Love Bytes gives a warm welcome to author Joe Cosentino joining us today to talk about new audio release of Finding Giorgio.
Check out the interview with the main characters and have a change to participate in the giveaway!
Welcome Joe 🙂
Interview with Theo and Jamison, the lead characters in Finding Giorgio,
Found At Last series book one, by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press,
now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
Theo and Jamison, congratulations on the audio book release of your story, Finding Giorgio.
Theo: Thanks. Jamison and I would like to thank the academy—
Jamison: We’ll have to wait for the movie version for that, Theo.
Speaking of that, the novella is quite cinematic. Who do you see playing you in a film version?
Theo: Colton Haynes.
Jamison: Ezra Miller.
Theo: Come on movie producers, make Joe an offer!
Since the readers can’t see you both, tell them what you look like.
Jamison: Theo is twenty-five, tall, with sexy dark hair and eyes, and a hunky build.
Theo: I come from a long line of stocky and comical Greek people.
Jamison: Theo’s first name means godlike, and his last name, Stratis, means good soldier. He’s both those things in our story. Theo cares about others deeply, yearns for fairness and justice, and loves with all his heart.
And Jamison?
Theo: Jamison’s last name, Radames, means hero. It sure fits him. Coming from a Swedish and Egyptian heritage, Jamison is twenty-seven, tall, very muscular, with enticing crystal blue eyes, a smooth peaches and cream complexion, a strong nose, and thick jet-black hair. Jamison is kind, sincere, handsome, masculine, stalwart, loyal, smart, and successful. In reading the story, you completely understand why I fall in love with him.
Jamison: And why I fall in love with Theo.
Tell us about Finding Giorgio.
Jamison: Finding Giorgio is a story about lovers separated at eighteen years old with the hope of reuniting in their last years—at last.
And you both help them to do it.
Theo: Right. I meet Jamison and the two of us embark on an incredible journey.
And you also fall in love.
Jamison: Which is the best part of our adventure.
Theo: Totally.
Is it love at first sight?
Jamison: Not exactly. Theo and I get off to a rocky start, but eventually we find our way into each other’s hearts.
Would you call Finding Giorgio a mystery, an MM romance, or an adventure?
Both: All of them.
Theo: And like all of Joe’s books, it’s also packed with humor and drama.
Jamison: Quite a bang for your buck in a novella.
Tell everyone the story of Finding Giorgio.
Theo: In Finding Giorgio, a young accountant, Theo Stratis, that’s me, having been unlucky in love, registers at my upstate New York LGBTQ+ Center to visit an elderly gay person. I’m matched with Nolan Downes who lives in a local nursing home. Upon my first visit, I’m instantly charmed by the eccentric ex-pharmacist and his wisecracking caretaker Tanisha. However, I’m shocked at Nolan’s request for me to find the love of Nolan’s youth: Giorgio Roberto. Upon questioning Nolan, I discover Giorgio’s parents had separated Nolan and Giorgio at eighteen after their romantic summer at a Poconos resort. Nolan had kept Giorgio’s picture and his love for Giorgio in his heart ever since. I’m also surprised to meet the gorgeous Jamison Radames, a medical director, who is visiting the same nursing home.
Jamison: That’s me. Theo and I embark on an exciting adventure to find Giorgio. Our search takes us to an old neighborhood, a veterans’ center, a homeless shelter, and all the way from New York to Boston. Along the way, Theo and I uncover a great deal about Giorgio and about ourselves.
Theo: By the end of the novella, two couples emerge in an emotional climax that will leave you overjoyed but also tear at your heartstrings.
Besides the current and past love stories, what else is special about this book?
Theo: Nolan and his caretaker Tanisha are quite funny.
Jamison: And the story’s locations are remarkable, including the Walkway Over the Hudson, upstate New York in fall with its stunning views of the rippling water, white church steeples, multicolored leaves, and sun-kissed mountains.
Theo: Not to mention the two leading men are well worth the read.
Jamison: Here. Here.
Who are the supporting characters in Finding Giorgio?
Theo: My Greek parents and sister.
Jamison: And my Egyptian/Swedish parents and sister and her family.
Theo: Also, there’s Giorgio’s Italian brother.
Jamison: Along with the various colorful characters Theo and I meet along the way as we search for Giorgio.
Theo: And we fall in love.
Who is your favorite character?
Theo: Nolan Downes. As an elderly man in failing health, he keeps his sense of humor, strength, and will. The ex-pharmacist grieves his long-deceased husband. At the same time, he yearns for the true love that was taken away from him. Nolan believes if he can reunite with Giorgio, his spirit will be made whole.
