Interview
with Nicky Abbondanza, the leading character in Drama Faerie,
the 9th
Nicky and Noah mystery novel by Joe Cosentino,
now also
an audiobook performed by Nick Reinhardt
Hi, Nicky. Congratulations on the
release of the audiobook of the ninth novel in your award-winning and popular Nicky
and Noah gay cozy mystery series.
Gee, thanks. I’m happier than an anti-gay politician in the back
room of a gay bar during a power outage.
The novels in the series have
been called “laugh out loud funny,” “sexy shenanigans,” “brilliant brain
teasers,” “sweet romances,” and “a combination of Murder She Wrote, The Hardy
Boys, Hart to Hart, and a British
farce.”
Stop, I’m getting a big head. Well, if you read the series, you
know I’ve already got one (pun intended). Actually, I share the success of our
series with the love of my life, my husband and theatre professor colleague,
Noah Oliver. Also, our son Taavi, our parents, and our best friends Martin and
Ruben. And of course, all the readers—who we absolutely adore!
Why are your books
called gay cozy mysteries?
Because readers get
cozy with Noah and me. And we like it! Our books include romance, humor, mystery,
adventure, and quaint and loveable characters in uncanny situations. The
settings are warm and cozy with lots of hot cocoa by the fireplace. The clues and
red herrings are there for the perfect whodunit. So are the plot twists and
turns and a surprise ending to keep the pages turning faster than a priest
chasing an altar boy with a malfunctioning robe. No matter what is thrown in our
path, Noah and I always end up on top. At least I end up on top, which is just
fine with Noah. Many of the novels take place in Vermont, a cozy state with
green pastures, white church steeples, glowing lakes, and friendly and
accepting people. Treemeadow College (named after its gay founders, couple Tree
and Meadow) is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery with its white Edwardian
buildings, low white stone fences, lake and mountain views, and cherry wood
offices with tall leather chairs and fireplaces.
For anyone unfortunate enough not to have read
them, tell us a bit about the first eight novels in the series. (Nicky and Noah
fans can skip to the next question.)
In Drama Queen (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite
LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of the Year) college theatre
professors are dropping like stage curtains at Treemeadow College, and college theatre
professors Noah and I have to use our theatre skills, including impersonating
other people, to figure out whodunit while I direct the school play—a murder
mystery. Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama
Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, and Drama Dance follow.
Which brings us to Drama Faerie now an
audiobook.
Now
in Drama Faerie, it’s summer at
Treemeadow College’s new Globe Theatre, where we are doing a musical production
of A Midsummer Night’s Dream called It Takes a Fairy for Love in the End.
With an all-male, skimpily dressed cast and a love potion gone wild, romance is
in the starry night air. When hunky students and faculty in the production drop
faster than their tunics and tights, Noah and I need to use our drama skills to
figure out who is taking fencing to the extreme before we end up foiled in the
forest.
Do you and Noah take on roles in the play?
I direct and co-star
(as Oberon, the Faerie King) opposite my husband Noah (as Titania, the Queen of
the Faeries), son Taavi (Oberon’s mischievous servant Puck), and best friend
and department head Martin (Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazon). Since it is
Treemeadow College after all, there are lots of comical hijinks, particularly
among the theatre students cast in the show—with their muscles rippling out
their tunics, and bulges expanding their tights. Gender role reversals and
comical musical numbers add to the hilarity. Oh, and of course there are more
murders than conservative politicians owned by the NRA. Once again Noah and I
use our theatrical skills to trap the murderer in a shocking climax—no pun
intended.
Can you give us a run down on some of the other
characters?
Old
beloved cast members are back, including my best friends the comically
cantankerous Martin and Ruben, Martin’s sassy office assistant Shayla, my droll
nemesis Detective Manuello, and our both sets of riotous parents. New
characters include hunky theatre majors Ray Zhang (Demetrius), Elliot Hinton
(Lysander), and graduate assistant Yates Aldrich (Lysander’s understudy). True
to the play, the three guys are all hot for raven-haired Braedon Walsh (Hermia)
to the chagrin of Braedon’s best friend Enoch Grayson (Helena). Rounding out
the cast are punk rocker Talvin Moore (Demetrius’ understudy) who has caught
the attention of Ganesh Ghosh (Titania’s boy). Add to the mix a clumsy prop
girl who can’t keep the swords (or the actors) straight. Not to mention
Detective Manuello (Bottom/Pyramus) may have an admirer in Associate Professor
of Fencing Hank Brickman (Flute/Thisby). With Congressman Christian Evangelica
determined to close down the show for including faeries and bottoms, havoc
certainly ensues.
How would Noah describe you?
Noah would say I’m handsome with dark hair and long sideburns, emerald
eyes, a Roman nose, muscular, smart, and charming. And my enormous manhood
doesn’t hurt (or maybe it does). He’d say I have a never give up attitude and
sense of humor in the face of adversity. And that I am genuinely concerned for
others. Finally, I’ll do anything to solve a murder mystery. Oh, he’d also say
I’m a one-man man, and I’m proud to admit that man is Noah Oliver.
And Noah?
Noah is gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed, lean, handsome, smart, and
devoted to his family and friends. He makes the perfect Watson to my Holmes. (I
always thought Holmes and Watson were a gay couple.) Noah also has a large
heart and soft spot (no pun intended) for others. Finally, Noah is quite gifted
at improvisation, and he creates wild and wonderful characters for our role
plays to catch the murderer. He’s also a terrific father to Taavi.
