INTERVIEW WITH RENEE WILDES An Amazing Fantasy Author

Today on The Romance Room Blog we have Renee Wildes with an interview to introduce her new release, A Guardian's Heart, Book 1 in her new series Guardians of the Light. 

She will be giving away a digital copy of her new release to a lucky commenter. Please leave your contact with your comment to allow us to reach you if you are the winner of Renee's new release.

Thank you for allowing an interview with me at THE ROMANCE ROOM blog.
Sarah J. McNeal

What happens when Cinderella saves Prince Charming?

BLURB:

Dara Khan Androcles was trained from childhood to be a healer. But as a demon-possessed invader threatens Safehold, and she defends a wounded warrior on the battlefield, her hidden inner dragon thirsts for blood. 

When she lifts the warrior’s blond, blood-encrusted hair away from his ear, she discovers he is more than King Hengist’s outlander ally. He is an immortal. The elven heir to the throne of Cymry. 

Loren ta Cedric senses something different about flame-haired, falcon-eyed woman who saves him. A healer, wreathed in raw, dark power, who wields knives with deadly skill. A mortal who prays to the Lady, not the human gods. Now he owes this thoroughly distracting female a Life-Debt. Which, in the heat of their flight to Loren’s homeland to raise an army, somehow becomes Life-Mate. 

Dragon-human and elf, peasant and prince, logic says they have no future. Yet the power of their unlikely bond could be the only thing that saves their world from a demon poised to tear it apart.

Warning: This new twist on Cinderella contains a grouchy dragon, a sentient war mare with the dry wit of a certain English Dame, and a fiery heroine who strikes serious sparks with a mercenary elf.

Preorder

THE INTERVIEW

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? 

When I was younger I was really into caving—love being underground & exploring.

What adventure would you like to have that you haven’t done yet if money and skill were no problem?

I would love to tag along with Josh Gates on one of his Expedition Unknown archeological adventures!

Who are some of your favorite authors?  What commonality do you see in them? 

Mercedes Lackey, Sherrilyn Kenyon and J.R.Ward – their characters are so multi-faceted and imperfect, like real people.

I believe color says something about a person’s personality.  What’s your favorite color?

I love the grayer shades of light blue—very calm & restful.

If you could have a do-over life, what one thing would you do differently?  What would you do again?

I never would have taken that job after HS at that rabbit farm…

I would marry my husband all over again!

What is your writing process from conception to finished MS?

If I get an idea or concept I write it down. I have an obsessive brain that keeps me up at night, often churning bits of dialogue or whole scenes at ungodly hours. I get by on less sleep these days, but have to take the occasional nap to “catch up.” I think while working my day job and hit the computer as soon as I get home. It’s hard to stay on “this” book when my brain’s crowding in “the next” book (and the next…) I’m a plotter, so if I get stuck on one point, I just do a different scene and piece it all together later. I always write secondary characters with an eye/ear to give them their own book later—that’s how I did seven books in my Guardian of Light series, and now I’m working on their kids, the Daughters of the Guardians.

Are you a planner, panster or both?

I am a total plotter, and what’s worse is, I tend to edit as I write so I’m pokey as all get-out.

How did you research for your book?

Between kids and a day job, I don’t get out much—and I’m always broke! So I live at my local library, do tons of online research, and pick my friends’ brains whenever they get back from somewhere interesting. I love talking to experts in whatever field/skills I want to incorporate in a book.

What is your all-time favorite movie?  TV show?

Movie – tie between Rob Roy and The Last of the Mohicans (Mary MacGregor and Cora Munro are two of the strongest heroines to ever grace the silver screen!)

TV Show – Fiction – tie between The Librarians and BBC’s The Musketeers

Non-Fiction – Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates

How important do feel writing workshops are to a writer?

Writing workshops and conferences are huge opportunities to both network and learn. As a romance writer, I highly recommend joining both national & your local chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of America).

If you could learn one new skill, fear and money no deterrent, what would it be?

I would love to sail around the world in one of those big tall-masted ships! They’re so cool!

