Hello and Welcome Joe! I'm happy to have you here and to learn a little bit more about you and your fabulous new book!
So tell us, what
inspired you to become a writer?
After
college 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. Sorry to name drop! Morphing into writing plays and now novels
seem like the perfect progression. I knew my novels would include show
business in some way, since show business has always been such a huge part of
my life. As an avid mystery reader, it was clear to me that my novels would also
be page-turning mysteries with clever plot twists, engaging characters,
romance, and lots of clues leading to a surprising conclusion. Since coming
from a funny Italian-American family, I also knew humor would play a role in my
novels.
Can
you tell us a little bit about creating the Jana Lane mystery series?
As a child I loved child stars like
Shirley Temple, Hayley Mills, and Patty Duke, seeing their movies over and
over. So I created a heroine who was the biggest child star ever until she was
attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. In PAPER DOLL the secret
behind that attack is exposed.
In PORCELAIN DOLL, it is 1982 and
Jana is thirty-nine years old, living in a mansion in Hyde Park, New York. Jana
makes a comeback film and uncovers who is being murdered on the set and why.
Her heart is set aflutter by her incredibly gorgeous co-star, America’s
heartthrob Jason Apollo. The other suspects include Jana’s James Dean type
young co-star, her older John Wayne type co-star, her children’s Eve Harrington
type nanny, the film’s gossipy makeup and hair artist, a local reverend trying
to stop the film’s production, and Jason’s agent.
In SATIN DOLL (not yet released),
Jana and family head to Washington, DC, where Jana plays a US senator in a new
film, and becomes embroiled in a murder and corruption at the senate chamber.
She also embarks on a romance with Chris Bruno, the ex-professional football
player detective.
In CHINA DOLL (not yet released),
Jana heads to New York City to star in a Broadway play, enchanted by her
gorgeous co-star Peter Stevens, and faced with murder on stage and off.
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.
Who
is your favorite character in PORCELAIN DOLL? And why?
Jana’s agent, Simon, is my favorite
character for five reasons. He is amazingly resilient, old world Hollywood,
incredibly funny, loyal to Jana, and most importantly, I want to play him in
the TV series!
Which
one of your characters was the hardest one to write? And why?
Reverend Charlton, the reverend
protesting Jana’s film, was difficult to write since he is so frightening. I
could never understand why some people use religion to try to attack and
demonize others.
Do
you think Christians would be offended by his character?
Jana is a Christian who prays and
goes to church on Sundays. She seems like a true Christian to me since she
tries to love her neighbor as herself, not judge others, and help the
downtrodden and outcasts. Reverend Charlton doesn’t seem very Christian to me
since he uses his power and wealth to demean others.
Which
one of your characters did you enjoy writing the most? And why?
Jana’s young co-star, Trevor, was
fun since he has such a huge ego and is certainly a rebel without a cause
Did
you use your background as an actor to write PORCELAIN DOLL?
Definitely! I used my background in
each of the Jana Lane novels, since I know the ins and outs on a movie set.
Thankfully nobody was murdered on my sets!
Why
did you set the books in the 1980’s?
I love the music, hairstyles,
clothing, and decadence of that era. I had great fun writing about Jana’s
mansion, wardrobe, makeup, and hairstyles. I was also able to incorporate some
of the music, films, television shows, Broadway shows, and political and social
events of the era, including the AIDS epidemic.
What
are the difficulties in writing a series?
On the positive side, the leading
characters are so real to me, each book is like visiting with old friends. I
love Jana and I enjoy every moment with her. On the negative side, for
continuity I need to keep a notebook full of information on each character and
the various repeat locations—i.e. every room in Jana’s Hyde Park mansion.
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 and touching.
Do
you have another mystery series besides the Jana Lane mysteries?
Yes, the Nicky and Noah comedy mysteries
published by Lethe Press. Since I am a college theatre professor/department
head, the series takes place at an Edwardian style New England college. In DRAMA
QUEEN (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015 winner for Best
Mystery, Best Humor, Best Crime, Best Contemporary) theatre college professors
are dropping like stage curtains. With the inept local detectives, it is up to
Directing professor, Nicky Abbondanza to use his theatre skills (including
playing other people) to solve the murders, while he directs a murder mystery
onstage. Complicating matters is Nicky’s intense crush on Assistant Professor
of Acting, handsome Noah Oliver, the prime suspect in the murders. In DRAMA
MUSCLE Nicky and Noah have to use their theatre
skills to find out why musclemen are dropping like weights in the Physical
Education department while Nicky directs the Student Bodybuilding Competition.
In DRAMA CRUISE (not released yet), Nicky and Noah go on a cruise to Alaska,
and discover why college theatre professors are going overboard like lifeboats
while Nicky directs a murder mystery dinner theatre show onboard ship. The
series is so entertaining, it has vast crossover appeal. My colleagues kid me
that if they tick me off, I will murder them in the next book. Hah.
What
are you writing now?