It’s nice to see an older couple
in the series.
Martin Anderson (our department head and best friend) is loyal
and supportive of Noah and me. His one up-man-ship with his office assistant
Shayla is a riot. I’ll admit that Martin is a bit of a gossip. It’s great when Ruben
keeps Martin’s theatricality in line with hysterical barbs. The older couple
stay sharp by engaging in their verbal warfare, but it’s all done in deep
admiration and respect. Finally, it’s wonderful to see an elderly couple so
much in love, and how they can read each other like a book—no pun intended. I
hope Noah and I age to become just like them.
Do you like Noah’s parents as
much as we’re led to believe in the books?
Yes! They’re absolutely hilarious. I love Noah’s mother’s
fixation with taking pictures of everything, and his father’s fascination with
seeing movies. I also love how Noah’s father is an amateur sleuth like me. As
they say, men marry their fathers. My parents’ goal to feed everyone and
protect their children is heartwarming too. Both sets of parents fully embrace
their sons and their sons’ family, which is refreshing.
Who was your favorite new character
in Drama Faerie?
Sharon Delwab, our props girl, told me the most hysterically
funny “horror” stories about doing props gone wild for past shows.
Which new character do you like
the least in book nine?
I started out not liking Ganesh Ghosh, a young visitor from
Noah’s hometown in Wisconsin. The young man definitely grew on me as I cast him
in the play and helped him come out to his father. It was also great to see
Ganesh fall in love with someone in the cast.
Which new character in book nine was
the sexiest?
Probably sweet raven-haired Braedon Walsh (Hermia). Hunky Ray
Zhang (Demetrius), Elliot Hinton (Lysander), and Yates Aldrich (Lysander
understudy) couldn’t help fighting over him.
How does it feel to
have your ninth audiobook?
Like I found my voice. Nick Reinhardt really
makes the stories come alive. He’s more like me than me! And he captures each
of the other voices perfectly as well. I’ll admit I get aroused when hearing
Noah’s silky and sexy voice. Nick has a terrific sense of humor—like mine! He
really gets me. Bravo Nick! And Bravo Nicky and Noah!
How can your readers get their
hands on the Drama Faerie audiobook, and how can they contact
you?
The purchase links are below, as are Joe’s contact links,
including his web site. Joe tells me everything, so message me through him. I
love to hear from readers! So does Noah!
Thank you, Nicky, for interviewing today.
It
is my joy and pleasure to share the audiobook of this ninth novel in the series
with you. So take your seats. The curtain is going up on faeries, bewitched
lovers, an Amazon queen, a hungry Bottom, and of course hilarity, romance, and
murder!
DRAMA FAERIE (the 9th Nicky and Noah mystery)
a comedy/mystery/romance novel by Joe
Cosentino
audiobook performed by Nick Reinhardt
Time: 6 hours
Language: English
Genre:
MM, contemporary, mystery, comedy, romance, Shakespeare, college
Cover
Art: Jesús Da Silva
Click on the below link for a preview:
It’s summer
at Treemeadow College’s new Globe Theatre, where theatre professor Nicky
Abbondanza is directing a musical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream co-starring his spouse, theatre professor
Noah Oliver, their son Taavi, and their best friend and department head, Martin
Anderson. With an all-male, skimpily dressed cast and a love potion gone wild,
romance is in the starry night air. When hunky students and faculty in the
production drop faster than their tunics and tights, Nicky and Noah will need
to use their drama skills to figure out who is taking swordplay to the extreme
before Nicky and Noah end up foiled in the forest. You will be applauding and
shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny,
edge-of-your-seat entertaining ninth novel in this delightful series. Take your
seats. The curtain is going up on star-crossed young lovers, a faerie queen, an
ass who is a great Bottom, and murder!
Praise for the Nicky and Noah mysteries:
“Joe Cosentino has a unique and fabulous
gift. His writing is flawless, and his use of farce, along with his convoluted
plot-lines, will have you guessing until the very last page, which makes his
books a joy to read. His books are worth their weight in gold, and if you
haven't discovered them yet you are in for a rare treat.” Divine Magazine
“a combination of Laurel and Hardy mixed
with Hitchcock and Murder She Wrote…
Loaded with puns and one-liners…Right to
the end, you are kept guessing, and the conclusion still has a surprise in
store for you.” “the best modern Sherlock and Watson in books today…I highly
recommend this book and the entire series, it’s a pure pleasure, full of fun
and love, written with talent and brio…fabulous…brilliant” Optimumm Book
Reviews
“adventure,
mystery, and romance with every page….Funny, clever, and sweet….I can’t find
anything not to love about this series….This read had me laughing and falling
in love….Nicky and Noah are my favorite gay couple.” Urban Book Reviews
About the Author
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM
Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine
Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He
is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle,
Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity,
Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama
Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz; the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The
Player’s Encore; the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain
Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll; the Cozzi Cove
series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping
Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology:
An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology:
The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales
from Fairyland; the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A
Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found
At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando. His books
have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable
Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and
theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane,
Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree
from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a
happily married college theatre professor/department chair residing in New York
State.
http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
No comments:
Post a Comment