Guest Post & Giveaway: Lucky Bastard by S.G. Browne

I have to admit, when I was contacted for the first time I thought I was being pranked or something. Maybe one of those smart spam bots that saw it fit to email me about a book called Lucky Bastard. Well they must have gotten the wrong Bastard, since lucky I've never been. After ignoring the email for a few days, curiosity got the best of me and saw that it was written by author S.G. Browne, who I invited here today. Upon further research, an author that has been praised plenty, so consider my interest piqued.

Please welcome S.G. Browne as he shares with us a bit about novel's inception, and there's a giveaway at the end of the post.

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            Nick Monday is the titular hero of Lucky Bastard.

            Not because he was born lucky, but because he was born with the ability to steal other people’s luck, which he sells on the black market to the highest bidder. Thus, the bastard half of the title.

            I’m a big fan of flawed heroes and protagonists who are antagonists, so creating a main character who steals the good fortunes of others appealed to me on numerous levels. The idea for writing a novel about someone who has the ability to steal other people’s luck came from my short story, “Softland,” which I wrote in 2004 and which appears in my eBook collection, Shooting Monkeys in a Barrel. Yes, that’s shameless self-promotion. But like most writers, I have no shame.

However, I also give credit where it’s due.

The genesis for my short story “Softland” came from a 2001 Spanish film titled Intacto, which dealt with the concept of luck as a commodity and high-stake games of chance between those who possessed large quantities of luck, with the losers surrendering their good luck to the winners. One of the characters in the film had the ability to steal luck, and that intrigued me. Along with the entire concept of good luck as something tangible. So I created a mythology around luck poaching, including the different grades of good luck, people throughout history who had their luck poached, and the drug-like effects luck can have on those who traffic in it.

Not to mention what happens when you introduce bad luck into your system.

But you don’t have to poach bad luck for karma to catch up with you. After all, you can’t take something from someone without eventually paying a price.

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Bastard Giveaway: Lucky Bastard by S.G. Browne

Thanks for stopping by S.G. Browne, as mentioned am very curious at the moment about this book. And if any of you are also interested, well here's your opportunity to win one hardcover copy of Lucky Bastard.

Meet private detective Nick Monday. More Columbo than Sam Spade and more Magnum P.I. than Philip Marlowe, Nick was born with a unique talent: the ability to steal other people’s luck. All it takes is a handshake and Nick walks away with their good fortune, which he sells on the black market to the highest bidder.

Lately business has been slow and Nick doesn’t know whether his ability to swipe other people’s fortunes is a blessing or a curse. Then Tuesday Knight, the mayor’s curvy and seductive daughter, approaches Nick with an offer of $100,000 to retrieve her father’s stolen luck. Could this high-stakes deal help Nick turn his life around? Or will it simply fund his addiction to corporate coffeehouse baristas while his morality drains down the toilet?

Before he drinks his next mocha, Nick finds himself at the mercy of a Chinese mafia kingpin and with no choice but to scour the city for the purest kind of luck — a hunt more titillating than softcore porn. All he has to do to stay ahead of the game is remember that you can’t take something from someone without eventually paying like hell for it….

http://sgbrowne.com/novels/lucky-bastard/

Participants have to be 18 years of age or older to participate. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway rules are subject to change. 

The giveaway is open for both US and Canada residents only, and it will run from May 9, 2012 until 12:01am ET on May 19, 2012.

How to participate:

• Once logged in to the Rafflecopter, enter your email. It's the only mandatory thing to do to enter.
• One entry per person, or face disqualification.
• Entries accepted until 12:01am ET on May 19, 2012.
• 1 hardcover copy of Lucky Bastard for a US or Canada winner.
• Will have to confirm email to be considered a winner within a week after May 19, 2012.
• Additional entries may be had by following the steps provided in the Rafflecopter instructions, and only by doing those steps. 
• Winners will be chosen by random selection using the Rafflecopter.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway