Day Two: Welcome Jimmy Thomas

At the LIT manor today we welcome "Ren Man" (short for Renaissance) Jimmy Thomas. Yesterday we learned a bit about the man and his life. Today we're going to find out about a couple of new projects that Jimmy has going on.

The first is a "Private Photo Shoot" this is designed for the reader track at RT. Here is the description as stated best with detail on the convention site.

On Saturday, April 25; 2:15-3:15 Jimmy Thomas & a female cover model will bring something new, fun, creative and original to the Romantic Times BOOKlovers convention, by having a sensual, romance novel cover photo shoot together in a fully staged professional studio setting.

Those who attend this photo shoot will receive their own free autographed 8x10 image, giveaways, and the ability to see first hand how a romance novel photo shoot is actually done, experience the atmosphere, passion and inspiration put into each pose and expression during a romance novel photo shoot, and then see how the poses & images are transformed into novel cover art.

There will be various settings at the shoot; backdrops, chairs, an actual bed and more, as well as various props, indoor lighting, hair fans, posing music, and food & drinks. And to enhance the seductive mood, outfit changes will be done behind two paper-thin, tri-fold décor screens in the corner of the room with their silhouette shadows reflected on the paper screens.

Attendees will be allowed to take their own photographs (no flashes) of the 1-hour photo shoot (behind the scene style). After the photo shoot, Jimmy Thomas & a female cover model will be available to answer your questions and take photos.

Amanda: I don't think there has ever been an event like this at RT that I can remember(at least done publicly) in the last ten years that I've been attending. This I assume is to help launch your new business? Can you tell us more?

Jimmy: This is one of my new business ventures. Since I know what it takes to put together a romance novel cover shoot; finding the photographer, the models, location, setting, theme, props, make-up artist, hair stylist, wardrobe, wardrobe stylist, etc, the time that all takes and the expense, I figure since I shoot romantic and sensual images for my modeling portfolio anyway, I might as well sell them as stock for novel covers on a stock website.

Amanda: What is your this new stock photo website called?

Jimmy: www.RomanceNovelCovers.com

Amanda: Catchy title!! It sounds like a unique idea. Already you must own several hundred photos over the years. It sounds like you've thought a lot about this.

Jimmy: I've been on many online stock websites, especially the most popular ones, and I do searches for romantic, sensual, couples, hunks, men, sexy, etc. and I barely see anything that resembles a romance novel cover. So publishers have to go through modeling agencies to get all the talent needed to pull off the shot they need, and they pay WAY more than what I charge per image. So what better than to provide a huge library full of strictly romance novel cover type images for the publishers and/or authors to purchase directly and immediately :)

Amanda: I've surfed for similar photos for my website and I would have to agree with you. Will you only replace those that sell and keep the others available all the time, or how do you plan to keep it fresh and timely ?

Jimmy: I plan to take it a step further and arrange novel cover style photo shoots on a regular basis to keep feeding my stock website with newer and hotter images, of all genres and looks, of various female models,(hair color, etc.,) even take requests for what kind of shot is needed and what the female needs to look like. I have any look of female at the press of a 'send email' button, and same for photographers.

Amanda:Curious, you've posed for small press publishers , as well as established publishers, how is the process the same? different?

Jimmy:Actually, I don't see a difference on my end. I've been published with 'Doherty', 'Tom Associates', 'Redburn Press', 'Red Sage' and hmmmm, 'Kensington.' I don't see a process difference, other than some publishers just use the raw image, while others use graphic art along with the image.

Amanda: Certainly it is a unique premise and we wish you all the best with this new venture! Now I hear you have a pretty special CONTEST planned for those attending RT? Spill!

Jimmy: It's my Breakfast in Bed with Jimmy Thomas Raffle


Amanda: Well now , that's just too tempting! Tell us more!!!

Jimmy: On Saturday, April 25, at 8:30am. Breakfast (the winners choice) will be prepared by the resort and I will bring it to the winner's room (in my pajama's) I'll then sit on the bed and have personal one on one... conversation, eat, drink and ask as many questions as they would like. The whole thing will be videotaped for a keepsake. There will be 2nd & 3rd prizes and maybe more as well; gift baskets, autographed 8x10's, etc.

