WRITING THE NICKY AND NOAH MYSTERIES
Book 13: Drama TV by Joe Cosentino
Laughter is the best medicine. Truly. Studies show that laughter raises the endorphins in the pituitary gland, which has a positive effect on health and wellbeing. That is one of the many reasons I am so proud of my Nicky and Noah comedy mystery series. I laugh out loud when writing them. Reviewers called the series “hysterically funny farce,” “Murder She Wrote meets Hart to Hart meets The Hardy Boys,” and “captivating whodunits.” One reviewer wrote they are the funniest books she’s ever read! Another said I’m “a master storyteller.” So let’s stay well together!
For those of you who haven’t yet ventured to the land of Nicky and Noah (and you should!), it’s a gay cozy mystery comedy series, meaning the setting is warm and cozy, the clues and murders (and laughs) come fast and furious, and there are enough plot twists and turns and a surprise ending to keep the pages turning (as Nicky would say) “faster than Republican terrorists storming the Capitol.” At the center is the touching relationship between Professor of Play Directing Nicky Abbondanza and Associate Professor of Acting Noah Oliver. We watch them go from courting to marrying to adopting a child, all the while head over heels in love with each other (as we fall in love with them).
The premiere novel, Drama Queen, was voted Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of the Year! Subsequent novels won many Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions and Favorite Book of the Month awards: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, and Drama Pan.
In the thirteenth novel in this popular series, Theatre professors and spouses Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, their best friends Martin and Ruben, and their sons Taavi and Ty shoot (no pun intended) the pilot episode for a television series based on their first caper, Drama Queen. Where else would they do the television show but cozy Treemeadow College during winter break? It will come as no surprise to Nicky and Noah fans that cast members drop like television ratings. Once again, our favorite thespians use their drama skills to catch the killer before they get cancelled.
As a past professional actor and current college theatre professor/department chair, I know first-hand the hysterically funny antics, sweet romance, and captivating mystery in the worlds of theatre and academia. The Nicky and Noah mysteries are full of them! I know you’ll laugh, cry, feel romantic, and love delving into this crackling new mystery with more plot twists and turns than (as Nicky would say) “a Proud Boy entering a Black Lives Matter rally.”
I’m more excited (as Nicky would say) “than a closet gay evangelical judge taking away LGBT rights to share this thirteenth novel in the series with you.” So relax on the sofa and reach for the remote. The TV screen is exploding with sexy young heartthrobs, egotistical reality TV show contestants, a soap opera diva, a hot rap singer, and murder! And I love to hear from readers. So drop me a line. I’ll share it with Nicky and Noah! http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
DRAMA TV (the 13th Nicky and Noah mystery)
a comedy/mystery/romance novel by JOE COSENTINO
It’s winter break at Treemeadow College, and Theatre professors and spouses Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, their best friends Martin and Ruben, and their sons Taavi and Ty are starring in a television pilot for the Nicky and Noah Mysteries series based on their first caper, Drama Queen. More is shot than footage as cast members drop like giant flat screen TVs mounted by an intoxicated carpenter. Once again, our favorite thespians will need to use their drama skills to catch the killer before they get cancelled. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny, edge-of-your-seat entertaining thirteenth (yikes!) novel in this delightful series. So relax on the sofa and reach for the remote. The TV screen is exploding with sexy young heartthrobs, egotistical reality TV show contestants, a soap opera diva, a hot rap singer, and murder!
DETAILS AND BUY LINKS
E-book and Paperback: 233 pages
Language: English
Genre: MM, contemporary, mystery, comedy, romance, winter, academia, theatre, drama, television
Cover Art: Jesús Da Silva
ISBN-13: 9781005450311
ASIN: B09HN2S373 Release date: December 1, 2021
https://mybook.to/DramaTV
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1107409
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/drama-tv-a-nicky-and-noah-mystery
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drama-tv-joe-cosentino/1140252043?ean=2940165037245
EXCERPT
Back at the window seat, Tadeo asked Ford, “Did you know Madame before you were both cast in this TV show?”
Ford nodded bitterly. “I knew her all right.”
“Were you two…involved?”
“Yeah, we were involved—but not with each other. We were involved with our own careers.” Ford sighed. “But let’s not talk about Madame Mirembe.”
“Deal.” Tadeo’s dimples appeared like plump raisins. “You’re really good in your scenes. What’s it like playing a detective?”
“Better than being one, I guess.”
Just ask Manuello.
Ford returned Tadeo’s smile. “I think you stand out in your scenes.”
Tadeo guffawed. “With Cam Mark playing one of the college students, do you really think anyone will be looking at me as Ricky Gonzalez?”
“Actually, I do.”
“You think they’ll root for the underdog?”
“I think they’ll see stud Cam, deceitful Madame, and country girl Caroline as superficial actors. Just as they are superficial people.”
“You don’t think I’m superficial?”
Ford seemed to size him up. “No, I don’t.”
“I don’t either.”
