S.G. Browne

Lucky Bastard Giveaway

*THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS AWARDED. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR PLAYING!*

To celebrate the Summer Solstice, I’m giving away two signed copies of my latest novel Lucky Bastard. That’s right. Two signed copies to two lucky winners two months after the release of the book.

Think of them as twins separated at birth.

Anyway, since we’ve got a lot of deuces going on here, let’s keep the theme going as we roll on into the relevant details.

There are two ways you can enter to win:

1) Leave a comment on this blog post about your favorite superstition or something you do to attract good luck. Any ritual you perform or talisman you might carry around to improve your good fortune. I’ll pick one lucky winner from the comments posted below. Please post only once. (And if you’re reading this on Goodreads, please leave your comments on the original post on my web site rather than on Goodreads.)

2) Tweet the following on Twitter:

Feeling down on your luck? Pick up a copy of LUCKY BASTARD by @s_g_browne http://su.pr/2DfDyG #luckpoachers

Again, please tweet this only once. And make sure to include the link and the hashtag. I’ll pick a second lucky winner from this pool of entries.

Yes, you can enter to win both ways but again, please, enter only once each time.

The contest will run until Friday, June 22 at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 25.

I’ll cover shipping to any address in the United States. Outside of the United States, any exorbitant shipping costs are on you. Deal? Deal.

Good luck!

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Filed under: Contests,Lucky Bastard — Tags: — S.G. Browne @ 9:24 pm

30 Comments »

  1. Hi Scott, Whenever I have that not so “lucky” feeling, I have a necklace I wear to change all that. I got the necklace about 20 years ago from a man at a garage sale. He was a former drug addict who had contracted AIDS. He was selling all his beautiful jewelry and outfits (as he was also a crossdresser). I stumbled across this beautiful sterling silver piece and he told me that it was one of his favorites and he would sell it to me for twenty dollars. I gave him forty and talked to him for a long while. He had such a positive demeanor despite the deterioration to his body and lack of funds to pay for his healthcare. Every time I wear it I think of him, and feel lucky that I was able to meet someone like that. That necklace has his positivity infused into the silver. I don’t wear it everyday because I don’t want my luck to run out.

    Comment by Gwen Zimlin (McWhorter) — June 20, 2012 @ 6:15 am

  2. I don’t leave the house on Friday the 13th. This is something I’ve been doing for the past 20 years.

    Comment by Keith Rawson — June 20, 2012 @ 6:16 am

  3. My “good luck charm” is something called a Witch’s Ball. It’s a seedpod from some type of tree (forgive my ignorance) that has spindles sticking out every which way. When I received it, I was told it was to “reduce negative energy” if hung in the home. I put it next to the front door with hopes of negativity staying outside. My elementary school aged children keep coming inside so I don’t know how well it is actually working…..
    (kidding…love my kiddos)
    Thanks for the chance to win a book by one of my all time favorite authors!

    Comment by April M. — June 20, 2012 @ 6:24 am

  4. I’m actually sort of anti-superstitious. Instead of avoiding black cats, they’re the only kind of cat I’ll own. I’ve only had a black cat and he’s been outrageously lucky in so many ways. I also insist on throwing spilled salt over my shoulder. I wouldn’t consider myself too superstitious, but I am careful of some things, just in case. :P

    Comment by Schyler Martin — June 20, 2012 @ 6:27 am

  5. Although I’m not Catholic, and I think this is kind of weird for someone raised as a Southern Baptist, I have St. Christopher medals everywhere to help protect my husband and myself in our travels. (With some of today’s drivers, I feel very lucky to get anywhere safely!) I keep two St. Christopher’s in our car (visor medals), one in each purse I own, one in my wallet, and several on various chains & necklaces I wear. This even goes back to the late 60’s when my husband (also not Catholic) went to Vietnam and I sent a St. Christopher along with him to protect him in his travels.there. He came home safely and he still wears a St. Christopher every day.

    Comment by Peggy — June 20, 2012 @ 6:31 am

  6. Our favorite family superstition (Family being by husband, kids and me) is that if you eat a birthday candle from your cake each year, it will keep your hair from falling out. I have no idea why we started, but it probably had something to do with somebody eating a candle on a dare one year. After we did it a few times it became a “thing.” Then, as it became tradition we needed a reason to do it. My husband, who has the thickest head of hair, said it keeps your hair from falling out. Then, we would point to his dad, who was bald, and say “Grandpa Buddy never ate his candles. . . Look what happened to him.”