Jamison: I’ll pick Tanisha Washington, Nolan’s caregiver at the nursing home. Tanisha is outrageously funny and cantankerous with Nolan. However, she watches over him like a bodyguard. In a way, theirs is also a love story. One of unspoken adoration and unconditional devotion.
Which character is the sexiest?
Theo: Jamison.
Jamison: Theo.
Many of the characters in Finding Giorgio are of various ethnicities and sexual identities.
Theo: We live in a diverse world. Literature should reflect that. I also like that our story includes a few older characters, a rarity in MM literature.
What was the response of readers and reviewers when the novella was released four years ago?
Theo: Amazing! They laughed, cried, fell in love with Jamison and me, and they demanded another Found at Last book. So Joe wrote Finding Armando, which also features Jamison and me. It was released shortly afterward.
And now Finding Giorgio is also available as an audio book. What took so long?
Jamison: Joe was waiting for the perfect audio book performer, and he found him in Brian Cheney.
Brian has performed many of Joe’s audio books. What’s Brian’s secret?
Theo: An amazing amount of talent, a fantastic sense of humor, perfect comic timing, wonderful acting skills, the ability to perfectly portray different characters, and a soothing and romantic voice.
Jamison: Brian is in touch with all of his emotions, and he is able to bring my stories to vivid life. Listening to him, you feel as if you are there with Theo and me in the story!
How can listeners get their hands on the audio book of Finding Giorgio?
Jamison: The purchase links are below.
When can we expect the release of the audio book of Finding Armando, Found At Last series book two?
Theo: Brian and Joe are working on it now, so stay tuned! Jamison and I have a lot more to share!
Thank you, Theo and Jamison, for interviewing today.
Theo: Our pleasure. I hope everyone will listen to our story Finding Giorgio at last. I’m sure, like me, you’ll fall in love with Jamison.
Jamison: And, like me, you’ll fall in love with Theo.
Theo: And Nolan, Giorgio, and our amazing story.
Jamison: And we love to hear from listeners. So contact us through Joe’s web site!
Finding Giorgio
Found At Last series book one, by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press
Now also an audio book performed by Brian Cheney:
Length: 4 1/2 hours
Language: English
Genre: MM, contemporary, romance, mystery, comedy, adventure
Cover Art: Paul Richmond
When young accountant Theo Stratis visits Nolan Downes, an elderly gay man in a local nursing home, he is surprised by Nolan’s request: find the lost love of his youth, Giorgio Roberto. Theo is also surprised to meet handsome and successful Jamison Radames, who is visiting the same nursing home. As Theo and Jamison embark on an investigative adventure to find Giorgio, they discover a great deal about themselves and each other. Solving the mystery of what happened to Giorgio might mean happily ever after for more than just Nolan.
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year and Second Place Favorite MM Romance Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine. His Dreamspinner Press titles are the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland & Holiday Tales from Fairyland, the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays & The Perfect Gift & The First Noel, the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio & Finding Armando, and the two Player Piano mysteries. He is also the author of the 18 Nicky and Noah mysteries, 5 Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press), and 5 Cozzi Cove novels (Ninestar Press). His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is a happily married emeritus theatre professor residing in New York State.
Web site: https://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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecosentinoauthor
Brian Cheney, hailed by KUSC Los Angeles as the “next great tenor”, protégé of legendary tenor Jerry Hadley, has gained international acclaim for his portrayal of characters such as Radamés in Aida, Don José in Carmen, Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Rodolfo in La bohème, the Duke in Rigoletto, and Canio in Pagliacci. “It is tenor Brian Cheney as the brave painter Cavaradossi who really blew me away. Cheney has that terrific tenor sound: the power, richness, and vocal color of a high baritone combined with ringing, awe-inspiring high notes” (Stage and Cinema.) Highlights from last season include Mr. Cheney’s creation of the role of Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere performance of Gregg Kallor’s Frankenstein in New York to critical acclaim and his National Philharmonic debut as the tenor soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and West Side Story. “Cheney’s ringing tenor voice carried well in the stone catacombs, conveying the fear that the deep bass sound of the monster summoned. And as the section of the sketches went on, Cheney’s voice bloomed to match the action and threats of the creature.” (Operawire) Recent engagements include Radamés in Aida with Virginia Opera, Antonin Scalia in Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg with Toledo Opera, and Salute to Vienna performances in Miami, West Palm Beach, Nashville, and New York City (Lincoln Center). In audio books, Mr. Cheney performed eight of Joe Cosentino’s Nicky and Noah Mystery novels, many of Joe Cosentino’s books published by Dreamspinner Press, All the King’s Men by Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and Pressure by Barry Napier. www.briancheneytenor.com
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