If you had a million dollars to donate to any one charity, what would it be?

http://www.nokidhungry.org

I find it appalling, the dichotomy in this country that makes this charity even necessary. Kids need nutrition to grow, to fuel their brains to learn. It’s hard to focus on the future when they’re stuck in a present without basic necessities. They have to have stability and hope.

What advice would you like to give to an aspiring writer?

Don’t write what you know. Write what you love, what interests you and gives you passion. Your enthusiasm with lead to fuller research and a flair on the page that will make it easier for readers to catch the fire as well!

Did anyone mentor you or help you along the way?  Please tell us about your mentor and what you feel he or she contributed to your writing career.

WisRWA author Jane Toombs was a judge for the Fab 5 contest when I entered Hedda’s Sword. She loved it and wanted me to let her know who picked it up b/c she said “You WILL be published.” (It’s Guardians of Light Book 2 – renamed A Guardian’s Hope, it comes out from Champagne in early May 2018.) She is the one who got me to Query Champagne after Samhain folded, and I inherited her entire Colonial American research library several years ago.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Don’t dwell on the past – always more ahead, move forward.

If you could live anywhere in the world you wanted to, where would it be? (Language is no barrier)

As much as I HATE the cold, I would love to live in Scotland – so wild and scenic, with so much history and fascinating people!

Where do you write? 

These days at the dining room table, using my daughter’s boyfriend’s PC, since both of my laptops recently crashed and the Geek Squad recommended a Viking funeral…

How much time do you devote to writing each week?  Do you have a day every week that you take off?

I groom dogs in my EDJ, but I come home and work on something writing-related every day before/after work. If I’m not writing, I’m usually either editing or promoting. (Okay, sometimes I have 4-H or school stuff with my daughter—she’s a graduating senior in HS, has already started college classes, and shows our Morab mare in 4-H & open horse shows.)

What is a genre that you have not attempted that you would like to try?

I have all those Colonial American research books from Jane Toombs, would love to write a 18^th century historical romance someday.

Is there anything you would like readers to know about you?

I am a super-history geek – Love History & Travel Channel. You can usually find me getting distracted by Forged in Fire, Mysteries and the Museum, and…oh yeah…Josh Gates!

 Renee Wildes

Renee Wildes grew up reading fantasy authors Terry Brooks and Mercedes Lackey and is a huge Joseph Campbell fan, so the minute she discovered romance novels it became inevitable that she would combine it all and write fantasy romance. Renee is a history buff and research junkie, from ancient to medieval times, esp. the Dark Ages. As a Navy brat and a cop’s kid, she gravitated to protector/guardian heroes and heroines. She’s had horses her whole life, so became the only vet tech in a family of nurses. It all comes together in her Guardians of Light series – fantasy, action, romance, heroics, and lots of critters!

LINKS:

Website: https:// reneewildesromance.com

Blog: https://reneewildes1.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeWildes (@ReneeWildes)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeWildes1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reneewildes/

Joe Cosentino's New Mystery Release: RAG DOLL AND A GIVE AWAY

Joe Cosentino on Writing RAG DOLL, the fifth Jana Lane mystery,

published by The Wild Rose Press

           At 3am I jump out of bed with a terrifically shocking ending in my head, jot it down on the pad on my night table, and go back to sleep. The next evening, I write an outline full of humor, romance, plot twists and turns, clues, red herrings, and of course the amazing ending (if I can read my notes from the prior evening). Next comes a written character biography for each character. Then the fun part. I let the characters talk in my head and channel their words as I type into the computer. The second draft goes to my spouse for notes. And the third draft goes to the publisher’s editor for notes. A mystery novel is born.

The Jana Lane mysteries are especially fun since I am able to use my insider knowledge of film, television, and theatre as a professional actor who has worked opposite stars like Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Robards, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Bruce Willis. Thankfully nobody was murdered on my shows.

Adding to the enjoyment is the fact that the series takes place in the 1980’s. So I revel in researching online that wonderful period’s hairstyles, makeup, clothing, music, films, television shows, historical events, and mores. Finally, my love for humor and romance are evident in the novels with the quirky but endearing characters in Jana Lane’s life.

