An Interview with Brian Cheney for the Release of the Audiobook of "A Shooting Star" by Joe Cosentino
Joe: Brian, congratulations on the release of our audiobook of A Shooting Star (In My Heart series).
Brian: Yeah! I’m singing, “When you wish upon a star,” hoping lots of people will listen to this amazingly unique story.
Joe: Good one. You have performed the audiobooks of my last eight Nicky and Noah mysteries and many of my books published by Dreamspinner Press. What is it that you like about my writing? (And please take as much time as you need-smile) that led you to perform the audiobook of my A Shooting Star, published by Dreamspinner Press?
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| Image Source Dreamspinner Press |
Joe: A Shooting Star is about first love, infatuation, college years, comedy, and tragedy. Did you relate to this story on a personal level?
Brian: Oh sure! I really love the awkward college freshman year vibe of the book, and I totally could relate to Jonathan and Barry!
Joe: Readers have said the novella made them laugh one minute and cry the next, all the while feeling incredibly romantic. They fell in love with Jonathan, David, and Barry. I did too! How did you balance the romance, humor, and drama when performing this novella?
Brian: That part was easy! Your writing makes sense to me. So I focused on being honest with my delivery, because you’ve done all the work!
Joe: You did your fair share as well, my friend, and beautifully! A Shooting Star is the second In My Heart story. The first story, An Infatuation, is loosely based on my high school years and high school reunion, while A Shooting Star is loosely based on my college years. Did this novella ring any bells for you when thinking about your college years?
Brian: Yes! Especially the quirky acting Professor Katzer, and forgetting to register for my classes too! (smile)
Joe: Do you think A Shooting Star would make a good movie?
Brian: Out of all of your books I’ve narrated so far, I think this one is a slam dunk for a film! It’s a beautifully written and surprisingly dramatic story with so many layers!
Joe: From your mouth to Hollywood’s ears. You are an incredibly talented actor, opera singer, and audiobook performer. You seem to have a hundred different voices in you! How did you come up with the diverse and entertaining voices for the characters in A Shooting Star?
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| Brian Cheney |
Joe: Which was your favorite character to perform?
Brian: Jonathan was totally relatable and the heart of the story, but Barry is a close second! I love his sense of humor!
Joe: Which character was the most difficult to perform?
Brian: David’s Dad. There was a lot of unspoken history and backstory between the two of them in a scene full of subtext that I felt was very important to get right. It took me a while, but I’m pleased with how it came out.
Joe: Me too! What's next for you in my audiobook world?
Brian: I’m hoping it’s something holiday related! Stay tuned!
Joe: Thank you, Brian. I can’t wait for our next collaboration!
myBook.to/AShootingStar_Cosentino
Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention Best Contemporary Romance!
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.
Reviews for A Shooting Star:
“unbelievably beautiful” “a masterpiece” Lovebytes Reviews
“heart-wrenchingly beautiful, that no words I possess in my
vocabulary would do it justice…Again Joe Cosentino drew me into his wonderful
world of part fact/part fiction/loosely based on his own experiences world – a
world as a reader I love to enter, time and time again.” Three Books over the
Rainbow
"This is a bittersweet love story, so don’t be surprised if you find tears running down your face when a shining and burning star is extinguished too soon. But, as Joe Cosentino proves time and time again, with his wonderful writing and storytelling ability, love will prevail, and you will smile from ear to ear." Kathy Mac Reviews
“A Shooting Star could easily function as a master class in how to write short fiction (or any fiction). Joe Cosentino has provided a work that will leave you thinking and wanting to savor and re-read it again and again.” GGR Reviews
Released: November 15, 2024
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
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Length: |
3 hours |
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Cover Artist: |
L.C. Chase |
You can click here to purchase this book.
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year and Second Place Favorite MM Romance Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine. His Dreamspinner Press titles are the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland & Holiday Tales from Fairyland, the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays & The Perfect Gift & The First Noel, the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio & Finding Armando, and the two Player Piano mysteries. He is also the author of the 18 Nicky and Noah mysteries, 5 Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press), and 5 Cozzi Cove novels (Ninestar Press). 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 a happily married emeritus theatre professor residing in New York State.
Website: joecosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
Instagram: instagram.com/joecosentinoauthor
Brian Cheney, hailed by KUSC Los Angeles as the “next great tenor”, protégé of legendary tenor Jerry Hadley, has gained international acclaim for his portrayal of characters such as Radamés in Aida, Don José in Carmen, Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Rodolfo in La bohème, the Duke in Rigoletto, and Canio in Pagliacci. “It is tenor Brian Cheney as the brave painter Cavaradossi who really blew me away. Cheney has that terrific tenor sound: the power, richness, and vocal color of a high baritone combined with ringing, awe-inspiring high notes” (Stage and Cinema.) Highlights from last season include Mr. Cheney’s creation of the role of Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere performance of Gregg Kallor’s Frankenstein in New York to critical acclaim and his National Philharmonic debut as the tenor soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and West Side Story. “Cheney’s ringing tenor voice carried well in the stone catacombs, conveying the fear that the deep bass sound of the monster summoned. And as the section of the sketches went on, Cheney’s voice bloomed to match the action and threats of the creature.” (Operawire) Recent engagements include Radamés in Aida with Virginia Opera, Antonin Scalia in Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg with Toledo Opera, and Salute to Vienna performances in Miami, West Palm Beach, Nashville, and New York City (Lincoln Center). In audio books, Mr. Cheney performed eight of Joe Cosentino’s Nicky and Noah Mystery novels, many of Joe Cosentino’s books published by Dreamspinner Press, All the King’s Men by Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and Pressure by Barry Napier. www.briancheneytenor.com
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
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