Rob Azevedo named a finalist in annual National Society of Newspaper Columnists competition

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Azeveobook
If you don’t buy Rob Azevedo’s books, he’ll have to eat them. Courtesy Photo

MANCHESTER, NH – It was bound to happen, sooner or later.

Freelance writer and columnist Rob Azevedo, after decades of toiling, finds himself standing on the precipice of fame and fortune. It’s turning out to be a big year for our scrappy straight-shooting music-loving bon vivant – not only has he published his first book – “Notes from the Last Breath Farm: A Music Junkie’s Quest to be Heard,” but we just got word that he’s been named a finalist in the National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual writing competition, for a pair of columns he penned for the InkLink.

According to NSNC communications director Bonnie Jean Feldcamp, Azevedo’s entry was selected from among “hundreds of entries” in a variety of categories. He will head out in June to the annual conference, held this year in Buffalo, NY, hoping to rake in enough prize money to make the return trip to New Hampshire.

“2019 was a record-breaking year for us for the number of entries we received across the board,” Feldcamp says. “Our judges evaluated hundreds of entries to come up with a short but impressive list of finalists.”

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Finalist judges for the 2019 National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual writing competition. Graphic/NSNC

And while we’re not big on being judgy, someone has to do it. In this case, Azevedo’s work has been judged by the best of the best – national authors and columnists who know a thing or two about the art of great writing – Clarence Page, Rochelle Riley, Elly Lonon, Leighann Lord, and Patricia Newberry. You can read more about their street cred here.

When asked to send us a photo and tell us how it felt to be kind of a big deal, Azevedo snapped the selfie above and offered this:

“Doesn’t it kinda look like I’m free falling from the sky? Because the whole book and being a finalist is really funny (and flattering) to me in many ways, because at the end of the day, I really just throw shit against the wall to see what sticks.”

He’s too modest – and prone to potty mouth, but hey, that’s our Rob.

If you’d like to read his duo of award-winning columns, you can find them below:

And if you have been meaning to catch up with Azevedo and snag a copy of his new book, this is your lucky week. He will be holding a special book launch party at The Bookery, 844 Elm St., on May 24 starting at 6:30 p.m. Click here to join the Facebook event page.

“I have a reading from ‘Notes from the Last Breath Farm,’ and I’m also bringing along some very special guests – Kate West, local boy Nick Ferraro, Jasmine Mann and Kate Dobbins. They are going to perform songs in between portions of chapters that I read,” Azevedo says.

And there you have it.

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!