            As a child I loved child stars like Shirley Temple, Hayley Mills, and Patty Duke, seeing their movies over and over. So I created Jana Lane who 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. Jana ventures back to Hollywood, which helps her uncover a web of secrets about everyone she loves. She also embarks on a flirtation with the devilishly handsome son of her old producer, Rocco Cavoto. In PORCELAIN DOLL, 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. In SATIN DOLL, 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 becomes taken with Chris Bruno, the muscular detective. In CHINA DOLL, 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.

Now in RAG DOLL, Jana stars in a new television series, The Detective’s Wife, opposite Chris Bove, the hunky detective who got away in SATIN DOLL. Guest starring on the show is young ingénue Christa Bianca, a rags to riches story who has flooded the press. Life imitates television as Christa’s loved ones are murdered, and Christa and Jana could be next. Once again it’s up to Jana to save the day before the lights fade to black.

The suspects include dominatrix Karen, Bove’s ex-wife who covets Christa’s role, and Herm the director who is enticed by Karen. There is also Christa’s pushy agent. And Christa’s uncle who was also guest-starring on the episode. Andrew, Christa’s controlling manager/husband, and two couples playing bit roles who have a personal conflict with Christa and Andrew, are all suspect. Not to mention Jana’s son’s nanny and the girl’s boyfriend, the mysterious prop master with a secret.

In RAG DOLL, I tried to model some of the characters after people I’ve met, without being too obvious. Since Jana is happily married, I walked a fine line in her flirtations with sexy Chris Bove. I loved writing Jana’s banter with Bove. It still makes me laugh. I also get tears in my eyes when reading the story of Christa’s rise from impoverished, mocked child (the other children calling her “Rag Doll”) to upcoming star.

I also didn’t shy away from social issues as Jana opens the Jana Lane AIDS Foundation. Finally, I was honest about our youth-oriented society, showing guest star on the series, Crista’s uncle Nicholas Hartford, hoping to ride on his niece’s coattails back to the top, and the funny, aging gossip television interviewer, Harriet Hologram. I’ve been told the television shooting sequences in RAG DOLL are realistic, exciting, and fun to read. I’m sure that’s because I know my way around a real television set, and I tried hard to incorporate that knowledge into those scenes.

Everyone in RAG DOLL has a secret, which Jana uncovers along with the murderer, in the shocking ending. I don’t like mysteries where characters are introduced and the writer arbitrarily picks the murderer at the end. The readers feel cheated. At the end of a mystery, the readers should say, “Of course! How did I not see that?” The ending of RAG DOLL still makes my heart race when I read it—and I’m still surprised. And I’ve included plenty of fun and romance along the way.

I hope you enjoy RAG DOLL. Please let me know what you think at: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

RAG DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery

by Joe Cosentino

published by The Wild Rose Press

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4671-rag-doll.html

http://myBook.to/Rag_Doll

Buy Links:

Wild Rose Press

Digital:

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4671-rag-doll.html

Paperback:

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/4753-rag-doll-paperback.html

Amazon:

http://mybook.to/Rag_Doll

All Romance E Books:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ragdoll-2126977-367.html

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rag-doll-joe-cosentino/1124742578?ean=2940156928002

Murder, romance, and scandal on and off the set of Jana Lane’s new murder mystery television show. America’s most famous ex-child star Jana Lane is starring in The Detective’s Wife, a murder mystery television show in 1985. Guest starring on the show is Christa Bianca, a rags-to-riches ingénue who has flooded the entertainment press. Life imitates television as cast members are murdered, and once again it’s up to Jana, along with sexy ex-detective Chris Bove, to save the day before the lights fade to black.

