Please join us in welcoming author Joe Cosentino today, on the tour for his latest release, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward. Enjoy Joe’s self-interview, and then be sure to check out the giveaway below, where you can enter for the chance to win an e-copy of his novella An Infatuation.
And now, here’s Joe:
You were last here to discuss the first novel in the Cozzi Cove series, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back. How was that novel received?
After Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back released, many readers and reviewers praised its romantic, humorous, dramatic, mysterious style, and interwoven captivating stories. So I wrote Cozzi Cove: Moving Froward.
Also after my novella A Shooting Star was released, many readers wanted more time with two of the leading characters, college theatre majors Jonathan and Barry. So two of the guests at Cozzi Cove this summer are loosely based on how Jonathan and Barry might be as middle-aged men. I call them Rodney Maxwell and Dennis O’Halloran.
What is the storyline of Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward?
Cal Cozzi opens his string of seven guest bungalows on gay resort Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey shore for another summer. We are treated to four interwoven stories about Cal and his guests.
Tell us more about the main characters.
My leading character is once again Cal Cozzi. Cal, short for Calvin, is thirty years old, tall, and muscular. His Italian and Scottish heritage left him with auburn hair, emerald-green eyes, a wide nose, and olive skin. Cal is honored to follow in his father’s footsteps, running Cozzi Cove.
Cal’s new young lover, Michael Rodgers, is an African American college student with exotic eyes and a toned body. After going through tough times, Michael landed at Cal’s doorstep in book 1 and the two have never looked back.
Connor, the college student assisting Cal, is back, packed with muscles and hormones. He revels in Cozzi Cove, and in checking out each resident for a possible fling on the cove—which he occasionally enjoys.
Tommy, the bald, muscular, tattooed resident of Cozzi Cove who owns the local bar has held a torch for Cal since high school. Carla Mangione who runs Carla’s Seafood Restaurant holds a similar torch for Cal’s sister. Both characters were in book 1, and we get to know them a lot better in book 2.
Cal’s sister, Taylor, drops in again from Rome, Paris, Wall Street, or Palm Springs. As a tough as nails top one-percenter, the world revolves around her, which makes her hysterically funny. Taylor is in for a huge surprise in this book.
This summer the vacationers include Rodney Maxwell and Dennis O’Halloran, a Tony Award winning actor and his estranged producer/husband with their two hired bodybuilder studs, Jarek and Zeus. Computer analyst, Sam, enlists his best friend Chase in a scheme to attract Sam’s hunky, unsuspecting best friend, Raul. Hunter, a female gay romance novel enthusiast, wants to experience gay life off the page. Middle aged Gil Van Truren tries to end it all—until he sees a vision of his first love from college. Cal also has his hands full with Michael’s study buddy the gorgeous and muscular Carlo, and resident man of mystery George Valis who seems to know a great deal about Cal’s past. But once again nothing is what it seems in the romantic, beautiful, and magical Cozzi Cove.
What is the moral of the story?
Take a chance on love.
Who is your favorite character in Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward and why?
That’s like picking a favorite child, though my mother would have no problem picking my sister. I love all of them, but Rodney and Dennis’ theatrical bantering still makes me laugh, and Jarek and Zeus the bodybuilders are surprisingly touching and sweet.
Which one of your characters was the hardest one to write? And why?
Gil Van Truren’s mindset at the start of the novel is so dark. Thankfully that doesn’t last long. After all, he is at Cozzi Cove.
Which one of your characters did you enjoy writing the most? And why?
Cal’s sister, Taylor. She is a riot. I also admire her devotion to her brother. Gil’s Bruce is also incredibly sweet and smart.
Are you Cal, Michael your spouse, and Taylor your sister?
A few traits here and there, but we’re very different, though my sister is opinionated like Taylor. Harold (An Infatuation), Jonathan (A Shooting Star), and Bobby (A Home for the Holidays) have many of my traits. Stuart (An Infatuation) and Barry (A Shooting Star) are based on my spouse.
Cal and Michael go through a rough patch as their relationship continues, and Cal makes a personal shocking discovery.
That’s Cozzi Cove, just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s a game changer.
