Model Spotlight: Matthew Hosea
Hearing we were going to have a model (and one of my favorite models) at Charm City Romanticon elicited one of those happy fangirl squeals I usually make fun of. And I am not even a little sorry for it. Because getting confirmation that Matthew Hosea was going to be at our event was pretty epic.
Now, realizing the only interaction I’ve ever had with Matthew was at another event (Knockout Bookbash) and I had very limited info on him beyond the fact that he is stunning, and kind, and adorable, and incredibly personable, I reached out to the authors bringing Matthew to CCR. So today’s blog comes courtesy of Kaylee Rose and Giulia Lagomarsino.
Enjoy!
Hey friends, this is Giulia Lagomarsino and Kaylee Rose. We are here to discuss the super fabulous cover model, Matthew Hosea. He is joining us at CCR, and as all attending authors and narrators have had their own spotlight, as the attending cover model, so will Matthew.
Michelle asked if I would write a guest blog post, and I’ll tell ya, Matthew is a super busy man. And Giulia and I are in crunch time. Trying to find time for a full interview was impossible, so I’ll give you what I can, and you’ll be able to find out the rest when you meet him on April 6th.
Matthew will be sitting on the panel with Giulia and me, so get your questions submitted. Of course, you can also ask him when you stop by our tables. Oh, and he’s planning to be there for the PJ party. Yes, I’ve reminded him that although I don’t think anyone will complain, he must wear PJ’s.
Below is a version (with some creative license using his bio) of what our conversation with Matthew would sound like. We didn’t dig as we’d rather you ask your own questions at CCR so you can see that adorable panty-melting smile for yourself.
Giulia and Kaylee: We know you were in the military. Can you tell us which branch?
Matthew: I was in the United States Navy - Security Forces.
Giulia: What are you up to now?
Matthew: I’m in my second year of a Computer Science / Cyber security degree.
Kaylee: Do you have anyone special in your life?
Matthew: The love of my life is my baby girl Corgi Foxy.
Kaylee: I love the pictures you take of her on your motorcycle.
Giulia: What makes you happy? Tell us something else about yourself.
Matthew: I live to be on two wheels and I like long walks on the beach with candle lit dinners.
Well, great. How can I continue this creative interview when now my brain is filled with an image of Matthew walking on the beach with the sun setting and Foxy lovingly looking up at him as their footprints trail behind them?
Giulia! Can we come up with a book around that and get a picture of it for a new cover?
Why and how did Giulia and Kaylee ask Matthew to join us at Charm City 2024?
I’ve followed Matthew for probably ten years and loved every cover that crossed my path. I have a few older covers in my collection. I never imagined publishing back then, let alone purchasing images for a cover or meeting him.
Giulia had just purchased another image of Matthew for a cover. Who knows which one? She has published several already and has a few more to come. She loves buying silly photos, including one of Matthew wearing a tutu for The Gutshot cover. The scene of him playing dress-up with his daughter is hilarious.
I purchased two exclusive images myself. One is for my Vegas Venom Series, where Matthew is holding a bat in a precarious position, and there is an extraordinary image of him holding the thin blue line flag. It’s an older picture of him and fits perfectly with my Weight of the Badge series. Both publications are TBD.
Our first personal interaction with Matthew was in March 2022. Matthew joined Giula and I for a live release day chat in her reader group, Giulia Lagomarsino’s Crazy Book Lady Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/GiuliaLagomarsinobooks/, to celebrate her release of Bad Beat.
To say we were both nervous was an understatement. Ever the professional, Matthew put us at ease and kept us in stitches. Let’s just say there was some talk of book research that shall never be mentioned again.
So that’s the setup. Let’s move forward but backward at the same time. (PRETEND A CLOUD OF SMOKE FILLS THE SCREEN SO WE CAN FLASHBACK TO OUR MEMORY.)
“Wouldn’t it be cool if Matthew came with us to Charm City?” I giggled at my outrageous suggestions. I don’t even have a book published by him yet. Giulia and I were on one of our many daily Facebook calls.
“Let’s do it! I’ll ask him now.” Giulia went silent for a few minutes while she typed on her keyboard. We didn’t disconnect the call; that's another thing we do regularly. We do a lot as if we are in the same space.
Knowing this was a pipedream, I went about my tasks. I wouldn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed when it didn’t come true.
“Okay, Matthew has to check his calendar, but said he’s in.” Her casual tone surprises me. This is a big deal. This is her first and will be my third signing and we’re bringing a cover model. A model who readers love and is gracing a ton of her covers.
“Holy Schmoly! Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Matthew said he’ll be there with us and we can work out everything later.”
And with that, Matthew Hosea was signed up to attend Charm City with two shy authors who really don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into.
Want to follow Matthew on social media? You’ll find him here:
Personal Profile: Facebook
Model Profile: Facebook