Praise for CHINA DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery:

“Set on Broadway in 1984, “China Doll”...combines plenty of drama with a mystery complex enough to keep the reader guessing. Every member of the cast has not only some depth but intertwining romance and quirk to spare. The romance surrounding Jana as she struggles between remaining faithful to her husband and the feelings that stir around Peter will leave the reader torn until the end. With a smooth pace, intriguing mystery, and plenty of danger…An excellent read for lovers of mystery and drama!” Ind’Tale Magazine

“Joe Cosentino never disappoints...his novels are superb. I find myself addicted to each story that he writes, and once he writes a new book the characters end up being added to my all-time favorite lists. There's plenty of action, intrigue, and murder to go around. A talented writer whose words constantly draw me in every time. I look forward to the next masterfully woven story in this series. Jana Lane is definitely a new female sleuth that should be on everyone's reading list. I highly recommend China Doll to readers worldwide.” Urban Book Reviews

Praise for SATIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery:

              

“A book that will captivate any reader! A page turner that won't let you go! This is one author you can always depend on to publish a good read!!” Stormy Nights Reviewing

“Joe Cosentino is a brilliant mastermind when creating the perfect mystery series. In each novel in this intriguing series of his, Jana Lane Mysteries, readers are blown away by his writing. The instant readers jump into Joe Cosentino's fictional world, the danger feels real, the suspense is killing, and the plot moves so fast. Action, lights, camera!”  “A fast-paced murder mystery that readers will easily fall in love with...and one they can't live without. Overall, I highly recommend this new title in the Jana Lane Mysteries and look forward to the next best adventure from Joe Cosentino.” Urban Book Reviews

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

“Murder, mystery, and suspense are high inside of this brilliant masterpiece by Joe Cosentino.” “Every page fills the readers with intrigue.” “Edge of your seat mystery that lures readers instantly.” “Once you read it, you can't put it down.” Urban Book Reviews

“Porcelain Doll hooks from the start with characters behaving badly, all of whom have life-changing secrets.” “The story includes a nice arc, well-developed characters, and a few unexpected surprises.” InD’tale Magazine

Praises 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

“If you like novels that are filled with new and old Hollywood, and a range of sub-plots, you are going to love this!” Saguaro Moon Reviews

“I liked that there was enough evidence for each of the suspects to keep me guessing until the very end.” Molly Lolly Reviews

“Joe Cosentino knows how to keep his readers’ interest with every page.” Urban Book Reviews

"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

Print ISBN 978-1-5092-

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092- 29

Released: November 16, 2016

Pages: 260

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Bestselling author Joe Cosentino won Divine Magazine’s awards for best mystery novel, best humorous novel, and best contemporary novel of 2015. He is the author of the Jana Lane mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll (The Wild Rose Press); the Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, and the upcoming Drama Cruise and Drama Luau (Lethe Press); the Cozzi Cove beach series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, and the upcoming Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out (NineStar Press); and the romance novellas: In My Heart anthology (An Infatuation & A Shooting Star), A Home for the Holidays, and The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press); and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals). As an actor, he has appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently head of the department/professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

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: Author.to/JoeCosentino

An excerpt of RAG DOLL by Joe Cosentino, published by The Wild Rose Press:

Jana and Bove did the scene again with a thin piece of gauze over the camera lens aimed at Jana.

Ah, the plight of a middle-aged actress.

Jana felt even better about that take. Their relationship worked, and the energy bounced back and forth between them almost effortlessly. Again Jana wondered what it would be like sharing her days with Bove and kissing Bove in bed before sleep each night.

Herm’s call for action brought Jana back to the scene. Bove’s close-up was even better than the first two takes. It was as if they had been married for years with an easygoing yet emotional rapport.

“Cut!”

“Good job, partner.”

Bove smiled at Jana. “Right back at you.”

As she started to rise from the bed, Jana spotted Christa in the distance with a look of horror on her face.

The young woman screamed as a lighting screen headed straight for her. Stu Silverman, standing next to Christa, noticed and pushed Christa out of the way in

the nick of time. The screen crashed to the floor inches away from Christa’s feet. Standing on the other side of her, Andrew Bianca took his wife in his arms, and she

wept on his shoulder.

Bove whispered to Jana, “Here we go again.”

Joe will be giving away a digital copy of China Doll to someone who comments.

