Hello there, I'm Jimmy Thomas, cover model, and founder/owner of RNC; RomanceNovelCovers.com, RomanceNovelCenter.com and RomanceNovelConvention.com
Currently on over 5000 romance novel covers; more covers than anyone in history (Fabio's on about 230) ;) I've shot with 60+ photographers, with 200+ female models, for 250+ portfolio and stock photo shoots, while continually shooting on a regular basis for novel cover images (I have about 100,000 more images to go through, making that about 10,000+ more images to still upload!).
ROMANCE NOVEL COVERS The first stock image website specific to the romance novel industry. A website I created years ago to provide the romance novel industry with stock images to be used for romance novel covers, website designs and promotional swag. I produce and direct all my RNC photo shoots, as well as personally select all the images for it, to give the romance novel industry what they want and need for cover images. From shooting every genre, look, theme, feeling, pose and expression, while personally choosing my female co-models, photographers, wardrobe, locations, settings and props, to coming up with the ideas of what poses, what theme and what styles, then personally selecting the most marketable images from each set within each shoot, then cleaning, editing and cropping all those selected images, where I then upload them to the RNC stock image website for you to download and use either 'as is', or to alter as you see fit to produce the novel cover art, website design, banner art, trading cards, promotional material, novel trailer stills, etc., that you desire.
"I've been trying to figure out what sets Jimmy Thomas apart from the others and I've decided it's the emotion he brings to his photos. Yes, he's wildly good-looking but there's more going on than a pretty face: you can see what he's thinking and feeling and, for me, that's a very important distinction." - Barbara Bretton
ROMANCE NOVEL CENTER A website I created to provide the Romance Novel Industry a place to all come together to provide their resources, promote their work, and offer their services to each other and to visitors. The first and only networking community specific to the romance novel industry where you can create your own profile to advertise who you are and what you do in this industry.
ROMANCE NOVEL STORE A website to sell your novels on and earn up to 100% of your sales (coming soon right here at RNC).
ROMANCE NOVEL CONVENTION "RNConvention 2013" - The first and only 'All Inclusive' Writers & Readers Romance Novel Convention, held in Las Vegas, Nevada August 7-11, 2013.
RNC CUSTOM COVER IMAGE FROM A CUSTOM SHOOT First to clarify, I don't create the finished cover, I create the cover image where you then get a cover artist to design/create the actual cover from the custom image I create, which I highly suggest letting me refer one of my cover artists as I know which would be best for the style/theme/genre you need it for, and they'd give you a better rate ;)
As for the custom cover shoot itself... you would describe what you want exactly, down to the wardrobe, pose, setting, hand placement, etc. (if you have a specific vision for your cover that is), and if there is a female on the cover with me, then what she looks like; nationality, hair color, hair length, eye color, skin tone, etc. I would then send you a selection of female models of that look for you to choose one for me to shoot with.
After the shoot, I go through all the 100+ images shot for what you described and send you 5-20 of the best selections for you to choose the one you want for your cover. The rest of the images from that particular pose, setting, and wardrobe would be kept in a folder for you in case you want others from it later on for website design, trading cards, etc., so they will not be posted on RNC for sale.
PERSONALLY I'm very ambitious, determined, passionate & goal oriented. Extremely down to earth, easy going, but can be very blunt, although w/good intent. Sarcastic at times, but also very focused & serious. Confident, young at heart, spontaneous & a go-getter! I analyze a lot, but always to figure out, learn & put into a positive light. I tend to learn things by trial & error, even if it's the hard way, which is a great learning experience. And I've always been a hopeless romantic; I'm a Pisces :)
Continually keeping busy, thinking of new things & ideas, very adventurous & love to travel. I've lived in Boston, Tampa, The Netherlands & Los Angeles. I've been to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, London, Brussels, Paris, Venice, Rome, Pisa, Nice, The French Riviera, Barcelona, Gran Canary, all over Egypt [Luxor - a cruise down The Nile stopping and visiting Esna, Edfu, Komombo, and Aswan, then onto Cairo & Hurghada while scuba diving in The Red Sea] Jamaica, Cabo San Lucas, hiking & camping in Yosemite Park & Palm Springs & vacationed to many cities in the U.S. It's great to see & experience cultures & places you usually only see & read about in books. I enjoy being active & workout regularly, but not a fanatic. I eat whatever I want & LOVE chocolate. Energy/dance music motivates me, I'm always wanting to help anyone & everyone I can; sometimes to a fault, I LOVE to cuddle & kiss more than anything!!! I'm not one for going out to clubs; I wore that out in my 20's, I prefer a movie, whether a rental or at the theater, dinner, conversation, road trips, camping or weekend getaways. I've been studying/teaching martial arts & kickboxing off & on since 1992, I've been an NASM Certified Personal Trainer since the late 90's, a freelance Architectural Designer since the early 90's, been modeling since late 90's, I've written an action-adventure screenplay, designed many websites including my own, working on 8 retail inventions (one being organic), a new fitness DVD concept, a self-help book, and an animal abuse prevention organization. I love staying busy & learning & doing as many things as I can, and I'm always moving forward & never looking back :)
"Learn exactly what branding is and what it takes to create your own brand, how to market yourself, self-promote and network to your benefit, and how your novel cover (product packaging) can help or hurt your reputation and your sales. Jimmy Thomas - RNC"
JUNE, 2012 1st-3rd (Fri-Sun) - Arizona Dreamin' Romance Reader Event in Chandler, Arizona for appearence, photo op & signing: www.romancenovelcenter.com/arizonadreamin
JUNE, 2012 15th-17th (Fri-Sun) - Author C. Deanne Rowe's Book Lauch Meet & Greet in Des Moines, Iowa for appearence, photo op & signing: www.romancenovelcenter.com/two-river-romance www.tworiversromanceauthors.org/events.html
JULY 2012 23rd (Mon) - Live on the "Indie Authors" show 6pm PST, 9pm EST: www.hangoutnetworks.com/?s=Indie+Authors
JULY 2012 26th (Thu) RWA Conference in Anaheim, California with InD'Tale Magazine: www.rwa.org/cs/conferences_and_events
SEPTEMBER 2012 23rd-24th (Sun-Mon) - WSA (Women Speakers Association) Conference in Long Beach, California: www.CaliforniaWomensConference.com
SEPTEMBER 2012 28th-30th (Fri-Sun) - Author Yvette Hines' Book Launch Party in Virginia Beach, Virginia for an appearence, photo op & signing and to speak on my modeling career and RNC photo shoots.
