Interview with Freddy Birtwistle, the leading character in The Player,
Player Piano Mysteries Book 1
a mystery/romance/paranormal novel by Joe Cosentino
Freddy, congratulations on being released from your player piano in The Player, a new MM mystery/romance/paranormal novel.
Thank you. It’s wonderful to do the Charleston again. And you’re a blue Serge for asking me to interview.
Since the readers can’t see you, tell them about yourself.
I’m tall (which made me cast a kitten in the Pianola) and lean with slicked-back jet-black hair, violet eyes, high cheekbones, a thin nose, and rosy cheeks. As everyone of wealth in the Roaring Twenties, I wear a pinstriped black suit and vest, white silk shirt, and gray suspenders with matching bowtie and silk pocket handkerchief. My shoes are shiny black patent leather with white spats. Andre says I have an alluring and joyous bon vivant personality, and Andre is the bee’s knees!
Who were some of your friends when you were alive?
Cole Porter wrote “Puttin’ on the Ritz” about me. George Gershwin composed “The Man I Love” in an unsuccessful attempt at winning my affections. Cole Porter wrote “You’re the Top,” well, you can figure that out on your own. Jack LaLane flexed his muscles for me. Cary Grant tried to charm me with his accent. Henry Ford gifted me with a car, and Thomas Edison phoned me for dates constantly. Flo Ziegfeld offered me a theatre. J. Edgar Hoover, though a drag, kept tabs on me. However, I didn’t find true love until I met Andre.
What did you do for a living (no pun intended)?
Anything but work! I was a dewdropper, meaning I accepted the kindness of my wealthy family members and friends. My family had made their fortune in the railroad business, which was dreadfully boring to me. After my wonderful parents and dear younger sister died from the influenza, I inherited the city mansion and country estate.
How and when did you die?
I was shot at thirty years old by a jealous lover—not mine!
How does it feel to be a ghost?
I am definitely light in the loafers.
Tell us about Andre Beaufort.
Andre is twenty-five years old, tall and thin with amber eyes, dark hair, milk chocolate complexion, and what you would call a cut body and bubble butt. I would call him a blue Serge! Andre is a grade school music teacher. He found the player piano in the basement of his apartment building—my family’s city mansion. By pedaling the Pianola and playing famous songs of the Roaring Twenties, Andre can summon me. However, only Andre can see me and talk to me. Actually, we do a lot more than talk.
Did you and Andre fall instantly in love?
Not exactly. We got off to a rocky start, but after sharing stories about our lives and cuddling on the chaise, we found our way into each other’s hearts.
How did you two become a ghostly Holmes and earthbound Watson?
It was a major Bronx cheer for me to find my family’s city mansion in Hoboken, New Jersey had been converted into small apartments. Andre’s neighbor, a beautiful woman of mystery, was murdered, and Andre needed to protect his aunt, his best pal, and himself by joining with me to catch the murderer, which we did! The next year, Andre traveled to my country manse in Cold Spring, New York. To my chagrin, it had become a bed and breakfast. Andre discovered a player piano there as well, which joyously brought me to him there. When the owner of the inn was murdered, the game was afoot again, and Andre and I solved our second murder mystery as we continued to fall deeper in love.
What’s special about this book?
Andre and me of course! Also, the two stories include sexy characters, cozy settings from my Art Deco period, my unique sense of humor, surprising plot twists and turns, fun red herrings, a touch of drama, a shocking yet justifiable ending, and of course a great deal of sweet romance. And the reader gets two books for the price of one!
This isn’t Joe Cosentino’s first mystery series.
Joe wrote the Nicky and Noah Mysteries series and the Jana Lane Mysteries series, both to great acclaim and popularity. When I whispered my story in Joe’s ear, The Player was born!
Who are the supporting characters in The Player?
In Part I, Andre’s protective Aunt Nia manages Andre’s apartment building. His best chum, Victor Martinez, is an actor who gets excited about a commercial audition to play a hemorrhoid. Victor enters into a love affair with cross-dressing lawyer Alexander Popov, the mysterious murder victim’s twin brother. The victim’s husband, sexy mystery author Denis Sokolov, just happens to write a novel that mirrors the murder. I am jealous of muscular college film professor Leander Bryce who enjoys exercising in his undies at the window while Andre watches. Milo Archer, a college student with a crush on Andre, wants to start a revolution. Personal trainer Hunter Buck and gorgeous grade school vice principal with a secret Preston Steele complete the list of suspects, all of whom share a secret past with the victim, including the police detective, Takoda Shawnee. By the by, when Preston and Andre embark on a date, I have great fun turning it into a flat tire.
