CHARACTER INTERVIEW :: Holiday Tales from Fairyland #Audiobook #Interview
✨ CHARACTER INTERVIEW ✨
An Interview with Cavalier, 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 Cavalier?
I’m tall, and very muscular from spending all that time lifting the Sugar Plum Fairy. My hair and eyes are exotic sienna, skin olive-colored, and my bulge has caused lots of guys to do a demi-plea. At thirty-one, I’m loyal, honest, and a good private investigator. I’m also tired of doing leaps and spins with guys, and I’m looking for my one true love.
Where do you live?
In my cottage in Dance Village, Fairyland.
How does it feel to be out (no pun intended) of the new novella, Holiday Tales from Fairyland, by Joe Cosentino?
I can do a pirouette and not hit my head on the book.
Tell us about your story in Holiday Tales from Fairyland?
After Joe’s success with The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland e-book, paperback, and audio book (performed by the wonderful Joel Leslie), fans asked for more stories from Fairyland. Since Joe loves the holidays, he went that route. My story is loosely based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman. At Christmastime, Fritz finds his sister, Clara, strangled with the ribbons of her pink toe shoes. He’s the Dance Captain’s chief suspect. So he hires me to get me off (no pun intended). The suspects are Clara’s husband the Nutcracker, Fritz’s sister Louise, my old dance partner the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Fritz’s Godpapa Drosselmeyer.
Tell us about Fritz.
He’s the man of my dreams. When I see him, I want to jump in second position to the cotton candy clouds. Fritz is twenty-one, tall and lean, with blond wavy hair and gorgeous violet eyes. He’s sweet, sensitive, and so in need of love and protection.
Who are the other characters in your story?
Fritz’s brother-in-law the Nutcracker who is quite vain. Fritz’s sister Louise and the diva Sugar Plum Fairy seem to have a sweet tooth for each other. And Fritz’s Godpapa Drosselmeyer is a leather queen. I interrogate all the suspects and finally uncover who killed Clara. But not before Fritz and I fall in love.
How would you rate Brian Cheney’s performance for the new Holiday Tales from Fairyland audio book?
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?
The first story takes place on Halloween. It’s based on The Headless Horseman by Washington Irving. In Joe’s version, 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 town folk a lesson in acceptance they’ll never forget? You’ll see! Finally, 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 also 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.
The gayest. It’s Fairyland after all!
You have a hot love scene with Fritz, who is much younger than you. How did you handle that?
I’ve spun with the Twelve Dancing Princes, but no guy has ever turned my head like Fritz. 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. It’s as if they are right there with us!
Who is your ideal reader/listener of your story?
My ideal reader/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?
People who fear coming out of the closet. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, open that door and come into the colors and wonder of Fairyland. It’s a glorious place to live.
How can your readers contact you?
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
(Audiobook)
by Joe Cosentino
Holiday Tales from Fairyland
Tales from Fairyland book 2, by Joe Cosentino
now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
Series: Tales from Fairyland (Book 2)
Formats: E-book and Audiobook
ASIN: B07G4MKMHK
Release Date: eBook/October 1, 2018 & Audiobook/October 7, 2025
Cover Artist: Jesús Da Silva
Length: 132 Pages/34,010 Words, 4 Hrs. and 14 Min.
Language: English
Genres/Tropes: M/M Fantasy Romance
🛒 Purchase Links
Listen to a sample on Amazon or Audible
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Blurb
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
“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 Reviews
“sweet, hilarious, and sexy…these stories will entertain and delight you…I love the wit that is always prevalent in Joe Cosentino’s work!”—TTC Books and More
“entertaining and funny…anyone who is familiar with fairytales will love this collection!”—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 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.
Find Brian Cheney on the Web
