Rowena Cherry - Knight's Fork | Insufficient Mating Material | Forced Mate | Mating Net - Racy, Wildly Entertaining Futuristic Romance

Thank you, Jimmy Thomas for granting this opportunity to interview you.

RC: You have a very impressive resume: TV, film, commercials, print work, romance novel covers, magazines, catalogues, and more.

If one aspect of your varied career in the public eye stands out in your mind as more enjoyable, which is it? and why do you think you excelled at it?

Or, what was it about that activity that was more fun or more rewarding or less frustrating than the others?

JT: Thank you! All my careers have rewarded me in many ways. It would be hard to pick one that would stand out. There are things about each one that I enjoy or am passionate about, which is why I continue to do them all. However, my most passionate things are anything involving martial arts and movie-making.

RC: On your website you mentioned a "dance off" competition against a Jamaican ten-man team. What is a "dance off" team? And, do you feel it is true that some people are genetically programmed to be better at certain activities? If not, what--in your opinion-- is it that makes one person more athletic or a better dancer than another ?

JT: I was invited for that dance-off contest, but I chose not to attend. I had other things going on at that time. However, other competitions I have been in that involved dance skills, such as "Hit The Beach" in Jamaica were more fun than a competition. As for having dancing rhythm/talent genetically, I wouldn't say that at all. My brother was completely into heavy metal and couldn't dance for the life of him until I took him out to clubs with me and showed him how. It just took enough watching and trying for himself to learn how to dance, which is how I taught myself. Almost anything just takes practice.

RC: What is it like to be a male performer in an elite male review group? What does a male review entertainer do? What do you look at while performing? What do you think about? Is there anything you do NOT think about?

JT: Performing in a male revue group was very hard at first. Believe it or not, I'm a fairly shy person so I had to quickly get over my shyness. Male Revue Entertainers are male strippers basically. However, the difference between male & female strippers is that male revues are more about the act/entertainment than the stripping. Your clothes stay on almost the entire act until the very end where you strip down to your undies. It's the show itself that you put on that is the entertainment. As for what I look at, that all depends on the stage. Sometimes the lights are so bright that you can't see anyone in front of you. When I can, I just look at all the ladies in the crowd and give them a smile. What I think about is my routine so I don't mess up, lol.

RC: Are you still an Architect?

How do you reconcile the demands of two careers?

Do homeowners who seek your architectural services know about your fitness services? Have you ever had someone in the gym do a double take or vice versa?

JT: Yes, I still do architectural work. I subcontract myself with various architectural firms in Los Angeles and Florida. I'm currently working on a new, ecological designed home in the mountains in Hawaii, a renovation of a Synagogue and a shopping plaza in Beverly Hills, a rebuild of a home in Glendale Hills, and a 7,000 square foot add-on and indoor pool to an existing home in Los Angeles. My time is my own, so it's easy for me to manage it all to get all my work done and still have plenty of time for my other careers and for myself. I have yet to run into a customer/client at the gym, that I've done architectural work for though..

RC: What is an "Extreme Bartender" ? Is it anything like the Tom Cruise movie "Cocktail"?

JT: Yes, it is very similar to Tom Cruise in "Cocktail", only more entertaining and more sexy! Us male Bartenders would only wear cut-off jean shorts and boots, and our bodies would be oiled down, while the female Bartenders would wear string bikinis! We would do various dance/parody acts on stage and on our bars, of old and new music groups/songs. We'd do strip acts, give body shots on the bar, and put on all sorts of fun and sexy shows for entertainment. While bartending we'd flare with bottles, blow fire, light-up fancy shots, etc. It was a BLAST!

RC: How long did Extreme Bartending last? How long did you enjoy doing it, and at what point did it cease to be fun?

JT: I was in Europe doing Extreme Bartending for about 2 years. I enjoyed every night of it. It never ceased to be fun. Well maybe when the uptight co-owner worked. He was too strict and killed a lot of the fun on those nights. Although we still found ways around his watchful eye ;)

RC: In your biography, you mention that your tour took you all over Europe and Egypt . Were there any venues that made you nervous or where you felt in danger of any kind? Or were you--as a muscular gentleman-- treated with respect and decorum at all times all over the world?

