What started your interest in
writing?
As a kid I played make
believe constantly. “Let’s put on a show!” was my motto with full scale
musicals in the garage starring my sister and me. No big surprise, I became an
actor in film, television, and theatre, working opposite stars like Bruce
Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards.
Morphing into writing plays and now novels seem like the perfect progression.
What is your book(s) about?
After my Bittersweet Dreams
novella, AN INFATUATION, was released by Dreamspinner Press, I received
numerous requests from readers asking for a second novella in the In My Heart series. Since AN INFATUATION
was loosely based on my high school days through adulthood, I thought back to
my days as a theatre major in college, and A SHOTING STAR was born.
New college theatre major
Jonathan meets the gorgeous, muscular, tantalizing, and mysterious upper classroom
and theatre department star aptly named David Star. As David grooms Jonathan
for college life and for stardom, Jonathan falls deeply in love with him. This
leads Jonathan on an inner and outer journey, where he learns some shocking
secrets about David, and about himself. As a remembrance story, the novella
begins with Jonathan having just received the Academy Award for Best Actor in a
Film, as he thinks back to the person who was responsible for his win.
What do you do when you’re
not writing?
I am a college theatre
professor and department head, very much like my character Martin Anderson in
DRAMA QUEEN, the first Nicky and Noah mystery comedy from Lethe Press. I learn
as much from my students as they learn from me. It’s the perfect day job.
Are any of your characters
like you?
In addition to Martin
Anderson in DRAMA QUEEN and Harold in AN INFATUATION, Jonathan in A SHOOTING
STAR is loosely based on me, though I haven’t won an Academy Award—yet. He is
ingenuous, funny, warm, gullible, and has an open heart. As is the case with
Stuart in AN INFATAUTION, Barry, Jonathan’s loyal scene partner in A SHOOTING
STAR, is loosely based on my spouse. And he knows it!
If you write a series do you
reread your previous books before you begin the new one?
I am currently writing two
series: the Nicky and Noah mysteries (DRAMA QUEEN from Lethe Press), and the
Jana Lane mysteries (PAPER DOLL from Whiskey Creek Press). Somehow I remember
every detail about the characters and the locations. I think I know them better
than people and places in my own life.
For readers who haven't tried your books yet, how do you
think your editor or loyal readers would describe your books?
Full of mystery, romance, humor, drama, theatrics, and a
surprise ending.
What do readers have to look
forward to in the future from you?
I will be editing for release: A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
(a winter holiday novella taking place in Capri, Italy) from Dreamsprinner
Press, THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TAKES FROM FAIRYLAND (gay fairy tales novella)
from Dreamspinner Press, PORCELAIN DOLL (the second Jana Lane mystery) and
SATIN DOLL (the third Jana Lane mystery) from Wild Rose Press, DRAMA MUSCLE
(the second Nicky and Noah comedy mystery) and DRAMA CRUISE (the third Nicky
and Noah mystery) from Lethe Press. I plan to finish writing CHINA DOLL (the
fourth Jana Lane mystery) and DRAMA ALOHA (the fourth Nicky and Noah mystery.
Looks like I’ll be really busy. I am also working on a new gay romance novel
set in the Jersey Shore, COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK.
Has there been any characters that started off as
supporting characters, but then developed into a more prominent character?
A number of readers asked me to give two minor
characters in AN INFATUATION their own story. I did just that in COZZI COVE:
BOUNCING BACK. I love to hear from readers!
When and where do you like to
write? Are there any favourite places you like to go?
Like Martin Anderson in DRAMA
QUEEN, I have a cozy office with a window seat looking out at the woods, cherry
wood fireplace mantel, cherry wood desk, and cherry wood bookcases. It’s the
perfect place to write.
If a movie or TV production
company chose to produce your books into a series of shows or movies, who would
your ideal cast be?
Everyone tells me I write in
a cinematic way, and that all of my books should be movies. I’m game! I wrote a
role for myself in each one: Mr. Ringwood the principal in AN INFATUATION,
Martin Anderson the department head in DRAMA QUEEN, Simon Huckbly Jana’s agent
in PAPER DOLL, and Professor Katzer the hysterical acting professor in A
SHOOTING STAR. As for the leading roles, I see Matt Bomer is all of them. I
think I just want to see Matt Bomer! Hah.
