An Interview with Leland Burbank
and Leslie Metcalf

Your biographies list an amazing amount of activities that you both enjoy and are involved in – from Renaissance Fairs to charity organizations. Who takes care of the time management, scheduling and keeps it all straight?

Leland: I’ d have to say that Leslie is usually the one who stays on top of bookings, conventions, appearances, etc.

When the phone rings and you agree to a shoot for a romance novel cover, what happens next?

Leland: We determine what will need to be done to fit the cover.

Leslie: We find out what the time period is, what color hair the heroine has and if I can get away with my regular color, or will I need to bring a wig. Is Leland’s hair long or short in the picture, etc. We really try to get as much information as possible about what is expected of us so we don’t waste anyone’ s time. If we are lucky we can get in touch with the author and try to get their input, but sometimes the photographer/illustrator doesn’t know who that is. We can also supply our own costumes if needed.
And of course after the book comes out we buy it!

Leland: And my mom buys it, and then her friends, and their friends, and so on..

Can an author request you as cover models, or is it the decision of the publisher?

Leslie: It depends. Sometimes if an author has serious clout at their publisher they can request us, or if the publishing house is a small press or electronic they are a lot better off at being able to request us. Otherwise we simply get a call to appear and have no idea who the cover will be for.

Leland: Which I’ve always thought was really strange, because why wouldn’ t you want the author involved in the approval of the cover. They wrote the book. Who better then the author to determine how the cover should look?

Both: And we promote the heck out of ANY book we are on. We do local signings, make appearances with the author if possible, etc. to help generate even more sales. It’d be great if more publishers let authors determine the look of the book.

Are there any covers you dread getting asked to do? Or any you’ve been uncomfortable doing?

Both: Haven’t quite gotten a good feel for the erotica stuff. We don’t really do the whole bodice ripping, chest baring thing. We’d like to project a romantic feel rather than a sexual feel.

Leland: I can say wearing nothing more than a pair of huge black wings and a scrap of leather over my, well you get the picture, was certainly a challenge!

Leslie: We were trying for a more fantasy look, a different genre entirely. It left us both thinking we’d prefer a little more clothing! But the end result may wind up getting us an appearance in a comic book, so it wasn’t all for nothing.

How particular do you have to be about costuming and make up? There seem to be many changes between the photo shoot and the final cover...(Leslie, why do people keep making a gorgeous blonde like you into a brunette?)

Leslie(smiling): I’d like to know the answer to that myself. That’ s why I determined my first heroine would be a blonde. I had every intention of being on the cover of To Tame A Viking. Thank God Echelon Press didn’t think I was crazy!

Leland: The whole shoot and the look of it depends on the photographer and what type of media they working with. If it is digital then there is more flexibility in what we actually appear as and what the end result is, but often in more traditional techniques, the photographer/illustrator expect you to pretty much look like the character without wearing a wig, etc.

Leslie: It’ s why we do historicals and have no contemporaries yet, because most people see Leland’s long hair and don’t want to shoot him and make his hair shorter. Strange when you consider how often John DeSalvo’ s hair color and length change! This all depends entirely on the person behind the camera and what they prefer.

Are you allowed any input into the photo?

Leland: Again it depends on the person behind the camera. We work with a few people here in Chicago that have known us for some time and know that we actually read the books and know what the end result should look and feel like. They let us have input and appreciate it. At other times you just show up and do what you’re told.

What is the hardest part of a cover model’s day on the shoot?

Both: Muscle cramps! Your body will lock up and often times the best photo is really one where you were snapping in two!

Leslie: Oh and can I say usually it’ s the woman who has to wrap herself around the man, which causes you to really get creative with your muscles!

Leland: Having the opportunity to work with the one you love.

Leslie: I’d have to agree. I could stare into his blue eyes for a lifetime!

Because you know each other so well, do you think that some of your relationship comes through into the photo?

Both: Definitely. At least we think it does. What could be more romantic than two people truly in love, right?

Leslie: Personally I love working with Leland because I can just be me. He doesn’ t have to worry about me either. Often we wind up giggling like little kids over something, sometimes just a look from the other person. Again we may not be conveying the passionate stuff, but I think we’ve got the love thing down!

About how long does it take to shoot a romance novel cover photo?

Leland: Most of the ones we’ ve been on have wrapped up in and hour or less. These photographers are professionals and don’t waste time. We are expected to show up and be ready pretty quickly.

Have either of you done individual covers or have you always appeared together?

Leslie: We’ve always appeared together as a ‘cover couple’ . We have fun doing this together. It’s funny when we look back because originally the intent was to have Leland move down this path, but things didn’t take off until I was talked into working with him. All the covers we’ ve done are together, though sometimes people don’t always recognize me.

