CHARACTER INTERVIEW ~ Finding Armando by Joe Cosentino #CharacterInterview
✨ CHARACTER INTERVIEW ✨
Finding Armando, Found At Last book 2, by Joe Cosentino,
published by Dreamspinner Press,
now also available as an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
Jamison, congratulations on the audio book release of Finding Armando, Found At Last book 2.
Thank you for letting me out of the book to stretch. It can get tight in there.
Since the readers can’t see you, what do you look like?
I’m twenty-eight, tall, with jet-black hair, and muscular thanks to the gym at the resort. Theo says I have crystal blue eyes, peaches and cream complexion, and a strong nose. I can thank my parents for that. My mother is Swedish and my dad is Egyptian.
Tell us about Theo.
Theo is twenty-six, tall, with sexy dark hair and eyes, and a hunky build. His first name means godlike, and his last name, Stratis, means good soldier. Theo is both those things. Theo cares about others deeply, yearns for fairness and justice, and loves with all his heart.
What happened after the release of Finding Giorgio, Found At Last series book 1?
Our first story, Finding Giorgio, was a novella cherished by so many people. They fell in love with Theo, as I did. The readers also admired how Theo and I risked so much to reunite Nolan and Giorgio, who were separated at eighteen years old by their homophobic parents. Thankfully, our story didn’t end there. As the new owners of Nolan Giorgio’s Resort in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains, Theo and I have a new challenge. That’s the story of Finding Armando, Found At Last book 2.
Tell everyone the story of Finding Armando.
Theo and I embark on a second search, this one for our friend, resort manager Asher’s lost love, Armando, separated from him years ago under the military’s old Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Complicating matters further, my playboy younger brother, Kendall, pays us a visit on leave from the Navy, and a woman in need makes Theo and me a shocking offer.
Is the second story also told through Theo’s perspective?
Of course. He’s my man!
Do you and Theo reunite the separated lovers again and find a happily-ever-after ending for yourselves?
My lips are sealed, but I will tell you this second At Last story, like the first one, is full of humor, adventure, drama, surprises, plot twists and turns, and of course sweet romance that will bring a tear to your eyes and warm your heart.
Why are the two Found At Last novellas so special?
Each of the two stories offers a current romance and a past romance that will stay with you for a long time to come.
In Finding Armando, we meet your playboy younger brother Kendall and the resort’s conservative assistant manager Phoenix. They seem like an unlikely couple.
And theirs is a very rocky road to romance, which makes their storyline exciting, humorous, and very sexy.
What else is special about Finding Armando?
The story’s location in the Pennsylvania Poconos mountains is gorgeous with its log cabins near stunning lakes surrounded by sun-kissed mountains. I especially like that both At Last stories also include an older gay couple, which you don’t find much in MM literature.
Are your and Theo’s families back in Finding Armando?
They sure are, and they are as entertaining as ever. I love Theo’s big Greek family, and readers do too!
Who is your favorite character in Finding Armando?
The resort manager, gray fox Asher Hillel. In his younger days, Asher was taunted for being Jewish and gay. He was separated from the love of his life in the Navy during the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Yet he made a success of himself.
Which character is the sexiest?
Theo of course! Next is Phoenix, the assistant manager at the resort in the Poconos. He is tall, muscular, handsome, mixed-race, and an ex-Marine. While regimented and cold on the outside, he has a heart of gold ready to melt.
What was the response of readers and reviewers when the novella was released four years ago?
Amazing! They laughed, cried, and fell in love with Theo and me all over again.
And now Finding Armando is also available as an audio book. What took so long?
Joe was waiting for the perfect audio book performer, and he found him in Brian Cheney.
Brian has performed many of Joe’s audio books. What’s Brian’s secret?
An amazing amount of talent, a fantastic sense of humor, perfect comic timing, wonderful acting skills, the ability to perfectly portray different characters, and a soothing and romantic voice. Brian is in touch with all of his emotions, and he is able to bring my stories to vivid life. Listening to him, you feel as if you are there in the story!
I’m sure you’ve been told Finding Armando would make a terrific movie. How would you cast it?
Here’s my wish list to name a few: Colton Haynes as Theo, Ezra Miller as me, John Barrowman as Asher, Charlie Carver as Kendall, and Shemar Moore as Phoenix. Come on, TV producers, make Joe an offer!
How can listeners get their hands on the Finding Armando audio book?
The purchase links are below.
Thank you, Jamison, for interviewing today.
My pleasure. I hope everyone will listen to both Found At Last stories at last. I’m sure, like me, you will fall in love with Theo as we bring together lost lovers from the past. And I love to hear from listeners. So contact me through Joe’s web site!
Finding Armando Audiobook
Found At Last series book two,
by Joe Cosentino,
published by Dreamspinner Press
Now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney:
Series: Found at Last (book 2)
Formats: E-book and Audiobook
ASIN: B0873DFXZC
Release Date: eBook/June 23, 2020 & Audiobook/October 22, 2024
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Length: 126 Pages / 4 Hours 4 Minutes
Language: English
Genres/Tropes: MM Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Comedy, Adventure
🛒 Purchase Links
Listen to a sample on Amazon or Audible
As an Amazon associate, the owner of this site earns from qualifying purchases. Neither the buyer nor the seller is directly charged for this. The referral fee comes from Amazon’s deep pockets, and surely we can all get behind that!
Blurb
An investigative adventure in search of an elderly man’s first love brought Theo and Jamison together. Now they’re called to put their sleuthing skills to use once again and reunite Pocono resort manager Asher with his lost love, Armando. But the hunt through rural Pennsylvania won’t be easy with Jamison’s younger brother locking horns with the resort’s assistant manager and a shocking offer from the sous chef, Grace.
Praise for Joe Cosentino’s Books
“Joe Cosentino has a unique and fabulous gift. His writing is flawless…will have you guessing until the very last page, which makes his books a joy to read. His books are worth their weight in gold, and if you haven’t discovered them yet you are in for a rare treat.”—Divine Magazine
“adventure, mystery, and romance with every page….Funny, clever, and sweet.”—Urban Book Reviews
“The author executed his storyline with a marvelous precision that would be the envy of many authors. He draws the readers into the lives of his characters, they become real and in turn, their emotions becomes yours….If you can only afford to buy one more book this year, buy this one.”—Three Books Over the Rainbow Reviews
“I really loved this book and having an ending that made me laugh and cry at the same time is testament to the brilliant writing.”—BooksLaidBareBoys
“In true Joe Cosentino style…this cast of characters will have you laughing out loud one minute before ripping your heart out the next.”—Joyfully Jay 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 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.