FEBRUARY 2013 1st-3rd (Fri-Sun) - 'NorthWest Houston RWA Writer's Event' in Houston, Texas for an appearence, photo op & signing and to give my workshop on branding, networking, marketing, self-promoting and cover art: www.nwhrwa.com
MARCH 2013 29th-31st (Fri-Sun) - DARA (Dallas Area Romance Authors) '2013 Dreamin in Dallas Conference' in Dallas, Texas for an appearence, photo op & signing and to give 2 presentations, one each day, on RNC photo shoots, branding, networking, marketing, self-promoting and cover art: www.dallasromanceauthors.com/conferences
AUGUST, 2013 7th-11th (Wed-Sun) - RNConvention 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada at my very own 5-day/4-night, Writer & Reader, Indie & Traditional Published Convention: www.RomanceNovelConvention.com
OCTOBER 2013 11th-12th (Fri-Sat) - RWA in Deer Valley, Utah: www.utahrwa.com/index.html
2013-02-23 Hi Jimmy, I'm afraid I have to bother you with this annoying question. I'm a new member and thank you for friending me, by the way! But I can't friend you back because I don't know how. How can I friend people here? :) Thank you so much!
Krissy
Reader
2012-11-15 Hi Jimmy, I was wondering if you were going to have more paranormal / dark themed covers with just you or you and a female soon?
Eilish Frazier
Author
2012-09-12 Hi Jimmy. Thank you for creating this beautiful site. I look forward to having more covers created with your fantastic stock. Have a great day!
Dawn Smith
Cover Artist
2012-08-31 Just had to tell you I love the new stock you have out! I can't wait to get a chance to use them. : ) Thank you for all your hard work and dedication! Missed this years Chandler event, but I'm setting next years in stone!
Virginia McKevitt
Author
2012-08-11 The site is growing by leaps and bounds Jimmy. Congratulations, waiting on my cover for book two now. I know it will compliment Fracture perfectly, Virginia
Dora McAlpin
Author
2012-08-05
Jimmy,
I'm looking forward to seeing more details about the Virginia Beach event!
Hoping I can find out in time to register.
Dora
Taabia
Author
2012-07-24 I just read your My Blog, and wow, that's busy. Love the site as you know and I am looking forward to seeing what's the newest big project. Looking forward to that book of yours. Keep doing what you do, because you do it well.
T~
Erotic Book Trailers
Trailer Producer
2012-07-17 What a stellar idea! Thank you so much for putting together what is sure to be a valuable resource for writers, publishers, models, cover artists, trailer producers and anyone else in the romance community.
Gynger Fyer
Author
2012-07-05 Hello Jimmy,
Awesome site! Thanks for providing nearly all of the tools for a writer to be successful. The only thing I have to provide is my own talent and ambition. It doesn't get any easier than that. You Rock!
~Gynger Fyer
E.W. Walsh
Author
2012-06-20 Jimmy,
Thank you for creating this incredible site! I am excited to see the new store portion in the works!
E~
Trixie Vardon
Aspiring Author
2012-06-17 Hello Jimmy,
I just wanted to give you a big THANK YOU so much for setting up this too perfect website for all of us. Joining the site has proved motivational for me, and has provided me with the impetuousity required to finally finish, and more importantly, publish my first novel.
Thank you once again,
Kindest regards,
Trixie.
PS Love your cover art.
Jane Pillatzke
Author
2012-06-07 Epic cover Jimmy! Love it, detail and pic!
Jax Turyna
Model
2012-05-09 Hey finally made a profile :) thanks for letting me know about the amazing site!
Samantha Lovern
Aspiring Author
2012-05-08 Hey Jimmy Great site. You are a busy man. Thanks for taking time out for the Indie Authors. You really do take a great picture. :) Is there somewhere that you post facts or images we can borrow if we want to blog about you or advertise for you.. :)
Samantha Lovern Romance Author
Jane Pillatzke
Author
2012-04-29 I made it! Thank you kindly for your invitation, this website is extraordinary in it's mass of knowledge for authors, publishers, models, readers and everything in between and then some!! I'm cutting my teeth for the next wee while, as I grow accoustomed you will no doubt from me more. :-)
Cindal rushford
Aspiring Author
2012-04-19 Jimmy thank you for the invitation. You are great. Love the covers you have done and look forward to knowing you better. :) thanks again.
Krissy
Reader
2012-04-19 Hi Jimmy thank you for inviting me to your site!! It looks wonderful!! :)
Kristie Leigh Maguire
Author
2012-04-17 This is shaping up to be a fabulous site for romance novel lovers. Thank you so much for doing this, Jimmy!
Wendy
Novel Reviewer
2012-04-07 WOW What an AWESOME Site! Thank you for creating it. You ROCK!
Hywela Lyn
Author
2012-04-03 Thanks so much for setting this up - its such a wonderful facility. ?I've been a fan of yours for so log, and I can''t wait to have your picture on the cover of my next book!
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