DA Kentner is an award winning author who also enjoys meeting and interviewing authors of many genres.

As author KevaD, my novel "Whistle Pass" won the 2013 EPIC eBook Award for suspense. Previously, in 2012, it won a Rainbow Award in the historical category. "Whistle Pass" is currently out of print, though I'm considering finding a new publisher, or self-publishing the novel. What do you think?

"The Caretaker", a 3,000 word short story, won 'Calliope' magazine's 18th annual short story competition. Click the blue ribbon to view their site and entry rules for this year's short fiction competition.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Debut Author Rosanna Chiofalo


Rosanna Chiofalo captured my full attention without having read a word of her book. What drew me to her was a line in her bio where she credited meeting and falling in love with her future husband to…jury duty. Oh yeah. How could I not want to know more? 

Rosanna’s parents emigrated from Sicily in the 1960s. Raised in Queens, NY, with its close-knit neighborhoods and lawn chair discussions of everything, she quickly developed a desire to write stories designed to shatter media promulgated stereotypes. In fact, this desire grew to passion and she obtained a BA in English specifically to pursue a career in writing. Having sharpened her pencils and honed her craft as a copywriter and copy director for several NYC publishing houses, Rosanna embarked on conceiving her first novel. 

“Bella Fortuna” is the story of a thirty-year-old Italian-American woman designing and sewing wedding dresses alongside her two sisters in their mother’s New York bridal shop. (How’s that for a series’ nucleus? We can only hope.) Valentina DeLuca has witnessed many marriages, but never her own. Then her childhood crush Michael Carello pops the question and Valentina’s dreams of marriage seem to be coming true, including a fantasy wedding in Venice. Naturally, life isn’t that simple or easy. To reach her happy ever after, Valentina will have to draw upon the strengths and ties that bind of family and friendship, as well as discover her own source of courage and raw determination. 

In the skillfully crafted Valentina, the author presents readers with a woman most of us would want for a best friend. Her warmth, vitality, and integrity shine over every bump and obstacle life can throw at her. This is a story sure to pull the reader into the love of family and the sights and senses of romance in Venice. 

Fortunately, Rosanna is hard at work on her next novel.

Oh! The jury duty? Rosanna’s future mother-in-law was on that jury too and decided the beautiful young Italian woman would make her son a fine wife. Thank God for meddling mothers.
“Bella Fortuna” will be released August 28th, but is currently available for preorder.

Q) For the record – the jury duty story is true? And, will we see it in a book, because you know we readers want to now. 

A) Yes, the jury story is absolutely 100% true. I couldn't make that up even if I wanted to! Haven't thought about putting it in a book, but several people have expressed to me that it's the perfect plot to a movie or book so maybe I'll consider it! 

Q) Will we enjoy more stories with the bridal shop the center of activity? It’s a great working premise.

A) My second novel, WHEN YOU'RE IN ROME, is also set in the same town as BELLA FORTUNA--Astoria, New York. While a few of the secondary characters make an appearance in WHEN YOU'RE IN ROME, the leading characters are new. Olivia DeLuca, along with her daughters Connie and Rita, from BELLA FORTUNA do make an appearance in WHEN YOU'RE IN ROME. Connie actually becomes friendly with the young heroine in WHEN YOU'RE IN ROME. Readers will see the shop again, but not to the extent that it was featured in BELLA FORTUNA. 

Q) Because it is an important element to your characters, what do you believe you have infused in them to break down the walls of stereotype? 

A) I believe my characters have a strong moral fiber and are passionate about their relationships, especially where family and friends are concerned. They also have a deep pride and passion for their hard work.  

Q) Bless your heart, you included some wonderful recipes in your book and web site. Where did these delightful dishes come from, as I noticed one is called “Grandmother’s Cake”? 

A) "Grandmother's Cake" is actually the name for this dessert. Unfortunately, it is not a recipe passed down from one of my grandmothers. "Grandmother's Cake" is a popular dessert in Italy. I discovered it in a cookbook featuring Italian desserts, and when I went to Rome, I also had it in a restaurant there. A few of the other recipes, however, that are in the back of BELLA FORTUNA are from family members. "Fried Meatballs" is my mother's recipe. "Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast" is my husband's recipe; he's a master when it comes to breakfast! And the "Lemon Wedges in Olive Oil and Vinegar" is another Sicilian recipe I got from my mother.  

Q) What personal message would you like to send to those about to discover your stories?

A) I hope that readers will connect with the emotions and thoughts of my characters, and I'd like BELLA FORTUNA to make them think more about why the events in our lives happen the way they do. Luck and  fate do have a hand in what transpires in our lives, but we also have the power to take control and alter our destinies.
DA Kentner is an author and journalist www.kevad.net




12 comments:

  1. Hello all my viewers My name is Roseanna from USA! I want to use this very opportunity and happens to shall this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot.I am a woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email Dr clement.and tell him I need the lottery numbers.I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win.But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell,so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers.But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners.I win 1 million Dollar.Dr.clement truly you are the best,with these great Dr you can win millions of money through lottery.I am so very happy to meet these great man now,I will be forever be grateful to you dr.Email him for your own winning lottery numbers drakugbespellhome1@gmail.com or you can call him for your own help to win big money today via +254704881207.post by Roseanna from USA thanks for reading.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We are project funder as well as financial lender,We have BG/SBLC, specifically for BUY/LEASE at a leasing price value Issuance by HSBC London and other 25 top AA rated Bank in Europe, Middle East or USA. We also secure funding.