JT: Nervous? Not at all. In fact, in Egypt everyone called me "Rambo", lol. Kids were following me and asking me to flex all the time. It was weird though seeing military all over the roads in Egypt standing behind small, metal barricades with machine guns in their hands, as if they were about to use them at any time. It was such an experience to travel around Egypt and Europe . It was great to see things that most only see in text books (Amsterdam, Den Haag, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, San Marco Square, ride a Gondola, the Coliseum, the Vatican, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the French Riviera, the beaches of Barcelona, Gran Canaria Islands, The Great Pyramids, Valley of the Dead, scuba diving in the Red Sea). I'd like to tour Asia next.

RC:Among your many physical interests you mention Construction. Is that a reference to your Architectural training, or do you build things for fun or profit?

JT: My father had always been in carpentry. I worked with him building houses and installing swimming pools for his construction company ever since I could swing a hammer. I took wood-working and drafting in high school, and followed that trade through college. Since then I've remodeled many homes, including my own in Florida , and was a Senior Designer for Florida 's largest Architect Firm for 4 years. I had always wanted my own office, suit & tie job. Then once I had it, I realized that it wasn't for me. It was keeping me down. I do miss framing and roofing though, so I build things for my mother at her house when I visit her.

RC: an you give me some insights into what happens during a cover shoot... how long it takes, what the poses feel like... whether "clinch" poses are enjoyable for the models.

JT: I have shot with over 50 female Models in various, romantic poses. All poses are fun for me. It's just like acting. Whatever the shot calls for, you play it out through your body language and expressions. I always get a bunch of great shots with each shoot, even if the female is new to it. My comfort with posing quickly relaxes the Models I work with.

RC: Is there a story behind how you were "discovered"? Or is yours a story of personal persistence and drive?

JT: Completely of personal persistence and drive! I'm a very driven, motivated, and competitive person. I go after what I want and I get it ;) Unfortunately I take on so many things that interest me, which starts to slow down my progress of each endeavor.

RC: How much of your success do you attribute to your interest in martial arts?

JT: Soon to be 90%! I'm coming out with a new fitness concept as we speak. It's similar to Tae-Bo, but a much more sensible and efficient system. You'll see me on Oprah soon ;)

RC: What is the difference between Kenpo Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan, and Jiu-jitsu?

JT: Kenpo is self defense. Taking someone's offensive attack and using it right into a defense technique rendering them defeated. Tae Kwon Do is a sport karate, mostly fancy, high flying kicks, not very realistic for defense. Shotokan is a strict form with straight, squared movements. Jiu-jitsu is very fluid and affective. It involves a lot of wrist locks, arm bars, leg locks, and grappling on the floor. Kenpo is my ultimate favorite. It doesn't favor one thing over another. It uses all vices to defend and attack.

And, for a romance novelist who needs a stylish fight scene, which school of martial arts would you recommend? And why?

JT: Schools all vary on the Instructors and methods of instruction. Kenpo or Kung Fu would be my suggestions though.

RC: If an author wanted to send you a fight scene for your professional and expert input on whether or not she had properly described authentic moves, would you be willing to act as a paid consultant? If so, how would an author contact you?

JT: Of course. As I said, my passions are martial arts and movie-making. I recently choreographed fight scenes for two short films that I was in. I can always be reached at my website.

RC: Your biography suggests that you offer personal training services. Where can ladies and gentlemen in need of a personal trainer find your rates? Or do you work through a fitness club?

JT: My rates vary on how many days a week I'd be training you, or if you were only looking for a few sessions if you're a quick learner. I love training those that really want improvements, so I work with clients' budgets so that they can meet their goal. I'm not in it for the money so my rates are low. I freelance my training services, I don't work at a club.

RC: Which is your favorite photograph of yourself, and why?

JT: Probably the one in the white dress shirt where I'm smiling. It represents me most I'm told.

RC:Will you be at the Romantic Times conference in Daytona next spring? If not, when are you making public appearances in 2006? Where can your admirers go to find out more about you?

JT: Most likely I will be there, I'm planning on it at least, unless something comes up. I'll be re-doing my website shortly, which will have more up to date events on it.

RC: Is there anything I have not asked that you would like to mention?

JT: Well, I recently got married ( October 30th, 2005 ) and would love to shoot a romance cover with my wife. She's Persian and is very exotic looking with all the right curves for a cover Model. She's a Model as well and we work a lot together. We recently starred in a music video together, a Malibu restaurant commercial, and various stock photo shoots. Those will all be on my new site as well.

RC: Thank you very much for a wonderful interview, Jimmy Thomas.

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