A SHOOTING STAR
by JOE COSENTINO
the second novella in
the In My Heart series from Dreamspinner Press
e-book $3.84
purchase links:
On the eve of the best night
of his life, winning an Academy Award, Jonathan Bello thinks back to his one
great love, David Star. Flipping back the pages of time, Jonathan recalls his
handsome, muscular, and charismatic college roommate. Since Jonathan was a
freshman and David a senior in the Theatre Department, David took Jonathan
under his wing and molded him, not only as an actor but as a lover. With every
wonderful new adventure, David left his joyful mark on anyone with whom they
came in contact, but Jonathan soon uncovered David’s dark past, leading to a
shocking event. Undaunted, Jonathan celebrates the captivating man who will
always hold a special place in his heart.
A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's
an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its
strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire
against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending,
but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you
to tears.
Teaser excerpt:
As an Italian-American, I subscribed to
my mother’s theory that if someone doesn’t want you to see something, he will
hide it in a locked vault covered with cement. So I inadvertently took a quick look at my roommate’s things on the
other side of the room. He was incredibly neat. Numerous theater textbooks and
play scripts lined his bookshelf in alphabetical order. The bulletin board
above his desk displayed artistically arranged programs from various comedy,
drama, and musical college productions listing the same male lead in each show:
“David Star”.
“Do you always look at other people’s
things?”
I nearly got whiplash as he entered the
room.
Stammering like a kid caught masturbating
by his parents, I said, “I… w-was… ad-m-miring y-your… r-room.”
Though it was a fall September day, he
took off his scarf (violet) and rested it on a tall coat-rack, which held
scarves in various colors like a department store window display. He was taller
than me, with a chiseled, handsome face, and straight, shiny black hair, which
fell down his thick neck. I admired his perfectly sculpted muscles, housed in a
turquoise designer dress shirt. But what captivated me the most were his
piercing crystal-blue eyes—and the enormous bulge in his skin-tight, designer
beige pants.
“Johnny Falabella.”
He looked at me like a surgeon examining
a tumor. “No, it’s not.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s Jonathan Bello.” He opened a bureau
drawer, pulled out a bottle of hair gel, and tossed it to me. “You should gel
your hair.” He opened his closet, revealing a multitude of color-coordinated
shirts and slacks, and lay some on my bed. “And you can wear these.”
I looked at his perfectly pressed
designer clothes. “Where did you get all these things?”
“They were gifts, mostly.”
“You must have some generous friends….
Sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“I’m
David Star.” He took a bow.
Looking back at his play programs, I said,
“You must have starred in every play at the college over the last three years.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“What happened to your last roommate?”
“He went to LA over the summer break and
started auditioning. He got cast in a new TV sitcom. I hope it takes off. It’s
called Cosby.”
“At the orientation session, they said
freshmen are housed with other freshmen. How did I get a senior for a
roommate?”
His eyes twinkled. “Just lucky I guess.”
“Do you think it was some kind of an
administrative error or something?”
“Or something.” He added
matter-of-factly, “I asked for a freshman roommate.”
AN INFATUATION
by JOE COSENTINO
a novella from
Dreamspinner Press
e-book $4.99
purchase links:
With his ten-year high school reunion
approaching, Harold wonders whether Mario will be as muscular, sexy, and
tantalizing as he remembers. As a teenager, it was love at first sight for
Harold while tutoring football star Mario, until homophobia and bullying drove
Mario deep into the closet. Now they’re both married men. Mario, a model, is
miserable with his producer wife, while Harold, a teacher, is perfectly content
with his businessman husband, Stuart. When the two meet again, will the
old flame reignite, setting Harold’s comfortable life ablaze? How can Harold be
happy with Stuart when he is still infatuated with his Adonis, his first love,
Mario? Harold faces this seemingly impossible situation with inimitable wit,
tenderness, and humor as he attempts to reconcile the past and the future.
A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's
an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its
strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire
against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending,
but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you
to tears.
“Author Joe Cosentino
brought just the right amount of humor, angst and honesty to make this short
but sweet coming of age story a success.” MM Good Book Reviews
“Don't miss this one friends, it is a heartfelt
story magical in the telling! Thanks Joe for putting your heart on the page for
us to savor!”
Bike Book Reviews
Bike Book Reviews
About the Author
Joe Cosentino is the author
of An Infatuation and A Shooting
Star (Dreamspinner Press), Paper Doll
the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Drama Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
(Eldridge Plays and Musicals). He has appeared in principal acting roles in
film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie
O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation
and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of
Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head
of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily
married. His upcoming novels are A Home
for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press holiday novella), The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press
short stories novella), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery
(Wild Rose Press), and Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery
(Lethe Press).
Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
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