Will there be more Cozzi Cove novels?
I am writing the third one now: Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out.
Do you see Cozzi Cove as a movie or television series?
Very much so. Make me an offer, producers! I can see Matt Bomer as Cal, and me as Gil!
As a college professor/department head, how do you have the time to write?
I write at night after my spouse has gone to bed. I have a beautiful cherry wood study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat overlooking the woods. When I complain about my schedule, my mother says, “Just think how hard you would work if you had a real job, like your cousins (lawyers).”
How long does it generally take you to write a book?
About three months working evenings and weekends.
What is your writing process?
Jumping up awake in the middle of the night. I jot notes on my nightstand pad. That evening I begin a biography for each character and eventually a plot summary. I show the second draft to my spouse for his notes. The third draft goes to the publisher. The fourth is after notes from the publisher’s editor.
Tell us about your other gay romance releases.
An Infatuation (Divine Magazine Readers’ Choice Award 2nd Place for Best MM Romance) and A Shooting Star (In My Heart bittersweet dreams novellas) published by Dreamspinner Press are loosely based on my high school and college years respectively. They were so popular as individual e-books, Dreamspinner Press published them together in one paperback. I still receive comments from readers that those stories made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and changed their lives. I am very proud of them.
A Home for the Holidays is my popular holiday short novella from Dreamspinner Press about an American law student who, as I did, takes a trip to the romantic and gorgeous island of Capri, Italy, where he embarks on a relationship with his captivating third cousin.
The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland from Dreamspinner Press is my gay take on my favorite beloved fairytales like Cinderella, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Snow Queen.
You also have two mystery series.
My Nicky and Noah mystery series from Lethe Press are farcical, gay, cozy, who-dun-its. In Drama Queen (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best Mystery, Best Crime, Best Humorous, Best Contemporary novel of 2015), theatre college professors are dropping like stage curtains. With the inept local detective more interested in getting into Nicky’s pants than solving the murders, it is up to well-endowed Directing professor, Nicky Abbondanza to use his theatre skills (including playing other people) to solve the case, while he directs a murder mystery onstage. Complicating matters is Nicky’s intense crush on Assistant Professor of Acting, gorgeous Noah Oliver, the prime suspect in the murder. 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 (releasing soon), 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.
In the Jana Lane mysteries, with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, Jana Lane was the biggest child star ever until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. In Paper Doll Jana at thirty-eight lives with her family in a mansion in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York. Her flashbacks from the past become murder attempts in her future. Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana ventures back to Hollywood, which helps her uncover a web of secrets about everyone she loves. She also embarks on a romance with the devilishly handsome son of her old producer, Rocco Cavoto. In Porcelain Doll (The Wild Rose Press), 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, Jason Apollo. In Satin Doll (The Wild Rose Press), 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 muscular detective. In China Doll (releasing late May from The Wild Rose Press), 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. 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.
How can your readers contact you?
I love hearing from readers. They can contact me at: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
So grab your Speedos, suntan lotion, and shades and head back to Cozzi Cove. Cal’s welcome mat is out again. I hope to see you there this summer!
About the Book
Series: Cozzi Cove: Book Two
Publisher: NineStar Press
Cover Design: Arai Tan
Length: 60,000 words
Category: Contemporary Romance
Blurb: On Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey Shore, handsome Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are once again open for summer and love.
The vacationers include Rodney Maxwell and Dennis O’Halloran, a Tony Award-winning actor and his estranged producer/husband with their two hired studs, Jarek and Zeus.
Computer analyst Sam enlists his best friend Chase in a scheme to attract hunky Raul. Middle-aged Gil Van Truren wants to end it all—until he sees a vision of his first love.
Cal also has his hands full with college student Michael—his new young lover—Michael’s study buddy Carlo, man of mystery George Valis, and Connor, the houseboy packed with muscles and a wondering sponge.
All the while Hunter, a female gay-romance novel enthusiast, experiences gay life off the page.
What secrets, humor, tragedy, mysteries, and passions lie in the magical place called Cozzi Cove?
Buy Links: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || All Romance eBooks
The Giveaway
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