Exclusive Interview with Cover Model Jason
Aaron Baca
Meet Jason, the star of well over 100 romance
novel covers (and counting)!
Photo of Jason by Norman Sinanian
The Basics…
Hometown: Los
Gatos, California
Star sign: Libra
About Modeling…
Photo of Jason by Craig Williams
R: How long
have you been modeling?
J: I’ve been modeling since 1997. Modeling for
romance novels since 2009.
R: Wow, four
years of cover modeling and you’ve got a lot to show for it. Over 100 covers
and counting. Congratulations!
What’s your favorite thing about
being a cover model?
J: Well it is
really gratifying to be on these novels. When readers dive into these books
they build that character in their mind’s eye.
Then they look at the person on the cover. It’s almost as if I become
part of their dream. It is the most warming experience to think about.
R: Yes, I think
readers definitely associate the models on the covers of books with the heroes
within.
Do you have a least-favorite
thing about modeling?
Photo of Jason
and female model by Erwin Layaoen
J: When they crop my head off the cover. That’s
like staring in Star Wars and then people ask “well who’s your character?” and
you say “Chewy” L A
nice body opens doors, but a good looking face to go with it, tears off the
hinges! I want that exposed too!
R: I can
imagine that that would be frustrating!
Speaking of how you’re shown on
covers, do you have a favorite type of romance novel hero you enjoy portraying?
J: No I don’t.
I have never really been the same character twice. I guess you can say I’d love
to be a bad guy in one. But I would say
that I love being the good guy too. It’s not too often where they’ll put the
bad guy on the cover. Unless he’s doing something badly impressive.
R: Being the
bad guy – now that’s interesting. Readers might like the bad guy more if they
used a handsome model to portray him on the book cover like they do the heroes.
LOL
Do you have a favorite book cover
that you’ve appeared on? If so, what is it?
J: I have
several out that are my favorites. One that always seems to stick out in my
mind is by N.J. Walters titled Legacy Found. It’s really eye catching. Almost looks like it should be in an art
gallery for sale.
R: I looked up
the cover for Legacy Found and can
see why you like that one so much. I love covers that combine a scenic nature
background with a model in the foreground.
Now for the funny stuff… Do you
have any amusing stories about modeling / being a model? If so, we’d love to
hear!
J: Yes there
are a bunch of great stories. One time at band camp… haha… no it’s not that one.. J The main funny story was the time they had me
model out on a field where there was an old rusty tractor. Little did I know it
at the time but I was about to jump onto an active bee hive. So I climbed up on
the tractor and suddenly the buzzing came from under the hood… Out came a
billion bad bumble bee’s! Man we all ran so fast we could have been Bolt in the
Olympics!
R: I can
sympathize – I hate being near bees.
They always seem to be attracted to me over everyone else for some reason! It’s
a curse… LOL
And speaking of photo shoots, it
must take a lot of working out to stay in perfect shape for cover modeling –
what’s your workout routine like?
J: Well thanks.
We can always look better, be fitter. I strive to maintain a very healthy young
looking body. Through a rigorous early morning and evening workout I have
achieved this. I make sure to workout every single day that I’m alive for 1
hour. If its at my local health club I avoid conversation. People will often
come up to me and ask what I do for certain exercises. Usually I just tell them
to just watch me and mirror what I do that way I don’t have to have this big
drawn out talk.
R: Sounds like
a plan that’s been working out well for you. I’m so glad I don’t have to work
out early in the morning to be a romance writer. I don’t think I’d be very
productive. LOL
Photo of Jason
by Mark Jenkins
On
a more personal note…
R: What’s your
favorite book (to read)?
J: Tony
Robbins’ Unlimited Power & Arnold’s Fitness Encyclopedia.
R: Have you
ever read a romance novel?
J: Absolutely.
Quite a few actually!
R: That’s
awesome. I’ve always wondered if cover models ever get curious and read any of
the books they’re on.
What about movies – do you have a
favorite?
J: For crying
movies – “Terms Of Endearment” For Laughing movies “Dumb & Dumber” (1994)
for adventure movies – Gladiator, Rocky IV, & Clash of the Titans original.
R: The original Dumb & Dumber is one of my
favorite funny movies too. LOL I’ve been watching it since I was a kid. Love
Jim Carrey!
Do you have any hobbies?
J: Working Out,
Working Out & Working Out… And did I say Working Out?
R: I guess
that’s not surprising!
Do you play / participate in any
sports? If so, what are they?
J: Used to. I
played in high school and college baseball. Those days be gone forever… I should
just let em go…
R: Well, you
certainly look as if you’re in good enough shape to give any baseball player a
run for his money!
Besides modeling, what else are
you passionate about?
J: I’m
passionate about traveling and the great outdoors. I love animals and have a
soft spot for fluffy soft animals.
R: Animals – a
great thing to be passionate about! I know I and many of my readers feel the
same way.
What’s your idea of the perfect,
romantic date?
J: I’m the kind
of person that likes the simple things in life. I don’t like doing 7 things in
the day. I like to do 1. Decide… and then do it. If I had to choose one place,
it would be Maui!
R: Sounds like
a great location.
Tell us a fact about you that
we’d never guess!
J: That I saw a
UFO with my own two eyes back in 2008. Before that I never believed in that
sort of thing, but after seeing what I saw…. My perception about it all changed
significantly.
R: That’s my
favorite answer of the whole interview. I feel like I saved the best question
for last … well, second to last! LOL I’ve got one more…
The new year is almost here! What
are your plans and hopes for 2013?
J: I can’t
share ALL my goals but I can say that it will be a big year for me in 2013 with
the book covers. I can feel it and I can’t wait. I’m hungry for covers!
R: Sounds
great! I hope you find yourself on lots of stunning new covers in 2013. Thank
you very much for participating in this interview!
To see dozen
more photos of Jason, be sure to visit his website at…
* * * * *
On another note, today marks one week 'till the release of Battered Not Broken. Just one week! To celebrate, today I revealed the very first mini-excerpt I've shared anywhere...
FABULOUS interview Ranae and thanks for sharing your answers with us Jason. I definitely do envision the characters of a book based on the models on the cover. And I laughed about the head cropping - that would be like writing a book and having the author's name cut out. You're the face behind the body, as an author is the name behind the work.
ReplyDeleteRanae, I love that excerpt. Will be snapping up a copy on December 19th! :)
Thanks very much, Madeline.
DeleteAnd I thought the same thing about the head cropping - it would be just like an author writing a book and their name being removed from the cover!
I've already got a copy of Uncovered by Love on my kindle! I checked and it's already available for download in the US Kindle store. So excited to read it! :)