    My son just graduated from high school last week. Ours has always been a house full of kids . . . and his friends all know the tradition. A couple months ago, we made a cake for one of his friends and I said, “I don’t think you know about our tradition, yet.” He said, “I have to eat a candle, right?” Some kids have even started doing it on their own. It’s an absolute farce, but it would feel so wrong if we didn’t do it.

    Comment by Susan Seaman — June 20, 2012 @ 6:48 am

  7. I’m not exactly sure if this is tied to luck at all or if it’s just a poor outlook on life, but when I really want something good to happen to me or my family I tend to be negative about it and always assume the worst. When I do this, the thing I want to happen typically does. Though when I’m positive and get excited, things tend to go horribly wrong. Let’s just say that right now, I’m not thinking very postive ;)

    Comment by Kris V. — June 20, 2012 @ 6:51 am

  8. Birthday wishes and rubbing my babies head or tushy lol

    Comment by Lindsay MacDonald — June 20, 2012 @ 7:00 am

  9. I realize this is pretty unimaginative but I don’t have any good luck charms or good luck rituals. I have, however, developed my own sort of ridiculous superstition: I cannot cross off a day on a calendar until the end of the night, when the kids are in bed and my husband and I don’t have any more errands to run. If I cross off a day before our day is done I get this horrible sinking feeling that something bad will happen (like my husband will get in a car accident on his way home from work or something). I understand it’s a ridiculous notion and the “superstition” doesn’t apply to all of our calendars, just my kitchen “planning” calendar. I can cross off days on any other calendar in the house any time I want but the calendar I use to actually schedule things on cannot have its days crossed off until the very end of the night.

    Comment by Sara B. — June 20, 2012 @ 7:29 am

  10. Well, my favorite superstition is actually a double whammy in that it can BOTH repel bad luck and bestow good luck. If you think someone may be possessed by an evil spirit – or maybe they just look suspicious – you can spit toward them to get the devil out. You can also spit in the same fashion to give them a little good luck. Spit must be very powerful stuff. Babas and Yia Yias everwhere can attest to efficacy of this custom. The only thing better would be to spit and throw salt at the same time.

    Comment by Cheryl Grizzell — June 20, 2012 @ 7:48 am

  11. This is going to start off depressing, but stick with me. Fresh out of high school, my close Aunt was murdered. Less than a year later my best friend was murdered. I spent a lot of time thinking about bad luck, and how bad things constantly followed me throughout my life. My luck was nil. Then, at my best friend’s funeral, his mother gave something to me, something I really wasn’t expecting:

    A hand carved wooden donkey, with one broken hoof.

    I was speechless. It was one of my friend’s prized possessions in life. He had always referred to it as his “Magic Ass”. To this day I’m still not sure where it came from, though he liked to claim that he made it himself. Since that day, it has come with me wherever I’ve gone. I’ve had a few scares, but I like to think that my Magic Ass has kept me safe from most physical and emotional harm. Whether its in my messenger bag, on the dashboard of my car, in my carry on luggage during a trip or just sitting atop my entertainment center while I’m at home, my little wooden donkey with the broken hoof has been one of my best friends.

    I’m not an overly superstitious type, but I like to think that keeping the Magic Ass around allows me to keep a piece of my friend with me. It’s likely just a chunk of wood, but even the most rational person needs to have something irrational in their life to truly remain grounded.

    Comment by Andrew S. Lee — June 20, 2012 @ 8:13 am

  12. Jumping backwards 3 times each morning when you get up.

    Comment by Tristen — June 20, 2012 @ 10:37 am

  13. After my first divorce, I was the last person hopeful about love. I started going out to curse my luck, smoking and drinking quite a bit. I stumbled into a smoke shop near Ocean Beach in San Diego and found a necklace with a 3/4 inch crystal wrapped crudely with filament. The shop owner was stoned, and slowly advised that if I held it near my heart with a wish or belief, I would attract exactly what I asked for. I stupidly asked for men to fall in love with me. I wore the necklace the next day to work and I was cat called in the parking lot. Shrug. I clocked in at work and someone bought me chocolate and left it on my desk. Okay. When lunchtime came, a random man offered his umbrella. Nice. The day ended with my soon to be ex, sending me a dozen gaudy roses and an apology for being a lying, cheating, selfish.. well you know. YUCK. I gave the roses away; one by one. Took off the necklace, never saw it again.

    Comment by Liza — June 20, 2012 @ 12:18 pm

  14. Before I try doing anything new I always close my eyes and count to ten for good luck. And I always carry my keys on a keychain with hebrew writing on it.

    Comment by Jesse Swink — June 20, 2012 @ 12:24 pm

  15. I do not like the number 13 so I try to avoid it, which isn’t always easy especially working in retail. And as for bringing luck, if I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have any at all!

