BOTS 2: Justin Gustanis

by Justin Gustanis


My nominee for best sidekick is white witch Libby Chastain from my "Morris & Chastain Investigations" series.

I guess I'm cheating a little. Libby started out as a sidekick, it's true. In the first book in the series, Black Magic Woman, she plays an important but supporting role. I didn't make a conscious decision to give her status a boost for Evil Ways; she just became vitally important to the story -- so much so that after reading the book, my publisher changed the series name from "Quincey Morris Supernatural Investigations" to "Morris and Chastain Investigations.

Libby brings a lot to the table. As a practitioner of "white" magic, she has saved Quincey Morris's butt on several occasions. She has faced off against "black" witches, professional killers, evil wizards, and the very powers of Hell itself.

She also has a quirky sense of humor. At an airport baggage claim, as Quincey hefts Libby's heavy suitcase, he asks, "How do you reconcile your feminist principles with having me carry this beast for you?" Libby just gives him a sweet smile and says "I look upon it as exploiting the oppressor."

Libby is bisexual, but has been quick to point out "that doesn't make me some kind of a skank" -- as, of course, it doesn't. In fact, poor Libby hasn't gotten laid in three books, although it's revealed in one that she and Quincey share a past with a deadly lady named Hannah Widmark. Libby is almost seduced by a incubus (a male sex demon), nearly takes up an invitation to a threeway with an amorous couple, and gives serious consideration to a sexual proposition from a female demon. Maybe in the next book, she'll finally get lucky.

Libby Chastain was once a heck of a sidekick -- and now she's the best partner that a guy like Quincey Morris could have.

---

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive the following:

Senator Howard Stark wants to be President of the United States. So does the demon inside him. With the competing candidates dropping out due to scandal, blackmail, and ‘accidental’ death, Stark looks like a good bet to go all the way to the White House. And if he gets there, Hell on Earth will follow.

Occult investigator Quincey Morris and white witch Libby Chastain are determined to stop this evil conspiracy. But between them and Stark stand the dedicated agents of the US Secret Service – as well as the very forces of Hell itself. Quincey and Libby will risk everything to exorcise the demon possessing Stark. If they fail, ‘Hail to the Chief’ will become a funeral march – for all of us.

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.

Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

Giveaway Guidelines:
* Open Internationally
* Leave a comment with your email address
* This giveaway ends September 7th
* IMPORTANT: I will not be contacting winners! Be sure to check back after September 7th to see if you've won this or any of the other giveaways! 

Extra Entries:
* Link back to this giveaway on some social networking site or on your blog. Be sure to include the link to your post in your giveaway entry--and make sure that I can view it! (For every site you do this on, you'll receive one extra entry)