INTERVIEW :: A Shooting Star (Audiobook) by Joe Cosentino #Interview
✨ INTERVIEW ✨
A Shooting Star, In My Heart Series, by Joe Cosentino,
published by Dreamspinner Press,
now also available as an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
What inspired you to become a writer?
As a kid I played make believe constantly. “Let’s put on a show!” was my motto with full scale musicals in the garage starring my sister and me. Thankfully my parents and teachers indulged me (rather than committed me-hah). Eventually I became an actor in film, television, and theatre, working opposite stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Morphing into writing plays and now novels seem like the perfect progression. It occurred to me that acting is storytelling in the same way that writing is storytelling, so I decided to give writing a try. After writing some plays, I knew my novels would include show business in some way, since show business has always been such a huge part of my life. Since coming from a funny Italian-American family, I also knew humor would play a role in my novels.
Why did you write A Shooting Star?
After my first novella, An Infatuation (Divine Magazine Readers’ Choice Award 2nd Place for Best MM Romance), was released by Dreamspinner Press, I received numerous requests from readers for a second novella in the In My Heart series. Since An Infatuation was loosely based on my high school days and high school reunion, I thought back to my days as a theatre major in college, and A Shooting Star was born. I received countless messages from readers describing how reading this novella changed their lives, and how the characters, story, and messages stayed with them.
Why were your college days special enough to write about in a novella?
Like most college theatre departments, mine was full of comedy, romance, mystery, and of course drama. The flames of love were kindled, and hearts were broken while we put on play after play for delighted audiences who never knew the personal secrets behind the stage curtains. There was the star student who got the leading role in every show. Everyone, male and female, was in love with him. There was also the class clown, the manipulator, everybody’s best friend, and (as they say on Gilligan’s Island) the rest. As we learned our acting craft, we learned important lessons about life. We met and fell in love, some for a semester, some for four years, and some for a lifetime. Though we now live states apart, we forged friendships that will also continue (thanks to Facebook). Some became famous in films, television, on Broadway, or in the literary arena. Others moved on to other occupations. Still others chose marriage and children. Regardless, we all shared an incredible experience that will always bind us. An experience none of us will ever forget.
What is the storyline of A Shooting Star?
The novella begins with Jonathan receiving the Academy Award for Best Actor. He thinks back to the person who was responsible for his win. We flash back to new college theatre major Jonathan meeting the gorgeous, muscular, tantalizing, and mysterious upper classroom and theatre department star aptly named David Star. As David grooms Jonathan for college life and for stardom, Jonathan falls deeply in love with him. This leads Jonathan on an inner and outer journey, where he learns some shocking secrets about David and about himself.
Tell us more about the main characters.
Like Harold in An Infatuation, Jonathan in A Shooting Star is loosely based on me, though I haven’t won an Academy Award—yet (smile). He is ingenuous, funny, warm, gullible, and has an open heart. As is the case with Stuart in An Infatuation, Barry, Jonathan’s loyal scene partner in A Shooting Star, is loosely based on my spouse. Similar to Mario in An Infatuation, David in A Shooting Star is a combination of a number of young men I met as a theatre major in college and as a young actor in New York City. Each was handsome, muscular, charismatic, sensuous, and almost other-worldly like Greek gods. Though they appeared to hold the world in the palm of their strong hands, they each had a secret weakness. The acting professor, the hysterically hypochondriac Professor Katzer, is a lampooned version of an acting professor I had in college who has since passed away. I want to play him in the movie version!
What is the message in your story?
Just as I believe we left our New Jersey college community a better place when we graduated, Jonathan and David leave their Colorado college community members in an exalted state. Theatre is a very powerful medium to change lives on stage and in the audience.
Who is your favorite character in A Shooting Star and why?
Jonathan has incredible spirit. He is likeable, gullible, and wears his heart on his sleeve.
Which one of your characters was the hardest one to write and why?
David is magical, an enigma, and incredibly sexy.
Which one of your characters did you enjoy writing the most and why?
Barry is hysterically funny and has such a great sense of self. He is also a devoted friend.
