COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | El Flamingo

A debut sunset-noir novel from Kiwi actor-turned-writer Nick Davies sweeps the reader into a dangerous world of Latin-American espionage

With no role in sight and nothing to lose, actor Lou Galloway heads to Mexico to drown his sorrows. But after a mezcal too many, he is mistaken for a rogue assassin known simply as ‘El Flamingo.’ Before he can escape, he meets Maria-Carla, an enigmatic beauty with incredible perfume, and is swept into the dangerous world of Latin-American espionage. From Mariachi weddings to Colombian salsa bars, Lou has only one choice—to assume the identity of El Flamingo.

One thing is for sure. This is the role of his life!

El Flamingo is at its heart, a sunset-noir, in which the self-deprecating, soul-searching Lou Galloway takes on what every dreamer longs for—the impossible.

About the author

Nick Davies is an actor-turned-writer from Wellington who has appeared internationally in both film and tv. He has written a collection of travel stories titled The Lost Gringo Chronicles and has worked as a freelance contributor for The Dominion Post.

At 27, he took a break from acting and bought a plane ticket to Colombia to research and write his debut novel, El Flamingo. He can currently be found somewhere in Mexico, sipping a coffee or chasing a sunset, always searching for a story to tell.

Praise for El Flamingo:

‘El Flamingo is a perfectly crafted sunset-noir novel that engages from the opening page to the satisfying conclusion. Lou Galloway is an unforgettable character full of self-deprecating wit, and the plot is the perfect blend of action, intrigue and romance, all with an exotic Latin-American vibe. This is the story of a dreamer reaching for the impossible, and it’s a tale infused with heart and soul.’  – NZ Booklovers

Author Note

‘In my late twenties, I had established a (mildly) successful career as an actor in New Zealand. I’d done some soap operas and TV movies, plus a few theatre shows, but I couldn’t help but feel a general disillusionment with the whole superficiality of the industry. Some kind of drastic change was in order.

I’m not sure why, but I started researching Colombia, and it wasn’t too long before a character named Lou Galloway appeared in my head. I didn’t know much about him, save for the fact that he was a lost dreamer, who leaves Los Angeles with nothing to lose, heads to Latin America, and ends up getting swept into the adventure of his life.

I’ve never done well with bleak or melancholic narratives, so the comedic irony of a failed actor being mistaken for an assassin and forced to play the role in order to survive was, to me, the kind of story I wanted to exist. My acting savings funded a plane ticket to South America, plus a few months of living cheaply. I left NZ promising myself that when I returned, I would have my first novel.

Along the way, I learned it was never about the final product, but about the heart and soul of the story itself. El Flamingo took me from Los Angeles to Colombia, chasing the ghost of this damn Lou Galloway, who had blazed a trail out of my imagination, into the world, and onto a page.’

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 28th March 2023, winners will be notified via email by 30th March 2023.
   3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be couriered. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per household.
   8. Prize is non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize will only be posted within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.