Edward Cozza

Edward Cozza takes great care and pride in living a rich tapestry of experience. Ed has lived in Colorado, Florida and now makes his home in postcard-perfect Southern California. His travels have taken him to all but eight of the fifty states, including nearly all of the Major League ballparks. His first novel was born after he left the corporate world and decided to finally meet the voices in his head that urged him to become a writer.

Ed loves to get together with friends and share his passion for fine food, great wine, and smooth bourbon. He will tell you that despite his travel to four continents, his favorite place is home, or whatever magnificent places his wife and dogs lead him.

In his debut novel, Nowhere Yet, Edward dives into the lives of four, forty-something friends who meet up in Palm Springs after many years apart. Their plight is like ours: How did we get here? Where will we end up? It is a look at re-connection, reunion, and redemption.

The second novel of the Connection Series, Near Somewhere, has just been released. It reflects the desperate decisions made from a feeling of lack of connection, that only leads to complications. Southern California, New York City, Dallas and the California wine country serve as the backdrop.

Inspired by Garrison Keillor, Mark Twain and Rex Pickett, Ed is a humble humorist. He cherishes the people and experiences that make us unique. His writing takes us inside the complex, flawed and humorous relationships of his new "friends" Grant, Annie, Rex and Kat of Nowhere Yet, and Townes, Zeeder and Ashley in Near Somewhere.

Awards

Near Somewhere

2015 Beverly Hills Book Awards

Winner-New Fiction

Finalist-General Fiction

Finalist-Fiction Cover

2015 Paris Book Festival

Honorable Mention-General Fiction

Nowhere Yet

2013-Independent Publisher's Book Award (IPPY)

Gold Medal-Best Regional Fiction - West Pacific

2013-Beverly Hills Book Awards

WINNER-Starla Fortunato/President's Choice Award

WINNER-Best Book Cover

FINALIST-Best Fiction Book

"Top 50 Bestseller" List for 2012 at the largest independent bookstore in the West - Warwick's in La Jolla, CA.

Article

Harlem World Magazine

Bourbon Tasting And Book Signing With Author Edward Cozza At The Ritz

By Eartha Watts-Hicks October 30, 2015

Walking across the threshold into the swank ambiance of the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, I already felt spoiled.

Being a bibliophile promised a Bourbon Tasting and Book Signing at such a posh establishment, I almost felt I need to float in cloaked in chiffon in order to blend with the ambiance. Our own expectations can be misleading.

"Bourbon & Book" with National Award Winning Author Edward Cozza was an event that offered no disappointments and still, despite the evening’s inclement weather, was full of pleasant surprises.

…gracious and so endearing that his presence alone is enough to move copies…

First, the Bourbon Tasting introduced an assortment of bourbon from Kansas, made from corn, with mixtures of Rye or Barley, along with the instructional on how to sample and distinguish the flavors. And then, the humble gentleman introduced himself. Edward Cozza was gracious and so endearing that his presence alone is enough to move copies. He and his charming wife, Mary, engaged the audience and saw to it that rain or shine, the experience would be memorable. I find it almost ironic that Cozza’s novel, entitled Near Somewhere, is about a character at a crossroads, who desperately needs to find himself. Meanwhile, author Edward Cozza is so pleasant and comfortable in his own skin that he made sure everyone was comfortable in their own skin, as well, even at The Ritz-Carlton.

Near Somewhere is the second installment of the Connection Series by an author that debuted winning the IPPY Gold Medal and three Beverly Hills Book Awards for his title, Nowhere Yet.

Readers can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EdwardCozzaWriter

Eartha Watts Hicks is Harlem World Magazine contributing writer, NAACP award winning author of LOVE CHANGES, and member of the Harlem Writers Guild.

Article

Rancho Santa Fe Review/Encinitas Advocate

Encinitas Author Enjoying The 'Wow' Things

By Lois Alter Mark 6 A.M.MARCH 21, 2015

Since his first book, "Nowhere Yet," came out in 2012, Edward Cozza's life has been filled with what he likes to call "wow" things.

