Guest Post and Giveaway: Equality by Helena Stone

Please join us in welcoming author Helena Stone today on the virtual tour for her newest release, Equality, book two in the Dublin Virtues series. Helena’s here to talk Marriage Equality and is also offering a lovely giveaway, so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter entry details below.

Welcome, Helena!

Campaigning for a Yes-vote

The atmosphere surrounding the bus was almost carnival-like. Music came out of large speakers while a table had been set up, serving coffee and tea and showcasing a wide variety of what appeared to be home-baked treats.

“Are you sure we’re canvasing?” Xander asked. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say I’d walked into a street party.”

“Yes and yes,” Eric said. “We are canvasing. We’re answering questions. We’re engaging people in friendly discussion when appropriate and we’re handing out Yes Equality badges and car stickers. But the party atmosphere is deliberate. We’re asking people to allow us the same sort of happy ending most of them take for granted. Negativity is not going to get us anywhere, whereas fun and a positive image might persuade those in doubt that we’re not dangerous extremists.”

About a month before the Marriage Equality referendum was to take place in Ireland, the campaigners for a Yes-vote took a bus to the road. They would visit sixty-six towns and cities in every county in the Republic of Ireland, talking to voters and bringing the issue literally to people’s doorsteps.

Such a course of action could easily have led to protests from the opposition, but as far as I’m aware, the bus and the people travelling with it, never ran into any problems. And if the experience I had when they visited Cavan is anything to go by, that doesn’t surprise me at all.

As I describe in the excerpt above, the atmosphere surrounding the bus resembled a street party more than it did a political movement. If you look closely at the picture below you can see someone holding a cup behind the ‘yes’ sign because tea and coffee were served to those who needed warming up and there was a selection of sweet treats available too.

What’s more, while it was obvious what the campaign’s message was, nobody was shouting about it or even trying to engage passersby in a discussion unless they showed an interest or asked a question. When that happened they were all too happy to provide any information or argument required. My husband and I didn’t need answers or encouragement; we’d made up our minds the moment the referendum had been announced, and were there for a show of support. That didn’t stop us from having a very entertaining afternoon interacting with like-minded people though.

As for those badges I mention. We got plenty of them that day, and wore them with pride until the referendum had been passed. In fact, although we gave many away, we still have a small collection of ‘Yes’ and ‘Ta’—Irish for ‘Yes’— badges on a pin board in our kitchen; a reminder of the time when equality took a stand and won.

About the Book

Buy Links: Pride | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Length: 58,300 words
Dublin Virtues Series
Patience (Book #1) Pride | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Renewal (Book #3) Pride | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb: Love is love. But what if the fight for equality gets in the way of building a relationship?

Lorcan Barratt has never considered himself relationship material. After his parents made it perfectly clear they’d never welcome a partner of his into their home, he learned to love his own company and can’t imagine sharing his life with another. After a single passionate kiss with Eric Kavanagh—the night before he travels to Canada for three months—Lorcan’s no longer sure he wants to be on his own. The problem is, he has no idea what sharing his life with someone else might entail.

Eric Kavanagh grew up in a loving and supportive family and always assumed he’d end up in a committed relationship. Sure that he’s found the one, Eric doesn’t worry about the fact that Lorcan has no experience when it comes to love and relationships. They are good together, so what could possibly go wrong?

When both men get involved in the marriage equality referendum in Ireland, it appears to bring them even closer together until Lorcan’s insecurities get the upper hand and he shuts Eric out. Will the fight for a yes-vote cost them their relationship or will they be able to find a balance between the love they share and the need for equality?

About the Author

Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.

The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.

Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.

Helena can be found in the following places: Website || Blog || Facebook || Facebook Author Page || Twitter || Goodreads || Amazon Author Page || Pinterest || Email