Readers & Writers discussion

Hi, I’m Joe Cosentino, winner of Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll for Favorite Mystery, Contemporary, and Humorous Author of the Year. I’ve also won numerous Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions and other Favorite Book of the Month awards. After college, I was a professional actor, working opposite stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. Now a college theatre professor/department chair, I’ve written twenty books in two years. For more info, please check out my web site at http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com and read the interview below!


What motivates you to write?

When I hear from readers who tell me they laughed, cried, felt romantic, and gasped in shock while reading my books. And when I win awards. Hah. Seriously, hearing that my stories have changed people’s lives is terrific motivation. My fans do complain thought that I’m writing books faster than they can read them. I try to tell the voices in my head to slow down, but they’re not always listening.

2) What is the most important thing you have learned in life so far?

To write at night. Though I’m a bit tired from my day at the college, the house is quiet and I can fully concentrate. Also, to write in a welcoming environment. I have a beautiful cherry wood study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat overlooking the woods (like Martin Anderson, the department head in my Nicky and Noah mysteries). Finally, don’t complain about anything. Nobody really cares. When I complain about my long schedule, my mother says, “Just think how hard you would work if you had a real job, like your sister.”
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3) Why should people read your books?

Readers tell me they love the humor, drama, romance, exotic locations, quirky characters, plot twists and turns, and surprise endings in my books. Reviewers say I have a unique, theatrical style that leaves you laughing one moment and rips your heart out the next. One reviewer wrote that one of my books was the funniest book she’d ever read. Who am I to argue? Here’s a brief rundown of my books.

In the Jana Lane mysteries (the Wild Rose Press), Jana Lane was the biggest child star ever until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. In Paper Doll Jana at thirty-eight lives with her family in a mansion in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York. Her flashbacks from the past become murder attempts in her future. Jana ventures back to Hollywood, which helps her uncover a web of secrets about everyone she loves. In Porcelain Doll Jana makes a comeback film and uncovers who is being murdered on the set and why. In Satin Doll Jana and family head to Washington, DC, where Jana plays a US senator in a new film, and becomes embroiled in a murder and corruption at the senate chamber. In China Doll Jana heads to New York City to star in a Broadway play, where she is faced with murder on stage and off. In Rag Doll Jana stars in a television mystery series and life imitates art on the set. The novels are full of mystery, romance, humor, and theatricality. Since the novels take place in the 1980’s, I have a great deal of fun with the fashions, music, and social issues of that wild period.

My Nicky and Noah mystery series (Lethe Press) are farcical, gay, cozy, who-dun-its. In Drama Queen theatre college professors are dropping like stage curtains. Play Directing professor Nicky Abbondanza uses his theatre skills (including playing other people) to solve the case, while he directs a murder mystery onstage. Complicating matters is Nicky’s intense crush on Assistant Professor of Acting, Noah Oliver, the prime suspect in the murder. In Drama Muscle Nicky and Noah (now a couple) use their theatre skills to find out why musclemen are dropping like weights in the Physical Education department while Nicky directs the Student Bodybuilding Competition. In Drama Cruise Nicky and Noah go on a cruise to Alaska, and discover why college theatre professors are going overboard like lifeboats while Nicky directs a murder mystery dinner theatre show onboard ship. In Drama Luau, muscular male hula dancers are dropping like grass skirts as Nicky directs the Luau show. It’s up to Nicky and Noah to figure out whodunit and why. Coming soon are Drama Detective and Drama Fraternity. Michael Gilboe, Chip Hurley, and Brad Enright do the wonderful audiobooks.

In My Heart/An Infatuation & A Shooting Star (Dreamspinner Press) are gay first-love stories loosely based on my high school and college years respectively. A Home for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press) is my cherished holiday short novella about an American law student who, as I did, takes a trip to the romantic and gorgeous island of Capri, Italy, where he embarks on a relationship with his captivating distant male cousin. The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press) is my gay take on my favorite beloved fairytales like Cinderella, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Snow Queen. Award-winning Joel Leslie did the incredible audiobooks.

Finally, NineStar Press published Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, and Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings about ex-professional football player Cal Cozzi’s gay beach resort on a gorgeous cove. Called a gay Fantasy Island by one reviewer, the intertwining stories of Cal, his family, and his guests are chock full of surprises. Cozzi Cove is a place where nothing is what it seems, anything can happen, and romance is everywhere.

Thanks for the interview. I hope to see you on my web site soon!

“Joe Cosentino has a brilliantly unique sense of humour, and a masterful way of writing stories….and characters you’ll fall in love with. For all that his characters come across as completely relatable and realistic. His books are one of a kind and utterly addictive. I have yet to read a Joe Cosentino book that was less than 5 stars, and this book is no exception. Do yourself a favour and grab this book with both hands. I guarantee you’ll be very glad you did.” Divine Magazine