Amanda: You do come up with some interesting ideas, I have to say ;) That will most certanily be a keepsake for one lucky person!

Amanda: Now about this "Easter " thing....

Jimmy: Lol, this is a Hallmark Easter Card in stores now. You know how you see birthday cards of hunky guys, etc., well those guys are actually real people ;) They used one of my stock images I shot a few years back.



Amanda: What a hoot! is it available at Hallmark online?

Jimmy: Unfortunately, no, but I will be giving away a few signed cards at RT.

Amanda: Darn, well then we'll have to "hop" down to our local Hallmark stores to check it out!! LOL

I want to thank Jimmy for taking time from his many ventures to visit with us here at the Manor. My apologies that Lord C. M. played the recluse. The man sometimes is unpredicatable as they come. However, he does often serve we Lit ladies breakfast in bed. We have no complaints.;)

You'll have today to ask your questions and leave comments for Jimmy.

Coming up, our own Kristi Astor has some exciting news to share with us tomorrow here at the LIT Manor!! And Jimmy will be choosing the lucky winner of his photo giveaway!

Amanda

Welcome Jimmy Thomas to the Manor! Day One:

Do you ever wonder where in the world they find those guys who grace the covers of your fav romance book covers? Are they real, or the artistic concept of someones' vivid imagination? Today and tomorrow , here at the manor, we are fortunate to have visiting with us, cover model, Jimmy Thomas. From his humble beginnings in Plymouth, Massachusetts to receiving awards for his architectural design and international acclaim as a fitness model, there is a whole lot more going on with this guy than just a pretty face and a fine physique!!

Amanda: So lets start at the beginning...that's a very fine place to start(*humming the tune as I rifle through your bio pics! AHA!...sorry, Jimmy, I can't help myself-this pic is just too darn cute. Must share it;) You're the one on the far right;)

As I read through your bio, it looks like you've always been involved with something physical, pushing your level of endurance. Precision sculpting and strength of the body obviously quite important for doing modeling. I understand it was around 1998 when you got actively involved in the modeling industry. But give us the inside scoop ;) Its not like you were standing at a bus stop and someone came up to and asked if you were a cover model, right?

Jimmy: I had a few people say I should model, but I never saw myself as the model type at all (look-wise), then a DROP DEAD GORGEOUS girl approached me in a club (yes, she was sober, lol) with a huge smile and said... "Wow, tell me you model?" I looked behind me to see who she was talking to, lol. So I got into it then...... and started dating her! ;)

Amanda: She was an agent?? Probably not, eh? Okay, so what happened then?

Jimmy: I began test shooting for many photographers and very quickly picked up representation by 13 agencies throughout Florida alone. From commercial print, retail ads, catalogs & magazines, I've worked with company's like Tommy Hilfiger, Dillard's, Disney, Sports Authority, & many fitness magazines. I've worked with celebrity Model/Actress Amanda Swisten ("American Pie III"), and starred in music videos like the Persian Artist Ebi: Sedam Kardi. and Persian Artist Shohreh: Shabe Shekar.

Amanda: You've been a very busy man, besides your real-life job which is in architecture, correct? How did you go from that to pursuing a career in modeling?

Jimmy: I worked for an engineering firm in his first few years in Florida, then onto working for the largest architecture firm in the state of Florida, which was also the largest franchised architecture firm in America. I was there for 4 years where I custom designed up to 4-story, multi-million dollar homes, and left the firm as one of their Senior Designers, and with 2 "Designer of the Quarter" awards. In 2002, I moved to Los Angeles to further my interests. I still designed upper-scale homes, trained clients independently and also for 'CBS Television Studios' for the cast & crew. I continued his modeling and still taught self defense & kickboxing.

Amanda: The grass does not grow beneath your feet , does it? That was then, what about now? What do you have going on?