“Modest huh?”
Tadeo giggled. “My mama always said I was my own best fan. But that wasn’t true.”
Ford cocked his head. “If you think you aren’t talented, you’re wrong. I watched your scenes yesterday. You’re really good.”
“And you’re really kind.” Tadeo blinked back tears.
Ford did a doubletake. “Hasn’t anybody ever complimented your acting before?”
“My acting teachers were really hard on me. The other cast members in my previous shows were polite, but I never made the grade to be part of the various backstage cliques.”
“There must have been somebody who supported you as an actor.”
“Yeah, there was.” Tadeo’s face lit up like a neon sign. “My mama supported me as an actor, singer, dancer, and as being gay. She championed just about everything I did.” Tadeo grinned. “My artwork from grade school was a Rembrandt on the kitchen refrigerator. Any relative who stopped by had to hear me sing and watch me dance. Mama praised me to the neighbors, the local store owners, even the gang members in our Bronx neighborhood.”
“How about your dad?”
“He died when I was three.”
“Sorry.”
“It was okay. Mama became my father and mother. And not just to me. To my four younger brothers and sisters.”
“How’d she do that?”
“By cleaning houses in our neighborhood, doing people’s laundry, taking care of their kids, whatever made enough money for us to get by. Then after my siblings and I got home from school, she’d play with us until dinnertime.” Tadeo glowed like a leaking nuclear power plant. “Nobody was prouder of me than my mama when I was in the Broadway musical, Rappin’ Abe. She sat in the balcony crying and waving throughout the whole show.”
“How does she feel about you being cast in our TV pilot?”
“I think she’s really happy for me and proud too.”
“You think?”
Tadeo lowered his head. “She passed away.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.” Tadeo wiped his face with the back of his sleeve.
Poor guy.
Ford said, “I lost my father in a car accident six months ago.”
“Wow! That sucks.”
“It sure does.”
“What happened?”
“My father was a good dad, but he liked what he called his ‘weekend bonus.’ My mother asked him not to drive when he was drinking, but he didn’t listen to her.” Ford smiled. “He never listened to anything she said, but he loved her. He loved all of us. And he worked hard in his factory job so we didn’t go without.”
“How did the accident happen?”
Ford laughed ironically. “Dad and I were headed to church to meet up with my mom and my little sister. We got into an argument. I played football in high school and college. Dad wanted me to play professional football. I told him I was going into show business—as a singer and an actor. Things got pretty heated. Dad took his eyes off the road, and he ran the car into a tree.”
Tadeo asked, “Is that why you’re in the chair?”
Ford nodded.
“Good thing you weren’t a dancer.”
Ford burst out laughing. “That’s true.”
Tadeo asked, “Will you…?”
“Be in the chair until I die?”
Tadeo nodded.
Ford shrugged. “I’m in physical therapy, but no luck so far.”
“Don’t give up.”
“I won’t.”
“And you can still sing and act.”
“Yup.”
“And if you want to play football, don’t they have leagues for people in wheelchairs?”
“Yeah, but it’s not the same.”
Tadeo asked, “Is there another sport you can try? Bowling? Chess?”
“I’ve been throwing darts at a local club.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“It passes the nights.”
Hang in there, Ford.
“Ford?”
“Yeah?”
Tadeo smiled. “I think you’re really cool and really brave.”
Ford returned the smile. “I think you’re really cool and really brave too.”
Tadeo stood and rapped with all the motions, “Ford Heathcliff keeps it real. Singing and acting is his deal. He lost his dad. Which makes him sad. In his chair. He takes a dare. When the game starts, he throws his darts.” Ford applauded. Tadeo took a bow.
Praise for the Nicky and Noah mysteries
“Joe Cosentino has a unique and fabulous gift. His writing is flawless, and his plot-lines will have you guessing until the very last page, which makes his books a joy to read. His books are worth their weight in gold, and if you haven’t discovered them yet you are in for a rare treat.” Divine Magazine
“a combination of Laurel and Hardy mixed with Hitchcock and Murder She Wrote… Loaded with puns and one-liners…Right to the end, you are kept guessing, and the conclusion still has a surprise in store for you…the best modern Sherlock and Watson in books today…I highly recommend this book and the entire series, it’s a pure pleasure, full of fun and love, written with talent and brio…fabulous…brilliant” Optimumm Book Reviews
“adventure, mystery, and romance with every page….Funny, clever, and sweet….I can’t find anything not to love about this series….This read had me laughing and falling in love….Nicky and Noah are my favorite gay couple.” Urban Book Reviews
“For fans of Joe Cosentino’s hilarious mysteries, this is another vintage story with more cheeky asides and sub plots right left and centre….The story is fast paced, funny and sassy. The writing is very witty with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour….Highly recommended.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews
About Joe Cosentino
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan; the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The Player’s Encore; the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll; the Cozzi Cove series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland; the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando. 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 currently a happily married college theatre professor/department chair residing in New York State.