And now A Shooting Star is also available as an audio book performed by Brian Cheney who has performed many of your audio books. Why do you two keep working together?
Brian is incredibly easy to work with, warm, friendly, open to all ideas, and most importantly, he loves my books! (smile) I adore him as a person and as a performer. He is truly a man of a hundred voices, a very skilled actor, amazingly in touch with his emotions, quite intelligent, and the perfect voice for my books. Brian’s perfect sense of comic timing, dramatic skills, insight into human nature, and sensitivity are on perfect display in A Shooting Star.
Why did it take nearly ten years after publishing A Shooting Star for the audio book to be released?
I was waiting for the perfect audio book performer, and I found him.
After writing A Shooting Star, you wrote the 18 Nicky and Noah mystery novels, which are also about college life.
Yes, and I was lucky enough to have Brian perform the last 8 audio books in that series. Brian perfectly connected with the humor, pathos, mystery, quirky characters, plot twists and turns, and surprise endings in those books.
How do you handle writing love scenes?
Lovemaking is a part of life, so it makes sense to include love scenes in novels. The love scenes in my books are pretty tame compared to many. I have been told they are sweet, sexy, and touching.
What advice would you give to other writers in your genre?
I love reading and writing stories with engaging characters who I want to spend time with. Just as I did improvisation as an actor, I recommend letting your characters talk to one another and seeing what happens! An outline is simply an outline. Don’t be afraid to deviate from it. When a reader finishes a book, he/she should be satisfied that the various parts equaled the whole, rather than the author pulling an ending out of the hat. Finally, don’t forget the humor and drama!
How long does it generally take you to write a book?
About three months.
What is your writing process?
I write a plot summary and biography for each character. Sometimes I write an outline and other times I wing it. I show the second draft to my spouse for his notes. The third draft goes to the publisher.
Who is your ideal reader or listener of your books?
My ideal reader or listener craves being swept away by a story and becoming part of the novel. He/she relishes in beautiful locations and captivating characters as she/he enters the portal of my book.
Do you write straight fiction as well?
I have a mystery series, the five Jana Lane mysteries published by The Wild Rose Press, with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters. As with all of my books, the series contains plenty of humor, drama, romance, mystery, and a shocking ending. It is also set in the world of show business!
How can your readers contact you?
I love hearing from readers via my web site.
A Shooting Star Audiobook
In My Heart series book two,
by Joe Cosentino,
published by Dreamspinner Press
Now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney:
Series: In My Heart (book 2)
Formats: E-book and Audiobook
ASIN: B0DN291F8M
Release Date: eBook/September 2, 2015 & Audiobook/November 14, 2024
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Length: 113 Pages / 3 Hours 50 Minutes
Language: English
Genres/Tropes: MM Romance, Contemporary
🛒 Purchase Links
Listen to a sample on Amazon or Audible
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Blurb
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
“Cosentino has another winning heartbreaker with A Shooting Star.”—Prism Book Alliance
“For those readers looking for something a little bit different – dare I say unique? For those readers who like to laugh. For those readers who appreciate the nuances of people and the way each character is different. For those readers who want to read a damn good story – check out this author. I’m glad I did.”—Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“A very gripping, heart wrenching novella. A great read!!”—Pam Kay Reviews
“It is a bittersweet story, but it is one that still has hope and love.”—Hearts on Fire Reviews
“This story just blew me away.”—Cathy Brockman Romance/MM Good Book Reviews
“From the beginning I was enthralled and couldn’t wait to finish the book.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
“really grabs you and tugs at your emotions…unique and enjoyable.”—Nautical Star Books
“a sophisticated, enthralling, and suspenseful tale with a gothic vibe and a multi-layered execution that will have you sitting up and taking notice. This is polished prose at its best. Intelligent writing, a thought-provoking plot and characters befitting the theater genre make A Shooting Starone of my favorite reads this year.”—Love’s Last Refuge Reviews
“a beautifully written story, full of life, love, heartbreak, tragedy, and maybe most importantly, triumph.”—Readers’ Favorite
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.
