CHARACTER INTERVIEW ~ The Perfect Gift (Audiobook) by Joe Cosentino #Interview
✨ CHARACTER INTERVIEW ✨
An Interview with Bobby McGrath, the leading character in
The Perfect Gift, Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Book 2, by Joe Cosentino,
published by Dreamspinner Press
now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
Hi, Bobby. Thank you for joining us.
It’s great to be out of Joe Cosentino’s head for a while.
Since the readers can’t see you, tell them what you look like.
I’m twenty-five, tall, with a swimmer’s build from swimming at our local gym in Philly. I have emerald eyes with long auburn hair. Paolo loves to run his thick, warm fingers through it.
What does Paolo look like?
He’s my age with smooth olive-colored skin, a Roman nose, chestnut wavy hair, sapphire eyes, and muscles for days. His Italian accent is incredibly sexy.
Tell us a bit about your first holiday short story, A Home for the Holidays.
Joe wrote a holiday novella loosely based on his trip to the magical and gorgeous island of Capri: A Home for the Holidays. That’s when I came into Joe’s head as a young, Italian American law student traveling to Capri during the winter holidays to meet my quaint Italian relatives, while falling in love with my handsome, muscular, sexy Italian distant cousin, Paolo. Since Joe comes from a long line of funny Italian Americans, he included a good deal of humor in the story as well with Paolo’s eccentric family. Readers and reviewers called it the perfect holiday gift, feeling as if they had taken a trip along with me to Capri for the romance of a lifetime. Fans who read the novella or listened to the audio book said they could see, hear, taste, and touch the captivating characters and romantic locations in my story.
Then came part two, The Perfect Gift.
A year after the end of A Home for the Holidays, Paolo and I are living in Philadelphia as a junior fashion designer and junior lawyer. We jump through some hoops and finally have a December wedding. Then a year later, it’s Christmas time again. A man in a Santa suit brings Paolo and me to the hospital room of a sick little boy. Like the child we celebrate at Christmas, could this boy be the holiday gift leading to happily ever after for Paolo and me? You’ll have to check out my story to find out. Readers and reviewers loved this story. For example, Divine Magazine wrote, “Joe Cosentino has, once again, written a story filled with love, laugh out loud humour and a HEA that will leave a smile on your face and seasonal joy in your heart. There’s a magic to the worlds he creates that few other authors can achieve.” I agree!
Tell us how Joe created you and the other main characters.
Joe tells me I have his sensibility and sense of humor. As a junior lawyer who has just passed my bar exam, like Joe I am passionate about LGBT+ equality.
Paolo is loosely based on Joe’s cousin’s cousin who lives in Italy. He is a gifted junior fashion designer who is very much in love with me. I like how Paolo has transformed from a party boy to my committed husband.
My parents are loosely based on Joe’s. They are hysterically funny and love their son dearly.
Geoffrey, the sick boy who approaches Bobby and Paolo is adorable, sweet, and so in need of love. He is a combination of many neglected children Joe met through a friend who is a social worker.
What about The Perfect Gift makes it different from other MM holiday novellas?
Our love for each other, the wonderful winter holiday locations, humor, mystery, our gay wedding, and happily ever after ending make the story a terrific read. Also, I think everyone can relate to feeling that something is missing at Christmas and hoping for the perfect holiday gift.
You and Paolo are distant cousins. Might that ruffle some feathers?
As both Paolo and my mom say in the story, it is not unusual for distant cousins to couple in Italy. Actually, this was the case with Joe’s great uncle and great aunt who were married for sixty years until their death.
The Perfect Gift was published in December 2017. Why has it taken seven years to release the audio book version?
Believe it or not Joe was searching for the perfect audio book performer. He found him in opera singer, actor, and audio book performer Brian Cheney who also performed the audio books for Joe’s last eight Nicky and Noah mystery novels and Joe’s An Infatuation novella. Brian is an incredibly gifted actor and master of many voices with incredibly comic timing. He relates perfectly to the humor, romance, and drama in the story. Brian is certainly the perfect gift. I’m sure you will agree! The Perfect Gift is our perfect holiday gift to you wrapped in a huge ribbon of love. So listen and enjoy! And Joe loves hearing from readers via his web site! He shares all the comments with Paolo and me!
Will the third and final Bobby and Paolo Holiday Story, The First Noel, be released as an audio book next?
Absolutely! So stay tuned!
The Perfect Gift Audiobook
The Perfect Gift
(Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories, Book 2)
by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press
Series: Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories (book 2)
Formats: E-book and Audiobook
ASIN: B077SPKXPX
Release Date: eBook/December 13, 2017 & Audiobook/July 26, 2024
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Length: 121 Pages / 4 Hours 16 Minutes
Language: English
Genres/Tropes: MM Romance, Contemporary, Humor
🛒 Purchase Links
Listen to a sample on Amazon or Audible
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Blurb
Back in America after finding A Home for the Holidays and each other in Capri, new couple Bobby McGrath and Paolo Mascobello are ready to tie the knot during the winter holidays. Their families, friends, and pastor offer more advice than sages on speed. So, young lawyer Bobby and fashion designer Paolo are caught in the matrimonial holiday circus. Will a shocking turn of events somehow lead to the perfect wedding for the December grooms?
The following Christmas, Bobby and Paolo aren’t feeling the holiday spirit. They have a nice apartment, designer clothes, entertaining and supportive friends and family, but little time for each other. While out shopping in their quaint local holiday village, Bobby and Paolo encounter Gregory, an adorable seven-year-old who changes their lives forever, offering them a true holiday miracle… if they’re willing to accept it.
Praise for The Perfect Gift
“Joe Cosentino has, once again, written a story filled with love, laugh out loud humour and a HEA that will leave a smile on your face and seasonal joy in your heart. There’s a magic to the worlds he creates that few other authors can achieve.”—Divine Magazine
“Joe Cosentino has a way with his stories with a touch of humor, great descriptions, and he grabs your attention, making you turn the page. If you like sweet romance, holiday stories, Christmas magic and cute kids, you will love this one!”—TTC Books and More
“hilarious, contains some excellent observations about human nature, and had me eagerly turning the pages to find out what’s next…if you’re looking for a two-part read that is fun, emotional, suspenseful, and all about finding (and keeping) a family of your own, then you will probably like this novella. I definitely loved it!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
“This is a feel good heartwarming holiday story you need to add on your holiday reading list. Or anytime of the year, because I know this will warm your heart. Recommended!”—Lelyana’s Book Blog
“The Perfect Gift was funny, sweet, and entertaining…The emotional journey felt so real…For fans of LGBT fiction and romance, this is a must have book.”—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 Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Queen, 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, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy, Drama King;
- the Player Piano Mysteries (Dreamspinner Press): The Player and The Player’s Encore;
- the Jana Lane Mysteries (The Wild Rose Press): Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll;
- the Cozzi Cove series (NineStar Press): Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings;
- the In My Heart Anthology (Dreamspinner Press): An Infatuation & A Shooting Star;
- the Tales from Fairyland Anthology (Dreamspinner Press): The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland;
- the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology (Dreamspinner Press): A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel;
- and the Found At Last Anthology (Dreamspinner Press): 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.
Find Joe Cosentino on the Web
About the Narrator
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 Drama Christmas (the 11th Nicky and Noah mystery novel) by Joe Cosentino, Drama Pan (the 12th Nicky and Noah mystery novel) by Joe Cosentino, All the King’s Men by Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and Pressure by Barry Napier.
Find Brian Cheney on the Web