Jimmy: I have been studying martial arts off and on since 1992 where I used to teach it (including kickboxing), where I still do on a freelance basis, mostly for free if the timing is convenient, as I just really enjoy giving to others the knowledge I have learned. I've also been a Personal Trainer since the late 90's certified through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), which I also teach, train and guide people with their diets and workouts for free a lot. I'm a freelance Architectural Designer for a few companies throughout Los Angeles, which is the work I've been doing since the early/mid 90's. I've written an action-adventure screenplay, I've designed many websites including my own, and I used to manage about 50 Models where I've gotten many of them published in magazines like FHM and various fitness magazines, in catalogs, on commercials, to trade shows, etc. My latest projects I'm working on are a new cardio fitness concept similar to Tae-Bo only much better, 6 retail inventions in prototype stages, an organic product, a self help book, my romance novel stock photo website, and an animal abuse prevention organization.

Amanda: So you've been on a number of book covers in the past few years and really , we're not talking too long since 2001. That's quite an accomplishment! In talking to other cover models, I think its harder to break into this end of the business than it is to get a book published! Congratulations on your accomplishments! Here then is your latest? Now this just brings to mind a whole host of questions about this book!
In all of your portfolio pics, you look so natural, like you're really having a good time. And we haven't even touched on the portfolio for your newest endeavor! Whew! Those are "scorching!" Tell us, what do you like best about being a cover model?


Jimmy: Well, of course there's the holding beautiful female models close to me ;) but also that I can present a character for readers to envision as they're reading the stories, the chemistry between the female character and me to come through on the cover, or the boldness, strength, and heroic attitude of the character if I'm alone on the cover.

Amanda: Funny, thats usually the fantasy of the female readers as they look at those covers! LOL
But I think the writers (who are readers also, of course) would have to agree that those pics serve to inspire our imagination in creating our characters as well! So, um...thanks for that!!;)) Is there anything you don't like about being a cover model?

Jimmy: Not a single thing! I LOVE shooting for, and being on, novel covers.
!!

Amanda:With that, I would like to post a few more covers and give our bloggers a chance to ask you some questions. Tomorrow; the second half of our interview with the quintessential "Renaissance man" Jimmy Thomas. We'll be talking about a brilliant new idea that Jimmy launching at RT that is bound to do very well in this industry! Additionally, I've muscle-armed Jimmy (yeah, tough guy, me;) into giving up one of his promo publicity collage pics, featuring nine of his book covers-one at random from all who leave a comment on the blog! Good luck!

Lord Craven-Moore's cousin is paying a visit!

I promised home movies of the Manor and will deliver!
A few editorial and technical glitches have created some minor delays, but I assure you it's well worth the wait!

As Charlotte indicated, once in a while we like to mix things up here at the Manor, and on that note-- I'd like to announce (because it is, after all, Wicked Wednesday)
that Lord Craven-Moore's cousin, Jimmy Thomas (of Portuguese descent, I was corrected, though he admits to looking Italian), is coming to the Manor for a visit!

Jimmy will visit with us about how he got started in the modeling business and about the special event he has going on this year at the Romantic Times BOOKlovers convention. And he'll be available to answer any questions you might want to ask a refined, seriously HAWT, and genuinely nice-guy cover model.

Mark your calendar for March 30-31 to welcome Jimmy Thomas to the LIT Manor!

Wicked Wednesday -Jimmy Thomas announces the winner

Little is known of Lord Craven-Moore's family background, but here is a recent photo of his cousin, James Thomas. Of Italian descent, you can see a family resemblence in his slow, easy smile and those eyes...sigh, the color of fine cognac.

James, or "Jimmy" as he prefers to be called, will be appearing at the Romantic Times BOOKlover's convention this April in a special session showing how models are used in the making of a book cover. Hubba hubba.

Anyhow, Jimmy agreed to give a shout out to the winner of Emily Bryan's VEXING THE VISCOUNT." He would have much preferred to offer the win in person, but the "wicked look" will have to do.

BARB you are our winner chosen to receive this delightful read! If you could send your mailing details to amanda@amandamcintyre.net We'll get you set up with your prize! And so you know, Ms. Emily will also be at the Romantic Times convention in April so if you're attending, you can stop by and meet her at the bookfair!

Amanda