Author Interview & Giveaway: A Shooting Star by Joe Cosentino

A SHOOTING STAR
by JOE COSENTINO
M/M Contemporary/Acting/Actors
The second novella in the In My Heart series from Dreamspinner Press

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.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

Reviews for AN INFATUATION the first novella in the In My Heart series by Joe Cosentino from Dreamspinner Press:

“Author Joe Cosentino brought just the right amount of humor, angst and honesty to make this short but sweet coming of age story a success.” MM Good Book Reviews

e-book $4.99

purchase links:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6803

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014LNRXU6

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ashootingstar-1870418-149.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-shooting-star-joe-cosentino/1122590987?ean=2940150803107

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About the Author:

Joe Cosentino is the author of An Infatuation and A Shooting Star (Dreamspinner Press), Paper Doll the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Drama Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are A Home for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press holiday novella), The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press short stories novella), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery (Wild Rose Press), and Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press).

Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KRPXJP6

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Interview:

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

When writing a mystery like my Jana Lane mysteries (PAPER DOLL from Whiskey Creek Press) or Nicky and Noah mysteries (DRAMA QUEEN from Lethe Press), I start at the end with a shocking ending then work backwards with clues, reversals, plot twists and turns. With a romance novel like AN INFATUATION or A SHOOTING STAR (from Dreamspinner Press) I start with the characters and do lengthy character biographies. That helps mold the story for me. In both cases I write a brief outline. My spouse reads the second draft, and the third draft goes to the publisher.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Yes! Since I was an actor, I have a great imagination. Once the characters begin talking in my head, I start typing. They very often divert from my outline, which is fine with me. Sometimes the things they say make me laugh, cry, or totally shock me.

What drew you to the M/M genre in particular?

Go to the mall and look at the endless posters of movies with no gay characters in them. There are so many interesting gay stories that need to be told. I have a dozen of them in my head now.

Do you write in other genres besides M/M?

I have a mystery series, the Jana Lane mysteries, with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters. It’s about an ex-child star making a comeback while solving the mystery of who attacked her in the past and who is after her now. PAPER DOLL (Whiskey Creek Presss) is out now. PORCELAIN DOLL, SATIN DOLL, and CHINA DOLL (Wild Rose Press) will be out in the future. Through the course of the books, Jana not only solves the mysteries, but also reclaims the courage and fortitude she had as a child. This is an important message for all of us. As one reviewer wrote, she starts out as a wounded bird, and ends as tiger. Since the novels take place in the 1980’s, Jana’s best friends are gay, and Jana is somewhat of a gay activist, the AIDS epidemic is a large part of the novels.

What is your favourite food?

Oatmeal with raisins, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut milk, and cinnamon.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl, which drives my spouse (a morning person) crazy.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

We’ve been to France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Spain, and most of the US, where I live. I’d like to take a riverboat cruise through Austria and sing the songs from THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the sites.

Do distant places feature in your books?

I travelled to gorgeous Capri, Italy for my upcoming holiday novella, A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS from Dreamspinner Press. I also took an Alaskan cruise and trip to Hawaii for the upcoming third and fourth Nicky and Noah mysteries, DRAMA CRUISE and DRAMA ALOHA from Lethe Press. Jana goes to Hollywood in PAPER DOLL (Whiskey Creek Press) and Washington, DC in SATIN DOLL (Wild Rose Press).

Do you listen to music while writing?

No, just the voices in my head.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

After my Bittersweet Dreams novella, AN INFATUATION, 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 through adulthood, I thought back to my days as a theatre major in college, and A SHOTING STAR was born.

In the novella, new college theatre major Jonathan meets 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. As a remembrance story, the novella begins with Jonathan having just received the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Film, as he thinks back to the person who was responsible for his win.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

I’ve learned to write what is in my heart, and connect to the publisher who understands that.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Not worry so much about reviews. Most of my reviews and reader response have been incredibly positive, which fuel my writing. What a gift it is for a reader to post a positive review on Amazon or Goodreads, relating how something I’ve written has moved them, made them laugh, made them cry, think about something new, or changed their life. I can’t think of anything better. As for the few bad reviews, I don’t read them. As my mother always told me, if you don’t have something nice to say about somebody, don’t say anything. I can’t imagine why anyone would continue reading a book after chapter one if he/she doesn’t like it. Just put it down and read something else. Why attack a book someone has poured his/her blood, sweat, and tears into? As the saying goes, just say no.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

Armistead Maupin has an amazing flair for writing eccentric, loveable characters with engaging and realistic dialogue. Agatha Christie is the master of hiding clues, reversals, plot twists and turns, and surprise endings.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Write what is in your heart and search for the publisher who fits your style.

What are three words that describe you?

Funny, talkative, honest.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

Armistead Maupin’s TALES OF THE CITY books are amazing. I read them over and over again.

List of previous books if any:

AN INFATUATION (In My Heart bittersweet dreams novella 1 from Dreamspinner Press, PAPER DOLL (the first Jana Lane mystery from Whiskey Creek Press), DRAMA QUEEN (the first Nicky and Noah mystery from Lethe Press).

I will be editing for release: A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (a winter holiday novella taking place in Capri, Italy) from Dreamsprinner Press, THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TAKES FROM FAIRYLAND (gay fairy tales novella) from Dreamspinner Press, PORCELAIN DOLL (the second Jana Lane mystery) and SATIN DOLL (the third Jana Lane mystery) from Wild Rose Press, DRAMA MUSCLE (the second Nicky and Noah comedy mystery) and DRAMA CRUISE (the third Nicky and Noah mystery) from Lethe Press. I plan to finish writing CHINA DOLL (the fourth Jana Lane mystery) and DRAMA ALOHA (the fourth Nicky and Noah mystery. Looks like I’ll be really busy. I am also working on a new gay romance novel set in the Jersey Shore, COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK which features two minor characters from AN INFATUATION.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web:

Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KRPXJP6

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Giveaway

Joe Cosentino is offering a giveaway of AN INFATUATION, the first In My Heart bittersweet dreams novella from Dreamspinner Press. Post a comment about his interview. We will select the winner and Joe will email you the ebook! Just leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.