And in the second story?
Evangelical ex-judge Cynthia Butler Russell, the owner of the bed and breakfast, is murdered in her office. The suspects include Cynthia’s straying husband Jim, her envious and comically alcoholic sister Sherry, Cynthia’s gorgeous gay son Nelson, Nelson’s muscular lover Sergio, and Sergio’s PFLAG mother Renata. While staying at the inn, Andre befriends Gabriel, an adorable sleepwalking architect. Andre also meets Zian, a cute painter who desires Gabriel, and Dustin Kelly, the tall detective hiding an interesting secret. Thankfully, Andre prefers me!
Who is your favorite character?
Andre is the love of my life and a real lalapazaza!
Which character do you like the least?
Preston Steele, because Andre’s Aunt Nia arranges for Andre and Preston to have a blind date. Andre agrees to get information from Preston, who leaves the date in midair with my hands on his belt.
How are the stories cozy?
They take place in my Art Deco environments with fireplaces, turrets, window seats, balconies, and comfy chaises and armchairs opposite gorgeous murals, wallpaper, and statues. The windows sport views of the glistening Hudson River and sun-kissed mountains. Welcome to my world!
How can readers get their hands on The Player?
The purchase links are below.
Will there be more Player novels?
Yes, the spirit has moved me. Look out for The Player’s Encore, The Player Piano Mysteries Book 2!
Thank you, Freddy, for interviewing today.
It has been my pleasure and so much more interesting than being cooped up in the Pianola.
I hope everyone will give The Player a play. I’m sure, like me, you will fall in love with Andre and have a great deal of fun trying to solve our mysteries. And I love to hear from readers. So go to your magic box and contact Joe at http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com. He tells me everything!
THE PLAYER
Player Piano Mysteries Book 1, published by Dreamspinner Press
a paranormal romantic mystery novel by JOE COSENTINO
When young music teacher Andre Beaufort discovers an antique player piano in the basement of his apartment building, he is visited by the ghost of the original owner: a dapper and charismatic playboy from the Roaring Twenties, Freddy Birtwistle.
Andre has never seen a ghost and Freddy has never been one, so they get off to a rocky start. But when Andre finds his neighbor murdered on his doorstep, he and Freddy join forces to narrow the pool of suspects.
Soon Andre and Freddy discover that opposites attract, even if one’s alive and the other dead. Together these amateur detectives make an enticing team, and it’s a good thing too, because the first murder they solve together won’t be their last. But the real mystery isn’t just whodunit—it’s how a romance between a man and a ghost can have a happily ever after ending.
The Player contains two stand-alone cozy murder mysteries, The City House and The Country House.
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen. He also wrote the other novels in the Nicky and Noah mystery series: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas; the Dreamspinner Press stories: In My Heart/An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories: A Home for the Holidays/The Perfect Gift/The First Noel, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland/Holiday Tales from Fairyland, Found At Last: Finding Giorgio/Finding Armando, The Player Piano Mysteries: The Player/The Player’s Encore; the Cozzi Cove series (NineStar Press): Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings, Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings; and the Jana Lane mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll (The Wild Rose Press). 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 Chair of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and he is happily married. Joe was voted 2nd Place Favorite LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards, and his books have received numerous Favorite Book of the Month Awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions.
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
Excerpt of The Player, Player Piano Mysteries Book 1, by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press:
Again, I found myself drawn to the player piano in the living room. After grasping a different roll from inside the bench, I switched it with the one at the face of the pianola, sat down, and pedaled. “Night and Day,” written by Cole Porter in 1932, played boldly. Again the room turned cold, the lights flickered, and my nostrils filled with the scent of champagne. An icy feeling crept up my back, and my heart pounded wildly.
The satiny voice asked, “Why are you playing my piano?”
I sat frozen at the pianola.
“Cat got your tongue?”
I spun around slowly to find the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life standing over me. He was tall and lean with slicked-back jet-black hair, violet eyes, high cheekbones, a thin nose, and rosy cheeks. Though he had a youthful quality about him, I would place my visitor at about thirty years old. He was meticulously dressed in a pinstriped black suit and vest, white silk shirt, and gray suspenders with matching bow tie and silk pocket handkerchief. His shoes were shiny black patent leather with white spats. Even more interesting than his looks and wardrobe was his alluring bon vivant smile. I tried to speak, but my dry mouth forbade it. He sat next to me. I shivered as his broad shoulder pressed against mine. Since he was now pedaling, the song continued.
