We are talking today with Joe Cosentino author of the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories published by Dreamspinner Press. Your three Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories (available as e-books and in paperback) published by Dreamspinner Press were a big hit with readers for their gorgeous locations, cozy holiday settings, humor, touching scenes, and of course sweet romance. Now nearly ten years later the last story, The First Noel, joins the first two as also being available as an audio book. How does that make you feel?
I am audibly thrilled—Yeah!
Tell us about these three stories.
Tell us about your main characters.
Bobby McGrath is twenty-six with long auburn hair, emerald eyes, and a swimmer’s build. He works as a young lawyer on discrimination cases and am passionate about LGBT equality. He is passionately in love with his husband. Paolo Mascobello is also twenty-six, handsome, muscular, and sexy with wavy chestnut hair and dreamy sapphire eyes. He’s a gifted fashion designer who is very much in love with his husband. Bobby’s parents, like mine, are hysterically funny and dramatic Italian Americans who love their son dearly. Their eight-year-old adopted son, Geoffrey, is adorable, sweet, and smart. Jared, Bobby’s best friend and colleague, is a total riot, like some of my friends. In this story Jared finally finds true love in Noel, an ex-professional football player, who is tall, muscular, charismatic, and a man of mystery.
And now The First Noel, like the first two stories, is available as an audio book. Did Brian Cheney capture your life with Paolo, family, and friends?
Did he ever! Brian Cheney is an incredibly talented actor and audio book performer who brought my story to vivid reality. He personified each character perfectly! It’s as if he was in my head. His comic timing, smooth voice, emotional delivery, and versatility make this story a joy to experience.
Why did it take nearly ten years to release an audio book version of this story?
I was very picky and waiting for the perfect audio book performer. I found him in Brian Cheney. After hearing the story, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Do you think the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories would make a good movie or television series?
Totally! Come on, producers, make me an offer! But for now, enjoy the audio book!
What about The First Noel makes it different from other MM holiday short novellas?
Readers love Bobby, Paolo, and Geoffrey and really root for them as a family. The wonderful winter holiday locations, humor, mystery, and the happily ever after ending make the short story a terrific read. Also, I think everyone can relate to feeling bowled over by holiday-time stress, and yearning for a perfect, romantic holiday.
Bobby and Paolo are distant cousins. Might that ruffle some feathers?
Actually, this was the case with my great uncle and great aunt who were married for sixty years until their deaths. Distant cousins marrying is not unusual in Italy.
You’ve written 34 novels. When did you start writing?
My first recollection of storytelling is when my older sister and cousin wrapped a sheet around me in my cousin’s garage, placed me in a garbage can full of yellow paper strips, and we performed a Nativity scene for unsuspecting family members and friends. When I realized that I was the star, the theatre bug bit me. That led to full theatrical musical productions in a neighbor’s garage. I majored in theatre at college, and became a professional actor, working in film, television, and theatre opposite stars like Rosie O’Donnell (AT&T industrial), Nathan Lane (Roar of the Greasepaint onstage), Bruce Willis (A Midsummer Night’s Dream onstage), Charles Keating (NBC’s Another World), Jason Robards (Commercial Credit computer commercial), and Holland Taylor (ABC’s My Mother Was Never a Kid TV movie). Moving on to playwriting and ultimately writing novels came next. Along the way, I received two master’s degrees and became a college professor/department head, though like Bobby’s mother in my short story, my mother kept asking me when I was going to get “a real job” like my sister who was an accountant.
What are the rules for writing a good romance story? And what is your writing process?
If you want readers to fall in love with your characters, you need to fall in love with them first. That includes the settings. Let them be as romantic as possible. Also, a little humor and mystery never hurt any story. I generally wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea. The next day, if I can read the notes on my night table, I write a brief outline and biography for each character. Next, as in my acting days, I ask myself questions about each character and their journey. What are they thinking and feeling? What do they want? What is standing in the way of them getting what they want? Then I get them talking to one another in my head. It’s lots of fun when they take off. Sometimes they talk faster than I can type, and I type ninety words per minute. My spouse reads my second draft and gives me some feedback. After we argue, I write my third draft, which goes to the publisher.
Thank you for chatting with us today, Joe.It was my pleasure. I hope everyone reading this gets a happy ending this holiday season and always. Please know this new audio book comes wrapped in a huge ribbon of love. And I love hearing from readers via my web site!
The First Noel, Bobby & Paolo’s Holiday Stories Book 3, by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press now also an audiobook performed by Brian Cheney
Each Christmas has marked a milestone in Bobby and Paolo’s love story. But will this year be their last noel? It’s no surprise Bobby isn’t feeling much holiday spirit—not when he suspects his husband, Paolo, might be interested in his new business associate, the incredibly handsome Noel. On top of that, Bobby’s father is hanging up his Santa suit at the department store due to health issues; and worst of all, Geoffrey’s birth mother, funded by antigay extremists, is threatening their family. She’s trying to take away Bobby and Paolo’s adopted son, but she’ll have to face their supportive friends, family, and pastor before she can tear Geoffrey from the only real home he’s ever known.
With so many challenges in their path, the December grooms will need an extra helping of holiday magic this year. Rumor has it Santa’s on his way to spread some holiday cheer.
“I love a Christmas book and I love Joe Cosentino, so really I couldn't ask for much more from this. As we know, these two men are a really sweet couple. Add in the kid and Bobby and Paolo are pretty much complete. As with any good book though there are problems for these two to overcome. Feelings of insecurity, family issues and threats from the boy's mother all make for a very trying time for our favorite couple. The author however wraps all these issues up in a beautiful bow in time for the holiday season.” Books Laid Bare Boys
“Three years after the first Bobby and Paolo story (A Home for the Holidays), much has happened to lawyer Bobby and fashion designer Paolo – from falling in love to getting married to fostering and then adopting Geoffrey, a little boy much in need of a loving home. Their annual Christmas adventures are some of my favorite reads, and this year’s is no exception….I was glued to the pages as plans were made and events unfolded. Not everything is as it seems – but it’s definitely Christmas and a good time for much-needed miracles!” Rainbow Book Reviews
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week.
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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.
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