Dawn's Reading Nook: Guest Author Day with Joe Cosentino

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:

https://www.audible.com/pd/B0B2ZM3FNW/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-310466&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_310466_rh_us

http://mybook.to/DramaFaerie

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.