“James, that’s Cole’s real name, wrote this song for me.”
Everything came together in my mind. Gasping for air, I somehow managed to rasp out, “You’re Frederick Birtwistle!”
“Freddy the four-flusher to my friends who loan me jack.” He offered me a dazzling white smile.
“Four-flusher? Jack?”
“Ah, you don’t play poker. Pity. A four-flusher is a bluffer, and jack is money.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I must be dreaming.”
“No, you’re very much awake. Now.”
I swallowed hard. “Did you….”
He nodded, still pedaling. “I carried you to bed and took off your clothes.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He winked at me. “Care to neck?”
I couldn’t believe a ghost had made a pass at me. “No!”
“Why not?”
“Because I barely know you.”
“Look here, I could have had my way with you last night, but I was a perfect gentleman, given the fact that you were unconscious. The least you can do now is repay me for my prior civility by engaging in a smooch session.”
I came nose to nose with him. “I’m not making out with a ghost. And an arrogant ghost at that.”
“So, I’m a ghost, am I?”
I nodded.
“Since you know your onions—”
I cocked my head. “Know my onions?”
“You know what’s going on. So, clue me in, will you?” He rested his long thin fingers on my knee. “I’m all ears.”
I rose slowly and backed away. “I know your father made his money in the railroads. You lived here in this house with him, your mother, and your sister, until they all died of influenza.”
He nodded sadly. “I miss them terribly.”
“Why didn’t you get influenza?”
He grinned. “It must have been all the alcohol I drank protecting me from the pox.” Rising, he added, “Speaking of alcohol, the giggle water has been removed from my bar. How’s a fellow supposed to get zozzled?”
“I don’t drink.”
“On the wagon, are you?”
“Oh no, I never liked the taste of alcohol.”
“It is definitely an acquired taste, which I was fortunate enough to acquire at a young age. And to keep acquiring into adulthood.”
I heard myself ask him, “What did you do for work?”
He gasped. “I never worked a day in my life.” He seemed proud of it.
“After your parents passed away, how did you afford this place?”
“I spent their inheritance.”
“And after that?”
He chuckled. “I became a dewdropper.”
“A dewdropper?”
“Yes, a mooch with wealthy and generous friends. Speaking of which, butt me?”
“Excuse me?”
A dimple appeared in his cheek. “Have a cig?”
“I don’t smoke.” Realizing the insanity of the situation, I added, “And neither do you, since you’re dead! You were shot on your thirtieth birthday!”
Freddy nodded. “A most inappropriate birthday present.” He leaned against the pianola. “It was a bum rap.” Gazing at the player piano, he added, “I remember sitting here pedaling while I told the gent his wife and I had never engaged in barneymugging. Nonetheless, I saw the gun, heard the shot, stared at the pianola, and everything went black. The next thing I knew, I felt myself being pulled out of the player piano while you were playing last night.”
“In what year were you shot?”
“1935, of course.”
Not believing it myself, I said, “Your spirit must have somehow gotten trapped inside the player piano. When I pedaled, you… appeared decades later. Like Aladdin rubbing his lamp to manifest the genii.”
Freddy shrugged. “That’s as good a supposition as any.” He grinned at me. “Maybe you do know your onions. Who are you?”
I found my full voice. “Andre Beaufort.”
“Are you a dewdropper too?”
“I’m a grade school music teacher.”
“Why are you living in my house?” He glanced around the room. “And I must say, I don’t care at all for what you’ve done with the place.”
Post a comment here on what you love about a ghostly romantic mystery. Freddy and Andre’s favorite will win a Dreamspinner Press backlist e-copy by Joe Cosentino of your choice! https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/searchresults?q=Joe+Cosentino
I’m always rooting for them to beat the odds (and ghostly stories have the biggest odds)!
I donot read too many of this type of book. So each time it is a treat.
There must be something about the state of the world…I’m reading a lot more paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi than previously. Ghosts, shifters, time travel and mysteries seem to be easier to handle than what I see on the news. Sometimes reality is too much and escapism is the best! Wrap it in romance and you have the best of everything.
This sounds wonderful. Just what the world needs at this time. Thank you for taking care of your readers.
Haven’t read many ghost stories. I guess I would like to see whether or not the ghost would somehow get a real corporeal body/ how things turn out.