Interview With Author, Joe Cosentino

An Interview with Joe Cosentino, author of SATIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery, published by The Wild Rose Press

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Since most of my cousins are lawyers, it was as a teenager telling my parents I wanted to be an actor. My mother was cutting vegetables for dinner at the time. She turned to me and said, “Take this knife and stick it through my heart.” Ah, Italian moms. They eventually grew accustomed to it, and couldn’t be more proud when after college, I acted in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. My 1982 ABC-TV movie, My Mother Was Never a Kid, with Holland Taylor is still an internet favorite, and NBC’s Another Word still reruns in some places.

 

What adventure would you like to have that you haven’t done yet if money and skill were no problem?

I want to play Simon Huckby, Jana Lane’s agent, in The Jana Lane Mysteries television series. Simon is amazingly resilient, old world Hollywood, incredibly funny, and loyal to Jana. Hear that, television producers!

Who are some of your favorite authors?  What commonality do you see in them?

I’ve been compared to Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha Christie, and Armistead Maupin. Not shabby company! I like Clark’s fast-pace and seamless blend of mystery and romance. Christie’s plot twists and turns, hidden clues, and surprise endings are great fun. Maupin’s quirky characters and out of the box plots are wild.

I believe color says something about a person’s personality.  What’s your favorite color?

Red, because it reminds me of my favorite holiday, Christmas. One December my mother said to me, “Tell me exactly what you want for Christmas, because I’m tired of you returning everything I buy for you.” I replied, “I’d like a red shirt.” She answered, “I don’t like red. I’ll get you a blue one.”

If you could have a do-over life, what one thing would you do differently?  What would you do again?

My Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery comedy from Lethe Press, won Best Mystery Novel of 2015 and Best Humorous Novel of 2015 in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. I was busy finishing a novel and my semester at the college where I teach and am department head. If I could do that over, I’d have a big party. I travelled to the gorgeous and magical island of Capri for my holiday romance novella, A Home for the Holidays. I’d love to do that again and again and again.

What is your writing process from conception to finished MS?

I generally get a great idea at about 3am, leap out of bed, and jot notes on the pad on my night table. If I can read them in the morning, I write a plot summary. Since I was an actor, I write a long biography for each character. The outline is next, which I deviate from constantly when writing the first draft. I show the second draft to my spouse for his notes. The third draft goes to the publisher.

Are you a planner, panster or both?

Definitely a planner. When writing a mystery you start with the shocking ending and work backwards. So you have to plan out the clues and red herrings.

How did you research for your book?

As one reviewer said, I use my first-hand knowledge of show business to devilish ends in the Jana Lane mysteries. 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. Now at forty, Jana solves various murder mysteries and dabbles in a few romances as she makes two comeback films, stars in a Broadway play, and heads the cast of a television series. Since I was a professional actor, I know exactly what goes on backstage, on a movie set, and on the set of television series. So the scenes in the books are quite authentic and captivating.

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, 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 (current release from 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. Jana rubs elbows with senators on both sides of the aisle, a lobbyist, and a Washington reporter. Her husband also goes through a personal crisis.

In CHINA DOLL (coming soon 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.

I am currently writing RAGDOLL, where Jana stars in a television mystery series and once again life imitates art.

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.

What is your all-time favorite movie?  TV show?

Hayley Mills in The Parent Trap, hence my love for child stars.

How important do you feel writing workshops are to a writer?

I have a B.A., M.A., and M.F.A., so I am a strong believer in education. Good thing since I’m a college professor.

If you could learn one new skill, fear and money no deterrent, what would it be?

How to raise a huge amount of money so I could produce television versions of my books.

If you had a million dollars to donate to any one charity, what would it be?

Don’t worry, I won’t say the Joe Cosentino Television Production Company. I’m a big contributor to AIDS research. Since the Jana Lane mysteries take place in the 1980’s, the AIDS crisis plays a minor role in the books. There are many wonderfully fun things about the 1980’s too. I had great fun writing about the hairstyles, clothing, makeup, music, movies, plays, and decadence of that amazing era.

What advice would you like to give to an aspiring writer?

