ate snacks and toasted the new year. It was great! Thank you for sharing! Happy new year!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for being part of the blog hop! Happy New Year!
OceanAkers@aol.com
Cool cover and the book sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
mythic021@gmail.com
I like to play cards with my family. Thanks for the giveaway!
geschumann at live dot com
Nothing that stands out. Just hanging with the family and eating way too much!
Ljay
Toonsgirl1 @ yahoo.com
Happy New Year, Vickie!!! Cute post! Cheers, Ashley
I spend new years eve at home watched movies went to bed early!
Thanks for the great giveaway and fun blog hop!
Happy New year!
tishajean@ charter.net
My mom would make shirley temples and snacks for new years eve celebration- loved it!
mconnolley(at)yahoo(dot)com
So mine starts off a little odd. I was working as a waitress and I ended up working a double shift from open to close without more than a two minute break periodically. I was pretty mad about that because I’d scheduled time off to be with my then boyfriend. Anyway so I worked all day and while the tips were great the people not so much, especially after about 9. So anyway we closed early that night and I got how around 11pm. I took a shower and climbed into bed and just as I was falling asleep my phone rings. I’m cussing up a storm and questioning the parentage of the person on the other end and it turns out it’s the boyfriend. He waits for my little rant to end and then before I can start up again blurts out “Will you marry me.” I’m so tired my brain doesn’t seem to understand him and I go “what?” so he politely repeats himself and then tells me to get my ass outside. I dropped my phone and ran out the front door to him standing there with two dozen of my favorite flowers on one knee 🙂 Best New Year’s EVER! We’ll have been married three years this may. I don’t know if we kissed in time to ring in the new year but it was still pretty epic.
a_breen87@yahoo(dot)com
You had me going for a while. Zombies, what fun!
Happy 2012.
mcv111 at hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for the great giveaway
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
My favorite NYE memory is the one I spend with my now husband. We went out with my best friend and her (then) husband. It was horrible. They fought the whole night but at one point during all that craziness he leaned over and told me that he loved me.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
areeths at new dot rr dot com
Thanks for the giveaway and have a Happy New Year!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
I guess my favorite NYE memory would have to be from a few years ago. Upon seeing flames dancing behind our neighbor’s frosted front door, my hubby and I rushed over, convinced that the house was on fire. We banged on the door, phone in hand to call 911. Turns out, our neighbor had a fire in the fireplace. The glass magnified the look of the flames. Talk about being mortified.
Yuck…zombies! We usually spend the evening inside with family and friends, lots of good eats…playing cards (poker) and listening to music until the ball’s about to drop. Then the wine is poured, toasts made, kisses shared…and then the party usually continues for a little while longer. Those that drank a little too much, or came without a designated driver snuggle in for the night…that’s just how we play. Better safe than sorry. 🙂 Happy 2012!
barbbattaglia@yahoo.com
Happy New Year. I kind of liked the return of the living dead new years party. Since it’s 2012 we could have a good time making a movie about it. Sounds like fun. Oh yeah, I was just thinking out loud. Thanks for the contest and good luck.
Sincerely, Arthur
Zombie!?! Ha! love it!
brbalways(at)yahoo(dot)com
my new yrs memories relaly all center aorund my loved ones and vegging outa nd watching tv its safer then going out and i love every minute of it
ty for the chance
mortalsin(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Great new years memory post!
My favorite new years was when I had a fun and crazy party with friends last year, the champagne was literally flowing everywhere since one of my friends tried to make a champagne fountain but it turned into a river instead!
lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com
Happy New Year. I love playing cards and drinking Irish Coffees after midnight.
One of my favorite was when I took my oldest grandson to the Peach Drop.
ainfinger@comcastDOTnet
“Oh wait … that was a book idea, not a memory. Sometimes I get the two mixed up.” That brought a smile to my face aha. Hope you and yours have a wonderful and safe new years! n.dematos@gmail.com
Great idea for a book! And Mother Nature and Father Time looks really good!!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
thewildtwo @ sbcglobal (dot) net
I’m a Dick Clark girl.
All the best for 2012 may your new cozy mystery be a runaway success.
thank you for the chance at such a great giveaway.
my favorite memory is the year my husband asked me to marry him.
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
This is so much fun. I love all the new blogs I am finding.
Pamela Jo
pmjg(at)E-jama(dot)net
My family parties at home with lots of good food and we watch the ball drop in Times Square.
Thank you for the wonderful contest.
I hope you have a very prosperous New Year.
orelukjp0 at gmail dot com