Happy Monday readers. I'm delighted to have author Joe Cosentino on the blog today talking about his book, Paper Doll, the first in the Jana Lane mystery series, which was just released as an audio book.
Can you tell the readers about Paper Doll, the first Jana Lane mystery
novel?
PAPER DOLL is
the fictitious story of Jana Lane, America’s most famous child star until she
was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. Now a
thirty-eight-year-old beauty and mother of two living in a mansion in
picturesque Hudson Valley, New York, Jana’s flashbacks from her past turn into
murder attempts in her present.
The local
suspects include Jana’s down-on-his-luck husband with a dislike for living off the
fruits of his wife’s young labor, Jana’s sister and male friend (who both
have eyes for Jana’s husband), Jana’s show business father, her deranged loyal
fan, and Jana's young Guy Friday who covets her fame and shares an uncanny
resemblance to Jana.
Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana visits the
California movie studio she once called home. This sends her on a whirlwind of
visits with former and current movie studio personnel. It also leads to a
romance with the son of her old producer—Rocco Cavoto—the devilishly handsome
filmmaker who is planning Jana’s comeback both professionally and personally.
With Rocco’s help, Jana uncovers a web of secrets about everyone she loves,
including the person who destroyed her past and threatens to snuff out her
future.
As
a professional actor, I was able to use my insider knowledge of show business
when writing, which was great fun.
Which one of your characters was the
hardest one to write? And why?
Jana’s sister, Tamara, was hardest to
write since, unlike most of the other characters in the book, Tamara does not
have a sense of humor. Tamara is a tortured soul with a secret and painful
past. She loves her sister yet at the same time envies her. It was difficult
for me to get into her mindset, but once I did, I believe I represented her
well.
Which one of your characters did you
enjoy writing the most? And why?
Jana’s best friend Jackson was the most
fun to write because he is so funny, smart, charming, and devoted to Jana (and
her husband). I also like that Jackson is a gay activist back in 1980 when it
wasn’t so popular.
What inspired you to write Paper Doll?
In PAPER DOLL I share my love of movies and moviemakers with my readers. I have always been fascinated with ex-child stars like Hayley Mills, Shirley Temple, Patty Duke, and Brooke Shields. My heroine, Jana Lane, is an ex-child star who has lost her self esteem as an adult. Through the course of the book, Jana not only solves the mystery of her past, but also reclaims the courage and fortitude she had as a child. This is an important message for all of us.
Tell us about the Paper Doll audiobook.
What fun it
was to go back to where it all started with PAPER DOLL and produce the
audiobook. Actress Charissa Clark Howe captured the essence of Jana Lane
perfectly, and she also did a fine job with all the other characters in the
novel: Brian (Jana’s husband), Rocco (Jana’s producer), Jackson (Jana’s best
friend), Mark (Jana’s greatest fan), Tamara (Jana’s sister), Scott (Jana’s
father), Simon (Jana’s agent) and more. Balancing humor, romance, and mystery
perfectly, she hit every beat. I couldn’t wait for the ending, and when it came
I was totally shocked! Now more than ever I want to play Simon Huckby in a
television series version of the novels. Hear that producers and network
executives!
Give a direct message to the
readers, about why they should listen to Paper
Doll the audiobook.
Make
sure you have a good block of free time before beginning PAPER DOLL. Once you
start, you will be listening until you finish. The mystery/romance is full of
quirky, endearing characters, a captivating story, and more plot twists than a
maze. The Hollywood background will entice you, and the time period of the
story (1980) will bring you back to better days. Charissa’s strong acting
talent will cause you to see, hear, feel, and touch the characters, and put you
smack in the middle of the story.
Can you tell the readers a bit about
the next books in the Jana Lane mystery series?
In PORCELAIN DOLL (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 (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 flirtation with Chris
Bruno, the muscular detective. Jana rubs elbows with senators on both sides of
the aisle, a lobbyist, and a Washington reporter.
In
CHINA DOLL (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.
In
RAG DOLL (Wild Rose Press) Jana stars in a TV murder mystery series and once
again life imitates art. She is also reunited with Chris Bruno, the detective
who got away. RAG DOLL releases on November 16.
Will they become audiobooks too?
I
sure hope so.
What advice would you give to other
writers in your genre?
I love reading and writing stories with
engaging characters who I want to spend time with. I recommend letting your
characters talk to one another and seeing what happens! An outline is simply an
outline. Don’t be afraid to deviate from it. I prefer mystery suspense novels
that drop lots of clues leading to the murderer. I also recommend incorporating
many other characters with secrets into the story. 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,
rather than the author pulling an ending out of the hat.
What other audiobooks do you have out?
DRAMA
QUEEN, the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), is narrated by Michael
Gilboe. It’s a comedy mystery about a college theatre professor (like me) who
uses his acting skills to impersonate others and uncover murder mysteries. It
makes me laugh every time I hear it, and I continue to marvel at how well Michael
performed all twenty-three characters! The surprise ending shocks me each time
too. DRAMA QUEEN was voted Favorite Mystery of 2015 in the Divine Magazine
Reader Poll. The second book in the series, DRAMA MUSCLE, received a Rainbow
Award Honorable Mention. DRAMA CRUISE, book three, releases on December 1.
DRAMA LUAU will follow.
The
talented actor Joel Leslie, who has quite a following in the audiobook world,
is narrating my THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND (releasing in
November), and A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (releasing in December) which takes
place on the gorgeous island of Capri.
ASIN: B00KMZUM4C
Paperback: 234 pages
ISBN-10: 1499279477
ISBN-13: 978-1499279474
Smashwords ISBN: 9781311499981
Released: May 27, 2014
PAPER DOLL,
the first Jana Lane mystery
by Joe
Cosentino
Jana Lane was America’s most famous
child star until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. Now
a thirty-eight-year-old beauty and mother of two living in a mansion in
picturesque Hudson Valley, New York, Jana’s flashbacks from her past turn into
murder attempts in her present.
The local suspects include Jana’s
down-on-his-luck husband with a dislike for living off the fruits of his
wife’s young labor, Jana’s sister and male friend (who both have eyes for
Jana’s husband), Jana’s show business father, her deranged loyal fan, and
Jana's young Guy Friday who covets her fame and shares an uncanny resemblance
to Jana.
Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana visits the
California movie studio she once called home. This sends her on a whirlwind of
visits with former and current movie studio personnel. It also leads to a
romance with the son of her old producer—Rocco Cavoto—the devilishly handsome
filmmaker who is planning Jana’s comeback both professionally and personally.
With Rocco’s help, Jana uncovers a web of secrets about everyone she loves,
including the person who destroyed her past and threatens to snuff out her
future.
Audiobook by Charissa Clark Howe on Audible:
Audiobook by Charissa Clark Howe on Amazon:
"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
“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.” Universal Creativity Digital Magazine
“The setting, the characterization
and the plot keep you turning the pages.” The Book Mistress
“Joe Cosentino has crafted an
engaging tale of secrets, lies and deceit set in that crazy, ego driven
scene called Hollywood.” Deb Sanders
“The
suspense this book holds is amazing!” “You will absolutely love this book!”
Stormy Night Reviews
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, Drama Cruise
(Lethe Press); the Cozzi Cove beach series: Cozzi
Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove:
Moving Forward, 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).
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.
Upcoming novels are Drama Luau and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings.
http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
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