Guest Post and Giveaway with Kenny Scudero, author of Comfortably Awkward

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to participate in Kenny Scudero's Comfortably Awkward Virtual Book Publicity Tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book.

About Kenny:

Comfortably Awkward is Kenny Scudero's debut self-published novel. He is a twenty-two year old author from New York City who looks forward to a bright future in writing. Kenny recently graduated from St. John's University where he majored in Sport Management. At St. John's, Kenny was Sports Editor for the University newspaper. After graduating from St. John’s, Kenny had trouble finding a job and wrote “Comfortably Awkward” based off that frustration. He is currently working on his second novel.

CONNECT WITH KENNY ONLINE:

Website  | Twitter  | Facebook | Amazon | Amazon Kindle Store 

Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, Kenny!

Kenny has written a guest post, so I will now turn the floor over to him.

Nostalgia's Finest Moment
by Kenny Scudero

From the time I was a young boy learning how to write cursive, I wondered if my hard work would pay-off in the long run. I wondered if all of those long hours reading short-stories and answering comprehensive questions would eventually turn me into a successful person. I grew angry inside when my fourth grade teacher gave the class three hours-worth of homework to do when we would get home at three o’clock. At the time, I thought most of the work was tedious and meaningless. And then, several years later, I graduated from college. After months of struggling to find a job, I came to realize a few things.

I went to the same grammar school as many before me and many after me did. I was just a normal kid and now, at twenty-two years of age, I’m still just a normal person. The job market is ridiculous and from the hundreds I graduated college with, I know of about three people who have full-time jobs in the field they studied in. So what separates me from everyone else? What separates me from the kids who listened to the same teacher as me and did the same homework that I did?

I can vividly remember sitting in my eighth grade classroom while Mrs. Johnston was explaining algebraic equations. I wasn’t paying much attention because the pretty girl looking at me from the hallway was distracting me. She walked past our classroom in what felt like slow motion as I caught her eye and made her smile. The anticipation of talking to her at the end of the school day was a feeling that could get me through any day, no matter how boring or unbearable it may have been. After she was out of my sight, I looked down at my notebook and began writing about how I felt. Next to the pointless algebra, I tried to put my emotions onto a piece of paper as best I could. At that moment, I knew that no matter what profession I ended up in, I wanted it to involve writing.

So now when I think back to memories that stand out to me, I get this euphoric feeling in my heart. Nostalgia at its best, I like to think. I get that same feeling when I write a story or a sentence which I perceive to be pure greatness. Finding a job after college isn’t about looking for where the most money is. It’s about doing something that gives you that tingly feeling inside. I truly believe that if you pursue your dreams, the money will follow.

I still don’t have a full-time job and I’m still trying to get something in the corporate world that will provide me with some money. But I will tell you this: happiness comes from passion. Happiness does not come from making big bucks at a job where you have to take orders and pretend to be someone else. Happiness is being yourself and enjoying as many moments in life as you can. Putting my memories, emotions, and feelings into descriptive narratives makes me happy and I know that eventually, I’ll be able to make a living off of this passion of mine.

My book “Comfortably Awkward” is about doing things for yourself and finding your own voice in the world. There’s nothing worse than wasting a dream and there’s nothing better than living a dream. Don’t be afraid to dream big. No agent or publisher wanted my book, so I published it myself. I enjoyed writing it and by publishing my story, I’ve opened many other doors for myself. Figure out what gives you that great nostalgic feeling of hope and ambition. If you pursue that feeling long enough, the dream will become your reality.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Kenny! 

One lucky winner will win a paperback copy of Comfortably Awkward.

This giveaway is open to Canada/US addresses only.

For Albert Ferenzo, life is a series of ironic events that may or may not have a reason behind them. While struggling to find a niche for himself, Albert blames the corporate world for hindering his dream of making money and living a prosperous life. After playing the good guy his entire life, Albert decides that the only way to get ahead in the world is to be the bad guy. Albert questions his own fate as he drives himself to insanity in an effort to find happiness. The destinies of Albert and everyone around him intertwine as he finally realizes what life is all about or at least, he thinks he does in this revolt against normality.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below.

This giveaway is open to entrants from Canada and the United States only until 12:01 AM EST on April 13, 2012.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

Monday, April 2

Interviewed at Examiner

Tuesday, April 3

Interviewed at The Dark Phantom

Interviewed at Blogcritics

Wednesday, April 4

Watch Kenny’s AuthorVid at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, April 5

Guest Blogging at Literarily Speaking

Friday, April 6

Guest Blogging & Book Giveaway at Darlene’s Book Nook

Monday, April 9

Watch Kenny’s 2nd AuthorVid at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, April 10

Book Review at Maureen’s Musings

Wednesday, April 11

Guest Blogging & Book Giveaway at Readaholic

Thursday, April 12

Interview at The Plot Thickens

Interview at American Chronicle

Friday, April 13

Book Review at Wakela’s World

Interview at Denyse Bridgers Fantasy Pages

Saturday, April 14

Interviewed LIVE at Blog Talk Radio’s A Book and a Chat

Monday, April 16

Interview at The Character Connection

Tuesday, April 17

Book Review at Reviews by Molly

Wednesday, April 18

Interview at The Book  Connection

Guest blogging at The Writer’s Life

Thursday, April 19

Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Interview at Broowaha

Friday, April 20

Interview at Beyond the Books