    Our BG/SBLC Financing can help you get your project funded, loan financing, please let me know if you are interested in any of our services, by providing you with yearly renewable leased bank instruments. We work directly with issuing bank lease providers, this Instrument can be monetized on your behalf for 100% funding.

    FOR LEASING OF BG/SBLC
    MINIMUM FACE VALUE OF BG/SBLC = EUR/USD 1M
    LEASING FEE = 4%+1%

    FOR PURCHASE OF FRESH CUT BG/SBLC
    PRICE = 32%+1%
    MINIMUM FACE VALUE OF BG/SBLC = EUR/USD 1M

    Intermediaries/Consultants/Brokers are welcome to bring their clients and are 100% protected. In complete confidence, we will work together for the benefits of all parties involved.

    Contact : Mr. Raymond Doison
    Contact Email: crusaderbroker.bgassurance@gmail.com
    skype:crusaderbroker.bgassurance@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. hello I'm from USA , I have been suffering from HERPES virus for the past 3 years and i had constant pain especially in my knees, During the first year I had faith in God that i will be healed someday, but this disease started circulate all over my body and i have been taking treatment from my doctor, few weeks ago i came in search on the internet if i could get any information concerning the prevention of this disease, on my search i saw a testimony of so many people who has been healed from Hepatitis B, HIV/AID, Diabetes,HSV, ALS HPV and Cancer by this Man called Dr, Aire and he also gave the email address of this man and advice we should contact him for any sickness that he would be of help, so i wrote to Dr. Aire telling him about my HERPES Virus he told me not to worry that i will be cured from this deadly disease i never believed it, well after all the procedures and remedy given to me by this man, few weeks later i started experiencing changes all over me as the Doctor assured me that i will be cured,after some time i went to my medical doctor to confirmed if i have be finally cured behold it was true,and now i'm cure totally with Dr.Aire, So friends my advise is if you have such sickness or any other at all you can email Dr,Aire on this email; drairehome@gmail.com or add him up on what-app +2347036740271

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am John Danilla from UK( northern ireland), i want to share a
    testimony on how a powerful spell caster cured my HIV disease, i was
    diagnosed of this disease, in the year 2009, last week i saw a testimony on
    Dr.Akioya on how he cured an HIV patient, so i contacted him through phone
    and he asked me to email him, which idid, so he told me that all my
    problems is over and then he decided to do an healing spell spell for me so
    after he finished it, he told me to wait for just 24 hours and then i
    should go for a test, so i really did as he had said, so my greatest
    surprised when i went to the hospital to go for an HIV test, the Medical
    doctor diagnosed that, i am now HIV negetative at first i was amazed and
    now i have come to realise that this spell caster Dr. Akioya is a very
    powerful one and a real spell caster. So viewers of this should please join
    me in my celebration for i am the happiest man on earth today and if you
    want to contact him, you can do this via his email
    (drakioya17spellhome@gmail.com or call him or whatsapp him
    +2348105257464.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My life was destroyed when my husband sent me packing, after 13 years we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to my husband back to me. One day at work, I was distracted, not knowing that my boss called me, so he sat and asked me what it was all about, I told him and he smiled and said it was no problem. I never understood what he meant by it was no problem getting back my husband, he said he used a spell to get back his wife when she left him for another man, and now they are together till date and initially I was shocked hearing something from my boss. He gave me an email address of the LORD NOBEL which helped him get his wife back, I never believed that this would work, but I had no choice coming into contact with the sayings that I get done, and he asked for my information and that my husband was able to propose to throw him the spell and I sent him the details, but after two days, my mother called me that my husband was pleading that he wants me back, I never believed, because it was just a dream and I had to rush off to my mother's place and to my greatest surprise, was kneeling my husband beg me for forgiveness that he wants me and the child back home, when I gave LORD NOBEL a conversation regarding sudden change of my husband and he made clear to me that my husband will love me until the end of the world, that he will never leave for another woman. Now me and my husband is back together and started doing funny things he has not done before, he makes me happy and do what it is supposed to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind need, please contact LORD NOBEL for help. His email is lordnoblespellcaster@hotmail.com or lordnoblespellcaster@gmail.com or you can call or whatspp him on this number + 1(817)755-0129