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! A writer should create an entire world of suspense above and beyond “who done it.” When a reader finishes a book, he/she should be satisfied that the various parts equaled the whole. Finally, don’t forget the humor and romance!

Did anyone mentor you or help you along the way?  Please tell us about your mentor and what you feel he or she contributed to your writing career.

I’ve had many teachers and mentors as I am a teacher and mentor to others now. I’ll always be thankful to the mentor who told me, “It’s never too late to start. Write for two hours a day (or as in my case at night). We all have stories to tell. I’d like to read yours.”

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I received was from a successful writer and teacher, “Tell your story your own way. Don’t try to emulate other writers, and don’t be stifled by the naysayers. They’ll always be there, but so will the fans.”

If you could live anywhere in the world you wanted to, where would it be? (Language is no barrier)

Romantic and beautiful Italy.

Where do you write?

Since I am a college professor/department head, I write at night. I have a beautiful cherry wood study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat. My mother asked me, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write at night?” I wonder if Shakespeare’s mother asked him that?

 

How much time do you devote to writing each week?  Do you have a day every week that you take off?

I write for two hours every night after my spouse has gone to sleep and the house is quiet. It generally takes me three months to write a novel.

What is a genre that you have not attempted that you would like to try?

I just did that recently by writing my take on my fairytales with The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland from Dreamspinner Press.

Is there anything you would like readers to know about you?

I hope you enjoy SATIN DOLL and all the Jana Lane mysteries. I love to hear from readers. Please contact me via my web site at http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com.

Satin Doll by Joe Cosentino 

SATIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery by Joe Cosentino

published by The Wild Rose Press

Logline: America’s most famous ex-child star Jana Lane is playing a US Senator in a 1983 film, where she is caught in the web of intrigue, political scandal, and murder.

Blurb: Murder, corruption, and scandals rock Washington, D.C.... America’s most famous ex-child star, Jana Lane, is playing a US Senator in a 1983 film. Just as she and her family arrive in DC, two Washington power players are murdered, and Jana is caught in the web of intrigue and political scandal. Jana falls under the spell of the breathtakingly handsome detective assigned to the case, ex-professional football player and food aficionado, Chris Bove. Will Jana and Bove uncover the murderer’s identity and shocking secrets before Jana and her family become the Capitol’s next victims? 

Excerpt:

1983.

Jana Lane, America’s most famous ex-child star, ran down a dark hallway in the north wing of the Capitol, causing the row of senators’ office to become a blur of brown. Sweat soaked through her beige business suit as her heart pounded in her ears. She turned a corner and Jana’s heels skidded to a halt on the marble floor as she screamed at the sight of—

After a gasp, Jana looked up at her husband’s handsome face. Thank God it was just a dream.

Brian leaned his muscular back on the gold circular headboard under the ruby-red satin canopy bedcover. “It must have been one heck of a nightmare.”

Jana noticed her beige satin nightgown was soaking wet. She pushed off the silver satin sheets. After walking past the circular fireplace without looking into the floor-length oval mirror, she headed into her walk-in closet and changed into a pink silk replacement.

“Care to tell your husband about it?”

She sat at her pink crushed velvet trimmed vanity, looked in the mirror, and brushed her long strawberry-blonde hair. “I don’t want to tell you.”

“Why not?”

“I know what you’ll say.”

“Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

Jana placed the gold brush back on the vanity. “I was being chased by someone at the Capitol.”

“The Capitol Theatre?”

“No, the Capitol…in Washington, DC.”

Brain ran a strong hand through his thick, chestnut hair, and said like a television announcer, “Courtesy of Jana Lane’s next film, Madam Senator.”

Buy Links:

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3808-satin-doll.html

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6744

Joe Cosentino at a book signing 

Bestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote Paper Doll the first Jana Lane mystery, Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), Satin Doll the third 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 & Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward (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. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are China Doll the fourth Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press) and Drama Cruise the third Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press). Joe was voted 2^nd Place for Best Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015.

Contact Links:

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: Author.to/JoeCosentino

A Holiday Blog Tour With Zina Abbott

A holiday romance set in 1854 Columbia, California.

