Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Book Tour: Counterpoint by Daniel Rafferty







Introducing Counterpoint 
A Sci-Fi / Fantasy Novel
 by Author Daniel Rafferty

About Counterpoint 


{Blurb} Move over “War of the Worlds,” we’ve got bigger issues to deal with now!  In author Daniel Rafferty’s “Counterpoint,” things aren’t always as they seem—but what, exactly, does that mean?   Is it time for the fight to the end between good and evil, Heaven and Hell? Is it the beginning of Armageddon and the end of time?
It all starts out innocently enough when 12-year-old Mary asks her father where he’s off to, which happens to be one of mankind’s worst endeavours, a World War.  But the story quickly moves beyond earthly boundaries, with angels, demons, the devil, archangels and even humans with supernatural powers, coming together to fight a battle between right and wrong, good and evil.  And the powers-that-be are acting on God’s behalf, but is he just watching from a distance to see what happens? What’s God’s role in all of this—and will he be back to save the day—does he even still exist?
You may think you know the storyline, with so many familiar biblical names being thrown about like fresh holy water; however, there are strange twists and turns that’ll leave you wondering who the good guys and bad guys really are. Is Lucifer actually the devil incarnate or do we humans have it all wrong?  Is Archangel Michael really who we think he is? Can all angels be trusted and are some demons good? It’s a mixed up dimension of space and time when you’re dealing with supernatural entities and human beings—and whose to be trusted?
Beyond the clear symbolism of names such as Mary, Gabriel, David, Ariel and others, what role does the Bassett family play and why does everyone seem to have plans for them?  Why have they been chosen among all other families on earth to do what they do? What have they been selected to do? Will they realize their roles in time to save the planet and the universe as we know it or are they just pawns in a much bigger scheme?  
This epic tale takes places from Liverpool to London, to the Scottish and Welsh highlands and over to Dublin—but the end-game results will either be salvation or total destruction of the entire world—and the outcome is still not certain. Is God’s human experiment over—or will we continue for another millennium?  To find out, you must stop what you’re doing right now and read the pages of this exciting story! Say your prayers and hope someone’s listening!

BUY Counterpoint


Meet Daniel Rafferty

Daniel Rafferty currently lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is actively engaged in writing the epic Counterpoint Trilogy Series and is also working on different pieces of writing outside this genre. This includes the upcoming sci-fi thriller Destiny: Illusions. Always intrigued with epic dramas and grand questions, which have been asked throughout the history of civilisation, he aims to incorporate dramatic stories around these questions. This provides a large tapestry in which his writing is sewn.

Connect with Author Daniel Rafferty


The Counterpoint Book Tour is presented by

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Guest Post: 3 Things Every Writer Needs to Know About Succeeding In Publishing Today



By Rachel Eliason-
Author of Run, Clarrisa, Run

The internet, the ebook revolution and the indie revolution have thrown the entire publishing industry into a state of flux. Social Media sites like Goodreads and Shelfari, coupled with retail sites like Amazon.com have revolutionized how we discover and buy new books. Amazon's kindle has brought ebooks to the mainstream. Ebooks currently run about 20% of total book sales, enough to say that they are here to stay. In an effort to get more content onto its platform Amazon made publishing on it's Kindle almost ridiculously easy, whether you were a major corporation, a small press or an individual. In doing so they fueled a new wave of “indie” authors.

For many writers, bloggers and freelance editors this is the wave of the future. Why would an author surrender the lion's share of her/his profits to publishing company? Gatekeepers? Let the readers decide for themselves what they want to read or not. Crowd source the gatekeeper role through reviews and social media sites. They cream will rise and the rest will sink.

Other writers, editors and industry types claim this revolution will be short lived. Readers need gatekeepers, they don't have the patience to wade through hundreds of poorly edited self-published books. Writers need publishers to edit their works and bring them to market.

Who is right? Where will these changes lead? After reading as many books, blogs and points of view as I can on the subject I have come up with one thing that I am fairly certain of:

1. Nobody knows what is going to happen next.

Anyone claiming otherwise is probably full of it. If, for example, some author were to write a guest blog about “three things every writer should know” they are probably just blowing smoke.