"Being honored with three Beverly Hills Book Awards was a 'wow' thing," said the Encinitas author. "Going to New York to receive the IPPY gold medal from the Independent Publishers was a 'wow' thing, and having a bourbon with Chef Dean Fearing ­-- someone I've admired forever -- now, that was definitely a 'wow' thing."

To many readers, Cozza's debut novel was a "wow" thing itself. The story, about old friends and lost loves reuniting during a long weekend in Palm Springs, is reminiscent of "The Big Chill," and it's easy to relate to and recognize people you know in the four main characters.

Because those characters remained with their creator long after he finished writing about them, they're returning in a sequel, "Near Somewhere," which is scheduled for publication next month.

"The first book started out as a short story and just got longer and longer," explained Cozza. "So I decided it would be the first of a trilogy. But now that 'Near Somewhere' is done, I actually changed the inside cover to 'Book Two of a Series' just in case I need more than three. That may mean I am now -- still? -- out of control."

Cozza's self-deprecating humor and enthusiasm have made him a popular speaker, and his standing-room-only appearance at Warwick's helped propel "Nowhere Yet" into the store's Top 50 Bestsellers of 2012.

Or it could have been the fact that he writes so passionately about eating and drinking.

"I think food brings an element of realism into a story," said Cozza. "When I was traveling for business, food and drink were major factors in protecting my sanity. Taking in slices of Americana was important to me, and that usually involved eating."

"Near Somewhere" by Encinitas writer Edward Cozza continues the story of the characters in "Nowhere Yet."-- Courtesy photo

In fact, food plays such an important role in Cozza's appreciation for the "finer" things in life that the foreword to his new novel is written by Chef Dean Fearing of the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas, who is often referred to as "the father of Southwestern cooking."

"I met Dean in Dallas for a 'Bourbon and Book' event I was doing, and it means so much that he wrote this for me," Cozza said. "If you read his splendid cookbook, 'The Texas Food Bible,' you realize how important food is in connecting people. Having a room service salad, even a good one, doesn't help you connect -- not to a person or a culture or a true flavor. There's nothing worse than a table for one."

Cozza's characters often congregate around food and drink, just like the author himself. Because traveling for work never allowed much time for sightseeing, Cozza spent much of his free time in restaurants and bars, trying out regional specialties and getting to know the locals. These experiences gave him a deep respect for bartenders who, according to Cozza, "see all, know all."

As he recalled, "Even if I wasn't drinking, bartenders often helped save my far-from-home soul. That's probably why there are always bartenders in my books. I owe them a lot -- spiritually, not monetarily. I always pay my tab."

These days, Cozza gets to travel more for fun and to introduce readers to his books. His next trips are to Cincinnati and New York, both of which, he pointed out, have great local fare. He's looking forward to feasting on chili in Cincinnati and Italian food in New York.

"The weight-loss program will be on hold for those," he laughed, "but will be amping up when I get back."

He's also hoping to head to Oakland, St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Miami -- cities of the only Major League Baseball parks he hasn't yet visited. Then he'll start on the Minor League parks.

Travel has become a real joy for Cozza, who is excited to spread his "Unplug and Connect" message. He wrote both of his books by hand in Moleskine journals, and strongly believes that, despite all the high-tech devices -- or maybe because of them -- our hearts are craving personal connection.

"We need to stay in touch and stay connected," said Cozza. "I've heard from so many readers that they're being emotionally impacted by being away from the ones they love and care about. Texts and emails just aren't cutting it."

Cozza will probably be making many personal connections on his next book tour, and is hoping, along the way, to also check off the eight states left to complete his bucket list item of visiting every state in the country.

"I need to come up with book signings in Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Delaware. If you could help with those, that would be tremendous."

You can see Edward Cozza in person:

Dallas, TX-April 15,2016-5-7 PM-Stanley Korshak

Rancho Santa Fe, CA-April 28, 2016-6:30-8:30-The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Visit www.edwardcozza.com and follow him on Twitter at @EdwardCozza and Facebook at www.facebook.com/EdwardCozzaWriter.

For information about Edward's availability for public readings, book club discussions and lectures, and interviews, please contact,Pinot Dog (PinotDog@me.com)