    Comment by Jane — June 20, 2012 @ 3:53 pm

  16. No superstitions here; I was born lucky. I guess it’s because I’m Irish.

    Comment by Clifford Brooks — June 20, 2012 @ 4:13 pm

  17. Superstitions… I hold my breath every time I pass a cemetery. Yes, I’m a 33 year old man.

    For luck… I have carried a little rock, a Tiger’s Eye, in my pocket everyday since I was fifteen or sixteen. Also in my pocket any time I leave the house: fingernail clippers, small Bic lighter, black Bic pen, and a tiny plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex. You know, in case there’s any trouble.

    Comment by Brent Michael Kelley — June 21, 2012 @ 6:11 am

  18. Can’t wait to read this one!

    Ah, luck … do I believe in it? I think we make our own luck – as Gary Player said, “You harder you work, the luckier you get.” But I do have my superstitions. Like, if I don’t worry over something important, it will go wrong. The more I worry and play out worst-case scenarios, the better the outcome will be. (This is similar, I think, to Kris V.’s comment!) I know, I know…

    I do adhere to some “traditional superstitions,” like the bride shouldn’t see the groom before a wedding, or eating specific foods/getting certain items at holidays for luck throughout the year – I think this is mainly for the tradition rather than a belief that it’ll work.

    Gee, guess I’m not a very luck-oriented girl! But I do think it’s total luck finding a four-leaf clover!

    Comment by Zuzana — June 21, 2012 @ 6:20 am

  19. As a dancer, I make my money on tips. I created a little ritual that reflects my catholic upbringing. Well, I guess it blaspemes my catholic upbringing. But then again, so does my job which makes it a moot point. Right, the ritual. I light a candle, incense, or make an offering to the patron saint of dancers, Stripperella, while I get ready for work. My altar consists of a barbie doll and a pair of stilettos. It started off as joke with my best friend that turned into magic. The first night we tried it, we both made an unusual pile of cash. So the altar stayed.

    Comment by inti — June 21, 2012 @ 10:19 am

  20. Me, I always toss spilled salt over my shoulder because I care less about sweeping than dirty counters.

    I actually am really superstitious for “just in case” reasons. No umbrellas open in the house, no walking under ladders, no saying the name of the “the Scottish play” in a theater. Why tempt Fate?

    Oh wait, that was the last book. :)

    Comment by Marian Librarian (@LibrarianMarian) — June 21, 2012 @ 10:43 am

  21. Superstition and OCD go hand in hand right? I only get to pick one? How about I have a fear that I’ll fall in love with a t-shirt and accidentally ruin it henceforth rendering myself unable to wear it again after leaving me in a state of depression over the lost garment so I buy them in pairs (same with shoes for the same reason) but then if the first one gets ruined I’m always afraid to wear the second one for the same reason so I began buying them in threes instead of twos… the first being worn, the second being stored as a backup and the third in a tupperware container under the bed as a backup if the first backup becomes the main shirt in the trio.

    Since that isn’t really a superstition per se I’ll add a second. I have been playing the same daily lottery numbers for 16 years because I know the day I forget to buy that fucking ticket will be the day those numbers come out….

    Is that a superstition or just my own stubborn ignorance? Ok, one final superstition. I know this one’s definitely a superstition. I have a lucky quarter that kept coming back to me in the late nineties with the same engraved number “13” on it. I had it in my possession three different times over a 2 year period. I lived in a SMALL town so intelligence tells me it just made short moves around that small area from the grocery store to the gas station and back ending in my hand by happenstance. Regardless I kept that quarter in my possession for luck for years. Until. I ran into a string of car accidents. Digging into my pocket for my keys at the 3rd accident I pulled out the quarter. In a moment of sheer rage I chucked it into the bean field beside the interstate while the officer marked off the distance of the skid marks behind me. I totalled my car about a month later.

    That’s it. And I freak out if a black cat crosses my path. Not because of superstition, just because I hate cats.

    Comment by Travis Besecker — June 21, 2012 @ 12:54 pm

  22. My “good luck” charm is a small rock I keep in my pocket with the words CREATE on it. Reminding me daily to do so…

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=392515563132&set=t.659038132&type=3&theater

    Comment by DVR — June 21, 2012 @ 2:51 pm

  23. Hey there, S.G. Browne! My “good luck charm” is definitely a t-shirt I’ve had for a few years now. A memorable t-shirt at that, since the graphic is a huge Legolas from Lord of the Rings across my chest. I’ll tell you, there are some problems with having a t-shirt as a good luck charm. Recently, I’ve had to take a series of important tests on different days with basically the same group of people, all of whom now think I only own one shirt. Ah, well. Their judgement doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m passing the tests!

    Comment by Caroline Russell — June 22, 2012 @ 7:54 am

  24. Hi! I have a little plastic poison blue frog that sits on my car dash that I’ve had for about 20 years. I don’t know if it’s lucky but it reminds that over the course of these years that I have been very lucky. I also totally believe in guardian Angels. There are those nights or days that sometimes in my very long drive home that I zone out and wonder how in the world I made it home because surely someone else was driving. ALSO I should get your signed book because I’ve been leaving comments and likes and asking how to get my hands on a signed book. I also pressure people into reading “Breathers” because I’m a huge fan. Thanks! I’ll be waiting with baited breath for my book to arrive.

    Comment by Karah Hobbs — June 22, 2012 @ 8:01 am

  25. I’ve carried around a small rubber turtle I received when I was very young. If I ever forget to put it in my pocket, things tend to not go my way. Yet when I bring it with me, which is usually all the time, I tend to have pretty substantial luck. I’ve found money on the ground, had strangers approach me at movie theaters and offer me free tickets, and people just generally seem much nicer when I have him on me.

    Comment by Justin Miller — June 22, 2012 @ 9:18 am

  26. Even though my Mother has been dead for years, I still avoid stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk.

    Comment by Billy Goode — June 22, 2012 @ 6:44 pm

  27. Dear Scott G. Browne and the rest of the lucky/unlucky world,

    A piece of superstition I am accustomed to wearing on a semi-regular basis is a pair of forest green boxer briefs made none other than fruit of the loom (that is a clever name, isn’t it?). Any who, one day I thought was like any other, I decided to get dressed after showering. I was especially excited because I had a new pack of underwear to open. When I opened the fruit, I could feel a force in my hands. I dug through four pairs until I beheld my new lucky charm. That was the day that changed my whole life, all because of the wonder undies.

    Six days prior to finding the underwear, I thought I was in bad luck’s good fortune because my grandfather (the man who raised me) suddenly passed away. But after using the force, I was proven wrong.

    I went to the bar like any normal, bored college student on a Thursday night (too bad it wasn’t a ‘Tuesday Knight’ ha!). As I indulged in five too many beers and maybe a shot or two, I stumbled towards the bathroom. On my way, I came across the familiar face of an old girl I knew from a rival high school. Being the friendly and flirtatious drunk that I am, I invited her to exchange phone numbers to which she luckily obliged. After a few hours of bar chatter, we retired to her apartment to well, we’ll say…wrestle.

    Since then I have always had a connection with those undies, only wearing them when I felt the time was right. So far, they’ve done me justice, as literally every time I wear them I seem to not only have good fortune, but manage to get laid by that very same vixen I rekindled with at the bar.

    It just so happens, that I also wore them on the day that I asked her to be my wife.

    They provided me the necessary luck, and shortly I will be wed to my best friend. Not the most romantic story, but definitely one in luck’s good fortune.
    Thanks all!

    Comment by Tommy Beiter — June 22, 2012 @ 7:37 pm

  28. While I don’t have time to respond to each comment individually, I wanted to thank to everyone for sharing your comments on your good and bad luck charms and superstitions. They were a lot of fun to read and pretty much covered the full spectrum:

    a lucky rubber turtle, a magic ass, an unlucky coin, necklaces both lucky and a little too potent in their magic, lucky underwear, an altar to the goddess of strippers, black cats, t-shirts, rocks, unlucky numbers, spitting, and eating birthday candles.

    Just to name a few.

    If I end up writing a sequel to LUCKY BASTARD, I might just end up wanting to use some of these.

    I’ll pick a random winner and announce the lucky recipient on Monday. Thanks again for playing!

    Comment by admin — June 23, 2012 @ 9:33 am

  29. Since I was a teenager (20+ years) I have been carrying around a large metal nut (those hexagonal, mechanical things) in whatever car I happen to be driving and the road trips are awesome every time! Forgetting the nut, ruin the trip.

    Comment by C Harrelson — June 25, 2012 @ 6:01 am

  30. LUCKY BASTARD GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

    Congratulations to Liza and Keith, who were selected by the Random Number Generator to receive a signed copy of LUCKY BASTARD.

    Oddly enough, the RNG pulled up the number 13 for the good luck comments posted here, while it pulled up the number 3 for the Twitter version of the contest. And we all know that good things come in threes.

    Congrats again to the winners. And thank you to everyone who shared their comments and posted on Twitter!

    Comment by admin — June 25, 2012 @ 6:53 am

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