By Joe Cosentino
An Interview with Brom Bones, a character in Joe Cosentino’s Holiday Tales from Fairyland, Tales from Fairyland Book 2, now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
Since the readers can’t see you, what do you look like Brom?
Brom: I’m tall, very muscular from working in my pumpkin patch, with dark hair and eyes, a wide nose, and full lips. I’m masculine, loyal, honest, and a one-man man
Where do you live?
How does it feel to be out (no pun intended) of the new novella, Holiday Tales from Fairyland, by Joe Cosentino?
Brom: It’s great to take a break from farming, but I miss Ichabod like crazy!
Tell us about your story in Holiday Tales from Fairyland?
Brom: After Joe’s success with The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland e-book, paperback, and audiobook (performed by the wonderful Joel Leslie), fans asked for more stories from Fairyland. Since Joe loves the holidays, he went that route. My Halloween story is based on the classic The Headless Horseman by Washington Irving. In Joe’s version, Ichabod Crane enters Sleepy Hollow and falls off his horse into my arms, giving me, Brom Bones, quite the boner. When the residents of the homophobic Sleepy Hollow aren’t happy about it, Ichabod and I come up with a plan to teach the town folk a lesson in acceptance they’ll never forget?
Tell us about Ichabod Crane.
Brom: He’s twenty-five, tall and lean, with large hands and feet. He has dark hair and eyes, and a long nose—where he rests his eyeglasses. I’ve never been in love with anybody before, but I’m sure in love with our new schoolmaster. Ichabod teaches me to read, and I teach him about pumpkin farming. We’re like two happy jack-o-lanterns living in my cottage.
Who are the other characters in your story?
Brom: Wealthy Brunt Vas Tassel, his daughter and her hand maiden, his two farmhands, and King Dodo of Sleepy Hollow. You won’t believe who ends up with whom at the end!
How would you rate Brian Cheney’s performance of the voices in your story for the audiobook?
Brom: A+. It took Joe seven years to find the perfect narrator for this audio book. Brian brings each character to vivid life miraculously creating different voices for over twenty characters! Brian’s sharp sense of humor, fine acting skills, perfect comic timing, impeccable diction, and velvety voice make this audio book a must listen. Listeners will want to hear it again and again, especially Brian’s sexy voice for me (smile). This is Brian’s sixteenth audio book collaboration with Joe!
What are the other stories in the novella?
Brom: The second story is a take-off on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the E.T.A. Hoffman story upon which the ballet is based. On Christmas, hunky Cavalier P.I. receives a visit from a new client, handsome young Fritz. Somebody strangled Fritz’s sister Clara with the ribbons of her toe shoes, and Fritz is the top suspect. But he seems more interested in the bulge in Cavalier’s tights than in getting himself off the hook. When Cavalier turns sweet on Fritz, it’s time for the private investigator to question his old dance partner the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara’s husband the Nutcracker, Fritz’s other sister Louise, and Fritz’s Godpapa Drosselmeyer to save his intended, and find out: Who Killed Clara? The last story is a Winter Solstice story: Vasillisa, the Beautiful. Young Vasily falls in love with a mysterious, handsome man who rides by his orphanage each morning, noon, and night. Upon following him, Vasily discovers the man is a prince under the powers of Baba Yaga. Can Vasily rescue his tortured Prince Anton from the witch’s conversion therapy and dance around his pole on May Day? Story three spills the winter beans. Brian does a phenomenal job bringing these stories and characters to life in the audio book. It’s better than a Disney movie!
Fairyland is a very gay place.
Brom: The gayest. It’s Fairyland after all!
You have a hot love scene with Ichabod Crane in your cottage. How did you handle that?
Brom: Ichabod and I had been cuddling in bed each night. Finally, the expression of our love was beautiful and magical. We are a true Fairyland love story. Brian’s silky voice is perfect to bring these scenes to listeners.
Who is your ideal reader or listener of your story?
Brom: My ideal reader or listener craves being swept away by a story and becoming part of the story. He/she/they relishes beautiful locations and captivating characters as she/he/they enters the portal of the story. And he/she/they loves sweet romance and has a great sense of humor!
What frustrates you?
Brom: People who demean and attack the rights and self-worth of others, including those who hide behind their religious or political beliefs to do so.
How can your readers/listeners contact you?
Brom: Through Joe. He loves hearing from readers/listeners via his web site. There is no better way to celebrate the fall and winter holidays than listening to Brian Cheney perform the audio book of Holiday Tales from Fairyland, our holiday gift to you! Happy listening!
Holiday Tales from Fairyland Tales from Fairyland book 2, by Joe Cosentino
now also an audiobook performed by Brian Cheney
smashwords.com/books/view/886272
kobo.com/us/en/ebook/holiday-tales-from-fairyland
Hear a sample here.
It’s holiday time in Fairyland. On Halloween, Ichabod Crane, a young schoolteacher, has a boner over sexy and muscular farmer Brom Bones. When the residents of the homophobic Sleepy Hollow aren’t happy about it, the headless horseman rides into town. Will Ichabod fall off his horse into Brom’s strong, rescuing arms, teaching the townsfolk a lesson in acceptance they’ll never forget? On Christmas, hunky Cavalier P.I. receives a visit from a new client, handsome young Fritz. Somebody strangled Fritz’s sister Clara with the ribbons of her toe shoes, and Fritz is the top suspect. But he seems more interested in the bulge in Cavalier’s tights than in getting himself off the hook. When Cavalier turns sweet on Fritz, it’s time for the private investigator to question his old dance partner the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara’s husband the Nutcracker, Fritz’s other sister Louise, and Fritz’s Godpapa Drosselmeyer to save his intended and find out: Who Killed Clara? At Winter Solstice, young Vasily falls in love with a mysterious, handsome man who rides by his orphanage each morning, noon, and night. Upon following him, Vasily discovers the man is a prince under the powers of Baba Yaga. Can Vasily rescue his tortured Prince Anton from the witch’s conversion therapy and dance around his pole on May Day?
Praise for Holiday Tales from Fairyland, Tales from Fairyland Book 2:
“draws upon the current political climate in a light-hearted story of love, acceptance and learning…Cheeky, sweet, and rip-roaringly fun…shrouded in romance and acceptance, with a holiday flavor that made me wish for cold nights snuggled up with a good book.” Divine Magazine
“wonderful collection of short stories based on common fairy tales with an M/M twist. Each story is unique and will make you smile by the end…The lovely short stories bring you back to childhood while giving you a twist that made the stories even better!” Valerie Ullmer Review
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.
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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