Too Old for Christmas, by Zina Abbott.

 About the Book:


Irishman Sean Flood survived the potato famine, crossing the Atlantic, the Mexican-American War, and wandering the Western wilderness with his mules and freight wagon. But, due to poor diet and deprivation, his teeth did not fare well. It’s November of 1854 in Columbia, California, Queen of the Southern Mines, a city Sean is helping to rebuild after the disastrous fire the previous summer. Intense stabbing tooth pain drives him to see Doc Massey, the local dentist. He first stops by the mercantile to pick up a bottle of whiskey—for medicinal purposes—and food­­­­ he’ll be able to eat when it’s all over. If only the beautiful but aggravating woman ahead of him who keeps her face half hidden and insists she won’t accept charity would finish up with her purchase so he can get his supplies, his tooth pulled and return home to his mules and half-built cabin….

That night, Sean meets the woman’s two sons, Jesse and Benjy McNair, and learns her secret. He decides with only three teeth left in his head, he needs widow Ona McNair’s charity—and he’s willing to pay for it. Sean won’t accept nine year-old Jesse’s declaration his family’s poverty means the boy is too old for Christmas that year. Sean is a full-grown man and he’s not too old for Christmas. He not only plans to come bearing gifts to Christmas Eve dinner with the McNairs, but he knows exactly what gift he wants for himself.  
*Sweet Romance

Excerpt #1:

          Sean stopped by the Columbia Mercantile  in order to buy a bottle of

whiskey, some dried beef for flavoring—for he certainly didn’t have the teeth to chew it—and a small sack of flour to have something to cook into a soft gruel for supper. He knew he would not feel like shopping after seeing Doc Massey, the dentist. Those supplies would be his daily menu until his gum started to heal. As much as he preferred the thought of pulling up a chair to warm himself by the glowing wood stove for an hour or more, he didn’t linger once he felt his clothes start to dry.
          Sean shrugged off Mr. Magendie, owner of the retail store, as the man sought to convince him to buy the newly arrived cast iron stove he had for sale. All Sean cared to focus on was buying the whiskey he planned to start consuming as soon as he stepped out the door so he could face getting his tooth pulled. Sean impatiently waved away the man and his polite sales chatter.
          Sean’s annoyance over his situation increased as he stood behind the woman talking to the clerk at the counter.
          Finish your business, woman, and move on. My patience be wearing thin.
          Through his self-absorption with his pain, Sean realized that the woman asked for credit for the three small sacks of goods on the counter in front of her.
          “I know I can’t charge to a standing account until the other matter is settled, but if you can just wait until tomorrow afternoon for payment, I’ll have made my delivery by then and collected my fee. I’m owed enough to not only cover this, but I can put some on the other account as well. I promise I will bring it right in.”
          “I’m sorry, Mrs. McNair, but Mr. Magendie has given me strict orders…”
          “Give over, man, I’m in a hurry, now,” Sean interrupted him, realizing the exchange could take longer than he was willing to wait. “Here…” Sean sorted through the coins he held in his hand in anticipation of paying for his items. He selected one he felt would surely cover whatever the woman was trying to purchase and, leaning past her, he slapped the coin on the counter. “’Twill cover the shortfall, certain. Now, if you don’t mind…”
          The woman rounded on Sean, her eyes flashing with anger. “I do mind. I’ll thank you to take your money back and wait your turn. I can take care of my own business and I don’t take charity.”
(Author's note: The Columbia Mercantile at the time of this story was a wooden building. This brick building with iron shutters was built a couple of years later.)

Too Old for Christmas is now available on pre-order at Amazon. You may purchase it by clicking HERE. It will be available on Nook soon.

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 About the Author:

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. 

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She is a member of Women Writing the West, American Night Writers Association, and Modesto Writers Meet Up. She currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys any kind of history including family history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

Zina Abbott Links:

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter

Zina Abbott Amazon Author Page 

Too Old in Columbia Series on Facebook

Too Old in Columbia Series on Pinterest