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was despondent because i had a very small penis, about 2.5 inches soft and 4 inches hard not nice enough to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors prescribe for me, but none could offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the INTERNET about this specialist called Dr movo and decided to contact him on his email: {drmovo.supernaturalherbalmedic@gmail.com} so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal pills for Penis Enlargement, Within 3 week of it, i began to feel the enlargement of my penis, " and now it just 4 weeks of using his products my penis is about 9 inches longer, and i had to settle out with my Ex girlfriend JOY, i was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my sex and i have got a large penis. Am so happy, thanks to Dr movo I also learn that Dr movo also help with Breast Enlargement Hips and Bums Enlargement etc.. If you are in any situation with a little Penis, weak ejaculation, small breast_hips_bums do get to Dr movo now for help on his email:{drmovo.supernaturalherbalmedic@gmail.com} or whatsapp +2347061865209.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello everyone reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my husband after three(3) years of marriage just because another woman had a spell on him and he left me and the kid to suffer. One day when I was reading through the web, I saw a post on how this spell caster Dr irosi have help a woman to get back her husband and I gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a woman had a spell on my husband and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that I will have my husband back. I believed him and today I am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back because I am now happy with my husband. Thanks for His great work here is his email: drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com Or call his number  +2348118829771, Contact Dr irosi and get your relationship problem solved. Great Dr irosi could also help you with the following:
    1) Love Spells
    2) Lost Love Spells
    3) Divorce Spells
    4) Marriage Spells
    5) Binding Spell.
    6) Breakup Spells
    7) Banish a past Lover
    8.) You want to be promoted in your office/ Lottery spell
    9) want to satisfy your lover
    Contact this great man if you are having any problem for a lasting solution
    EMAIL..... drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello everyone reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my husband after three(3) years of marriage just because another woman had a spell on him and he left me and the kid to suffer. One day when I was reading through the web, I saw a post on how this spell caster Dr irosi have help a woman to get back her husband and I gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a woman had a spell on my husband and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that I will have my husband back. I believed him and today I am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back because I am now happy with my husband. Thanks for His great work here is his email: drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com Or call his number  +2348118829771, Contact Dr irosi and get your relationship problem solved. Great Dr irosi could also help you with the following:
    1) Love Spells
    2) Lost Love Spells
    3) Divorce Spells
    4) Marriage Spells
    5) Binding Spell.
    6) Breakup Spells
    7) Banish a past Lover
    8.) You want to be promoted in your office/ Lottery spell
    9) want to satisfy your lover
    Contact this great man if you are having any problem for a lasting solution
    EMAIL..... drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a wonderful and a straight forward spell caster that has brought back joy and happiness into my life! Am giving this testimony because am so happy, I want to thank Dr. Osasu for the great thing He has done in my life , He brought happiness back to my life, I never believed in spell casters until my life fell apart when my lover of 6 years decided to call it quit almost when we wanted to get married. I was so emotional breakdown to the extent i could not do anything reasonable again, after 2months in pain before an old friend of mine introduced me to a spell caster on line called Dr Osasu, this was after I have been scammed by various fake spell casters. I was introduced me to Dr Osasu a true Spell Caster. In less than 24 hours i saw wonders, my lover came back to me and my life got back just like a completed puzzle, and after 1month later we got married and it was just like a dream to me because i thought i had lost him forever. Thank you Dr. Osasu for helping me but most of all, Your Honesty and Fast Accurate Results. email: Drosasu25@gmail.com WhatsApp Number: +2347064365391

    ReplyDelete
  10. EFFECTIVE LOVE SPELL TO GET EX HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND OR EX WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND CURE HERPES AND INFERTILITY THAT WORKS WITHIN 24 HOURS.

     Contact Dr. Odunga at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com OR Whats App/CALL +2348167159012

    I got my ex husband back to me and also got fertile and gave birth to twin girls after 12 years of marriage.
    When I came online last year, I saw a testimony about Doctor ODUNGA and how he has been helping people with marriage issues and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and later he gave me his WhatsApp number which is +2348167159012. He assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. Doctor Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contact. The third day, I received natural herbs for fertility and after using it, I became fertile and conceived. I and my husband reconnected, had sex and I was pregnant. Presently I am happy to say I am the mother of twin girls and this is ALL THANKS TO DOCTOR ODUNGA. I came online to say this If you need help, I believe you are saved with this man.  

    Contact his email at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com

     OR Whats App/Call +2348167159012 and you too will give a testimony too to help others

    ReplyDelete
  11. GENUINE BANK GUARANTEE (BG) AND STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT (SBLC) FOR BUY OR LEASE AT THE BEST AVAILABLE RATES
    We offer certified and verifiable financial bank instruments via Swift Transmission from a genuine provider capable
    of taking up time bound transactions.
    FOR LEASING OF BG/SBLC
    MINIMUM FACE VALUE OF BG/SBLC = EUR/USD 1M
    LEASING FEE = 4%+2%
    FOR PURCHASE OF FRESH CUT BG/SBLC
    MINIMUM FACE VALUE OF BG/SBLC = EUR/USD 1M
    PRICE = 32%+2%
    Our BG/SBLC Financing can help you get your project funded,
    loan financing by providing you with yearly.
    RWA ready to close leasing with any interested client in few banking days
    I will be glad to share with you our working procedures.
    Name : Thomas Wolfgang
    Email : inquiry.fastfunding@gmail.com
    Skype : inquiry.fastfunding@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello
    We are a trade finance company that uses our own credit lines to facilitate the issuance of financial guarantees like BG, SBLC, DLC and more. If our services will be of help to you, let us know so we can guide you with our process.
    Mobile | WhatsApp: +19893413179
    Email:mohammedahsan877@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete