Joe Cosentino’s “Drama Daddy” audio version: an interview with narrator Brian Cheney

The lovely Joe is back with the seventeenth Nicky and Noah book to appear in audio format. Joe’s persuaded narrator Brian Cheney to sit in the interview hotseat, and tell us about himself and his work.

Q&A with Brian Cheney
Narrator of Joe Cosentino’s Drama daddy,
the 17th Nicky and Noah mystery/comedy/romance novel

Joe: Hi, Brian. Welcome to our interview for the audio book release of Drama Daddy, Nicky and Noah mystery book 17. Drama Daddy is our 7th audio book collaboration! Should I call you Daddy?

Brian: Just call me. I love performing and producing the Nicky and Noah mystery audio books. 

Joe: As Nicky might say, “I’m happier than a past Republican president staging an insurrection on the Capitol” at the terrific job you did performing the audio book of book 17 in this series. Since this is the first novelette in the series, was your process in creating this audio book any different from the others?

Brian: No, since the formula was the same, it was easy for me to fall right into the fast paced, hilarious murder mystery! 

Joe: As you know, in the 17th Nicky and Noah mystery novel cute and cozy couple (Try saying that three times fast while chewing gum) Nicky and Noah produce their own wacky musical version of 1776 called I Do Declare.

Brian: And Nicky and Noah and their crew make history.

Joe: Are you a history fan, particularly Independence Day?

Brian: Absolutely! And July 4th is always a great time to celebrate. Especially right now!

Joe: : Yes, when democracy in the US is in jeopardy. What do you think it was about John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson that gave them the courage to fight incredible odds for independence from King George?

Brian: I think many people rise to the occasion of the moment that they are experiencing, and these great men are a shining example of that. 

Joe: You are an incredibly talented actor, singer, and audio book performer. Your sense of comic timing is remarkable. You perform the dramatic scenes and singing beautifully. What were some challenges that you faced in performing this audio book?

Brian: Thank you, Joe! As always, you make it so easy with your wonderful writing and great sense of humor. I think the biggest challenge with this book compared to the others was that I usually have a little more time with each character to really find their personalities. With the novelette I just needed to condense that process. It was challenging but still tons of fun!

Joe: This is your seventh Nicky and Noah mystery audio book. Which audio book was the most difficult to perform? 

Brian: Wow! I think they all present their own unique challenges really. I just love the challenge of finding different and zany voices for the gang’s role plays!

Joe: As you know, each of the Nicky and Noah mystery novels are loaded with humor, mystery, romance, clues, red herrings, and a shocking but happy ending (pun intended). How did you decide on the voices for each of the new characters in this novel, including the hysterically funny role-play characters?

Brian: It’s weird Joe. After narrating 7 of your books, I feel like I’m in your head now! It’s a colorful and sometimes scary place to live, but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way! Honestly, I take all of my cues from your descriptions, and then I just let my imagination run wild. It’s the most fun I’ve had narrating audiobooks.

Joe: Thank you! I love hearing your voice too! I marveled at how you performed over twenty different and entertaining voices so perfectly. Which character in the story was your favorite to bring to life and why?

Brian: Oh, I just loved Hank Tobias. He was such a hoot!

Joe: Which character was the most difficult to voice and why?

Brian: Well, having grown up in the Midwest, I just love doing the Wisconsin accent Noah uses in his role-play. It was fun to channel my aunts and uncles for that one!

Joe: Without giving away any spoilers, did you guess the twist whodunit ending before reading it?

Brian: I really didn’t see this one coming! Everyone had such a strong motive. I had no clue (pardon the pun)! Bravo, Joe!

Joe: But the clues were there.

Brian: Yes!

Joe: Why should audio book lovers buy Drama Daddy?

Brian: Why? It’s got it all. Drama, murder, intrigue, love, Martin and Ruben, Dung, Number 2, Ca-Ca and Hoe! Who could ask for more than that?

Joe: : How can audio book fans find out more about you?

Brian: Be sure to check out my website to see everything I am up to as a performing artist. Whether it’s opera, musical theater, film/tv, or audiobook narrations! www.briancheneytenor.com

Joe: Thank you for sharing your time and talents, Brian. We make a great team. I look forward to collaborating next on Drama King, the 18th and last Nicky and Noah mystery audio book! 

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DRAMA DADDY
(the 17th Nicky and Noah mystery) audio book by Joe Cosentino, performed by Brian Cheney

Listen to a sample of the audio book at audible.com

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Summer stock, romance, and murder blossom at Treemeadow College on July 4th when theatre professors and husbands Nicky and Noah and their thespian cohorts stage an original gay musical adaptation heralding the signing of the Declaration of Independence entitled, I Do Declare. Nicky and Noah need to use their drama skills to catch the killer before the frills on their collars are tied in a knot—around their throats. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo! for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny, edge-of-your-seat entertaining first-time novelette (mystery #17) in this delightful series. Take your seats. It’s Independence Day! The curtain and fireworks are going up on an enamored John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who raise Ben Franklin’s kite, Daddy John Dick-in-son, John Hand-cock, George Washington and his French squeeze Guy Raffleur, and murder!

Praise for the Nicky and Noah books

“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

“Every entry of the Nicky and Noah mystery series is rife with intrigue, calamity, and hilarity…Cosentino keeps us guessing – and laughing – until the end, as well as leaving us breathlessly anticipating the next Nicky and Noah thriller.” Edge Media Network

“A laugh and a murder, done in the style we have all come to love….This had me from the first paragraph….Another wonderful story with characters you know and love!” Crystals Many Reviewers

“These two are so entertaining….Their tactics in finding clues and the crazy funny interactions between characters keeps the pages turning. For most of the book if I wasn’t laughing I was grinning.” Jo and Isa Love Books

“Superb fun from start to finish, for me this series gets stronger with every book and that’s saying something because the benchmark was set so very high with book 1.” Three Books Over the Rainbow

“The Nicky and Noah Mysteries series are perfect for fans of the Cozy Mystery sub-genre. They mix tongue-in-cheek humor, over-the-top characters, a wee bit of political commentary, and suspense into a sweet little mystery solved by Nicky and Noah, theatre professors for whom all the world’s a stage.” Prism Book Alliance

“This is one hilarious series with a heart and it just keeps getting better. I highly recommend them all, and please read them in the order they were written for full blown laugh out loud reading pleasure!” Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

ABOUT JOE

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, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy (novelette), Drama King;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; andthe 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 emeritus theatre professor residing in New York State.

About Brian

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 several Nicky and Noah Mystery novels, All the King’s Men by Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and Pressure by Barry Napier.

Website: www.briancheneytenor.com