Seriously, no one really knows where this all headed. In a hundred years, when all the dust has settled, some historians will look back say, “so and so was right.” Right now no one can do that. Be they a huge success like Joe Konrath or a struggling newcomer, none of the Indie crowd really knows where this is all headed.

Agents, editors, publishing executives and traditionally published authors might seem like experts. After all they have the insider view of publishing. But they don't know either. Anything they say is just their own personal experience.

Publishing today needs to come with a warning label, like late night paid advertisements have. In fact lets give it one right now:

2. Individual results may vary.

Almost every diet has these words in the fine print somewhere. The book, video or infomercial features  people who lost 20, 30 or even 40 pounds. But the average dieter will probably lose far less.

Writers are full of glib advice. You want to make money? Write romance. Romance sells. Ya is hot right now. Werewolves/vampires/zombies are big right now.

The romance genre is consistently the highest selling genre. But there is also fierce competition with many good established romance authors out there. There are conventions in each genre and writers who are not familiar with them probably won't do well in that genre.

YA is hot. But a few really big bestselling series (Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games) makes the genre look hotter than it really is. Werewolves, vampires, zombies are a great fodder for the writer and themes that come and go in literature.

My point is that the fact that Romance sells doesn't mean that you will have luck selling your romance novel. The fact YA is hot doesn't make it easier for you to start a career writing YA.

The same goes for other aspects of writing. Some writers are having great luck marketing kindle singles or short stories in ebook form. Other writers are finding they don't really sell. Some writers claim that series are where it is at.

Some writers find twitter to be a great platform for promoting themselves. Others prefer to interact with fans on Facebook or Goodreads. Others keep email list. Many authors do all of their promoting online and ignore old fashioned book signings and readings. Others make most of their money that way.

What will work for you?

3. It really comes down to trial and error.

If you are looking for a sure-fire guaranteed method for jump starting your writing career, you probably think this is pretty sucky advice. Would it make you feel better if I told you those bloggers with sure-fire answers are lying to you? They probably are. I refer you back to points one and two. Publishing is in such a state of flux that no one really knows what will work or not work. Individuals will have different experiences anyway.

Within this piece of advice is an incredible sense of freedom. Do you want to succeed? Try, try anything. Too many writers get bogged down in how-to books that they never actually write. Of those that do write, many get bogged down in books and blogs about publishing and never take a chance.

So take a chance. I have published a couple of short stories. I haven't had much luck in terms of sales, but that's doesn't mean you won't. I have written a couple of contemporary YA novels. They are important stories and I am glad I wrote them. They sell consistently but not particularly well. I am certainly not going to live off royalties on those books. Lately I have been drawn back to my first love, fantasy. Will my fantasy novels sell better? Time will tell.

I have many story ideas in my head and on my computer. They span many genres. I recommend that every writer should write the stories they have inside them and not pigeon-hole themselves as romance authors, fantasy writers or whatever too early in their career (or ever for that matter.) Take a chance and write a story that isn't in your usual genre. You might find a more comfortable niche for yourself.

I am most active on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. I have accounts on almost all of the major social media sites. As new sites emerge I sign up and check them out. Some become part of my ongoing marketing and some don't. Again, I would urge all writers to try out as many social networks as possible. As time goes on you will have a first hand sense of where to prioritize your time.

When historians look back on this time period in a hundred years I think they will all agree on one thing. The writers who succeed will be those that were willing to try new things. So get out and try.

Connect with Author Rachel Eliason


Monday, October 7, 2013

GIVEAWAY: Paranormal City Series!

For all you paranormal fans out there, good news! 



Author Celeste Carrara has offered to give away an ecopy of her series, Paranormal City, to one of you lucky readers!

 To enter, simply scroll down and enter via the Rafflecopter. This giveaway is exclusive to my blog so one of you fabulous readers will get to enjoy reading all four books in the series!