Ragdoll, the next
Jana Lane mystery, where Jana stars in a TV murder mystery series. You guessed it!
Life imitates art yet again.
Who is your ideal reader of your books?
A lover of
mystery, romance, and Hollywood. Someone who craves being swept away by a story
and becoming part of the novel. My reader loves clues, suspects, and plotlines
that zigzag with numerous surprises leading to a shocking yet totally justified
conclusion. Finally, my reader relishes in beautiful, lush locations and
captivating characters as she/he enters the portal of my book.
How
can your readers contact you?
I
love hearing from readers. They can contact me here.
Purchase Links:
Blurb:
Is art imitating life in 1982? Jana Lane, ex-child
star, is doing a comeback film about murder. When a crew member is killed on
the set, it looks like Jana could be next. Thickening
the plot is Jana’s breathtakingly handsome and muscular leading man, Jason
Apollo, whose boyish, southern charms have aroused Jana’s interest on screen
and off. Will Jana and Jason stop the murderer before the final reel, or end up
on the cutting room floor in this fast-paced whodunit with a shocking ending?
Praise for
PORCELAIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery:
“Porcelain Doll is Joe Cosentino at his
finest. We are drawn back to the fashions and attitudes of the 1980's in a
character-driven story full of intrigue and passion." Kirsty Vizard,
Divine Magazine
“Beautifully
written and intensely detailed, Porcelain
Doll is one not to be missed. Flirtatiously decadent with a strong moral
undertone, set in a decade of extraordinary social change this is a story of
its period that is as poignant today as it was then. Joe Cosentino controlled
the emotions that the book encouraged with a deft but delicate touch.
Suspenseful and mysterious, Porcelain
Doll is a masterful creation, one that was impossible not to be affected
by.” Carol Fenton, BooksLaidBare Reviews
Praise for
PAPER DOLL, the first Jana Lane mystery:
“Paper Doll is a superbly crafted mystery
with an eclectic cast of characters that will engage you and elicit some very
emotional responses as you are completely caught up in the events that unfold
in these pages. Everyone has secrets and the people in Paper Doll have them in spades!” Fresh Fiction
"Mr.
Cosentino has produced a masterpiece of mystery" "The story gripped
me from the start and there were enough twists and turns, with a bit of romance
thrown in for good measure, to keep hold of me until the end of the book."
"Great book, can’t wait for book 2." Readers’ Favorite
Released:
March 16, 2016
Pages: 260
Cover Artist:
Debbie Taylor
Paperback:
978-1-5092-0603-2
Digital:
978-1-5092-0604-9
Heat Level:
Sensual, PG-13
Author’s Bio:
Amazon
Bestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote Paper
Doll the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane
mystery (The Wild Rose Press), Drama
Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), An Infatuation & A Shooting Star & A Home for the
Holidays & The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland
(Dreamspinner Press), Cozzi Cove:
Bouncing Back (NineStar 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 Satin Doll
the third Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), China Doll the fourth Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), Drama
Cruise the third Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward (NineStar Press).
Joe was voted 2nd Place for Best MM Author of the Year in Divine
Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015.
Author’s
Contact Links:
An Excerpt of
PORCELAIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery, by Joe Cosentino
Published by The
Wild Rose Press
As Jana sat
waiting for Jack to call for action, she looked up at Jason’s encouraging face.
She again was taken aback by his incredible beauty.
Reverend
Charlton and Gloria reentered the study.
Jack called
for quiet and action. Jana and Jason played the scene, where the detective
notifies her of her husband’s death. Jason delivered his lines with warmth,
vulnerability, and obvious affection for Jana. In turn, Jana listened then
reacted with deep emotions, conveying shock, loss, fear, and hysteria while
being comforted by the man she trusted. Jana clutched onto Jason with such
force, her fingernail accidently tore a hole in his jacket.
“Cut!” Jack hollered.
While
the wardrobe woman repaired Jason’s jacket, Jana noticed Reverend Charlton step
out of the study again, this time with Ryan O’Halloran.
After
the two men returned, and the jacket was mended, Jack called for slate and
action for take two. Jana and Jason did the scene two more times. Each take was
more realistic and heart-wrenching than the next, and each appeared as if it
were the first time Jana was given the sad news.
After
the third take, Jack shouted, “Cut! It’s a wrap. Ryan, let’s move on to the
next location.”
Jana
wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Jason
placed his hand on the side of her face. “You’re amazing.”
“You’re
not so bad yourself, partner.”
“You
make me better,” he said with adoration in his true-blue eyes.
They
shared a smile as again people hurried around the room like ants after a
picnic.
Suddenly,
Jana heard a loud crash followed by a scream. Leaping from her chair, she
followed the horrified gazes of the others in the room to Ryan O’Halloran lying
motionless on the floor with a Fresnel tungsten shuttered light next to his
head, and blood dripping from his scalp onto the hardwood floor.
Sounds Like it will be a great read!!!Thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Joe will be back in May with information on the sequal. Stay tuned and thanks so much for dropping by!
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