About the Paranormal City Series


Give Me Forever -

Serena, a twenty five year old newly turned vampire longs for a normal life. Daughter to the king of the Northeastern faction of vampires her life is anything but normal. Her actions are ruled by her duty to her people and her father's demands. Serena's father Sebastian is impossible to please no matter how hard Serena tries. Loyalty and fear keep her trapped in her life.

While tending to business for her father Serena meets Nick, a handsome young realtor whom she finds herself attracted to regardless of the fact that he is human. Even though she knows better she can't seem to stop herself from falling into his arms, and his bed. Nick gives her a glimpse into the normal life she wishes for but how long can she ignore their differences?

When humans start showing up drained of their blood with obvious vampire bites on their bodies Sebastian takes it as a direct challenge to his authority. Someone is gathering his enemies with intentions of stripping him of his title. The only two he can trust to aid him is his daughter Serena, and his assassin Alex. Little did he know that once the two meet all their lives would change forever. No one can change the course of fate. When destiny calls they try to fight it but neither Serena nor Alex can deny the pull of their souls yearning to be joined.

Give Me Your Trust - 

Corina was a vampire who stood to herself and lived a simple life. All she wanted was to share her long life with a mate. Too bad her track record with men sucked. After another failed relationship she swore off men. Her fragile heart couldn't take another disappointment.

Gage, a serial playboy encounters his old lover Corina at the vampire club Pulse. Fresh from a breakup he happily volunteers to be the rebound. Showing her pleasures beyond her wildest dreams was his one and only goal. That is until he starts to feel more for the woman who was suppose to only be a temporary fling.

Will Corina learn to trust again and give Gage a chance?

Will Gage be worthy of her trust?

Give Me Destiny -

GWEN is a witch who spends her days wielding magic to help others. Too bad her magic can’t help her. Meeting her soul mate was the easy part. Keeping him is her dilemma. Is it destiny keeping them apart? Or, is something more sinister to blame? Unwilling to let her happiness slip away, Gwen will stop at nothing to be with JOSH. But how far is she willing to go to attain her happily ever after?

Give Me Pleasure -

Kayla has needs and desires and thus far hasn't found a man who can accept her kinks. Then again, she has a hard time accepting them too. She's suppose to be a good girl. Good girls don't do the things Kayla fantasizes about. 

Mika doesn't have time for women. His life revolves around his job. As the head of security of vampire king Sebastian, Mika's only focus is protecting and serving his king. Women, especially the human variety, are used for only two things. Blood and sex. 

When Mika and Kayla meet, neither are prepared for the feelings they stir in one another. They shouldn't be together, too many obstacles, yet they can't stay away..


The Paranamoal City Series is available online at:





About the Author Celeste Carrara


Celeste Carrara is a self-published author of the erotic paranormal romance series Paranormal City. A stay at home wife and mother, Celeste never dreamed she would be so fortunate to be a full-time writer. She resides in New York City with her husband of over fifteen years and their two children. All of Carrara's books are based in her hometown, her favorite city Manhattan. 

As a child she loved reading and used her writing of poetry as a way to escape her troubled childhood. Life got in the way, and her reading took a back seat to raising her kids. After her children became self sufficient, and she had more time on her hands, her sister told her about a "hot new paranormal romance" she had to read. Celeste jumped in and returned to her love of reading. Always fascinated by all things paranormal, and a lover of romance, Celeste devoured every paranormal romance she could find. She has always liked her books with some spice so it came as no surprise she found erotic romance. 

All this reading sparked the writer within. An idea for a story came to her one day and she decided to put it on paper. Soon, the ideas were flowing and she couldn't stop writing. With encouragement from her husband, and best friend, Celeste completed her first novel, Give Me Forever, and hasn't looked back. Currently she is working on more books of the Paranormal City series as well as stand alone erotic romances. 
Visit Celeste online at CelesteCarrara.com

Win an Copy of the Paranormal City Series!

As I mentioned earlier, author Celeste Carrara is giving a way an ecopy of the series, all four books, to one lucky reader from my blog. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

GOOD LUCK!