Leland: I don’t think I’d be doing this if not with Leslie.

Why do you both find the Renaissance period so appealing? Is it more romantic than, say, colonial times, or the old west?

Leslie: Historically and in factual terms none of it is appealing, I’d say appalling is probably a better word. Death, disease and all that good stuff. But in terms of historical fantasy I find the concept of the Medieval era, of noble men, knights and castles very attractive. Of course my heroines don’t always wait for Prince Charming..

Leland: I come to it from a historical perspective with regards to weaponry and swordsmanship. I’m fascinated by the swords and other weapons and learning the techniques of wielding them.

I understand you both enjoy creating costumes? Can you tell us about that?

Both: We each actually went to college for a Fashion Design major! Of course we didn’t know each other then.

Leslie: It’ s great because I can design the costume, pick out the fabric and do the trimming. Leland is great at sewing. He can design a pattern from nothing but a piece of paper. There’ s a costume he wears that is made out of a deep red velvet trimmed in gold. The first year I asked him to attend RT as the hero from one of my (at the time unpublished) novels and to my surprise he said sure. I told him it was a knight and explained the crest on the costume and he surprised me at the convention with a perfect replica. I couldn’t believe it, he had made it all himself!
Unfortunately the costuming has taken a back seat for the moment.

Leland, I read that you are very close to attaining the title of “Master Fighter” – will you be completing this program soon, and if so will that mean you’ll be stepping back from cover modeling and into different fields?

Leland: My goal is to become a Fight Director or Fight Master which is a designation given by the S.A.F.D. or Society of American Fight Directors. The organization teaches swordsmanship and safety with regard to a variety of weapons used on stage and on screen. I want to be able to teach others and of course the opportunity to choreograph a fight scene or battle scene in a movie wouldn’t be too bad either. (laughing)

Leslie, your book To Tame A Viking is getting splendid reviews – congratulations! (Read our review of Leslie's book - click here.) Do you foresee a time when other activities take a back seat to your writing? And do you have a book in the works at the moment?

Leslie: Thank you so much. I actually still have trouble believing the review was about my book!! Oh I think quite a few things have taken a back seat lately. I am working on two projects at the moment. The second installment in the Lord & Lady novella duet series through Echelon Press, which deals with mermen and mermaids. It’ s called Secrets of the Sea. I’m also working on my first full length novel which though a historical, deals with vampires and it actually spins off a series.
And then there are those Dollar Downloads at Echelon. Fast, fun short stories. I hope to continue putting up a few of those now and then.

I know you have a trip to Scotland coming up – have you done or would you consider any international cover model assignments? (And will we see Leland in kilt and sporran on the cover of a future novel?)

Both: We have actually been asked to attend a romance convention in Germany next year so we are up for an international assignment.

Leslie: Um, as for the kilt thingy… Leland will be wearing one in Scotland at our wedding at Brodie Castle in Inverness.

Leland: Yeah, how exactly did I get talked into that again?

For those who may not know, Leslie and Leland are planning to marry while in Scotland. On behalf of A Romance Review and all its readers who are devoted fans of yours, I’d like to offer my congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful romance-filled future... How long will you be abroad, and will you be going anywhere else in Europe?

Both: Thank you so much. The people involved in the romance industry as a whole, readers, authors, models, have all been wonderfully supportive and we just want to say thank you.
We’ll be overseas this time for about two weeks. We originally intended to go on to Ireland, but we don’t have the time. We’ll be back though.

And for those of us who’d like to offer our congratulations in person, do you have any appearances scheduled for later on this year?

Leland: We’ll be appearing on April 15th locally here in Chicago at Robert Smith’s book-signing for Immoral Authority which we hear is just getting rave reviews. Authors Pamela Johnson and Alexis Hart will be there as well. After that we’re not sure yet. Of course RT in Reno.

Leslie: Probably more locally during the summer, as I’ll have a few book signings then.

Given the experience you both have in the field, have you ever considered the possibility of opening your own cover model agency?

Both: Actually we have. We know so many great people that would be perfect for any number of covers. But the problem is that there isn’t much work here in Chicago. There are a few illustrators, Fortin & Sanders (did the To Tame A Viking cover) but the work is few and far between. Ideally if we were to open an agency, it’d be in New York.

Leland: Or maybe we’ ll bring the cover industry to Chicago. With all the technical advances these days why should one have to go to New York for a cover?

I understand you work from your home base in Illinois, do you have to travel for your cover assignments – to New York, for example, or are there studios nearer home?

Leslie: As we mentioned before one of the best teams out there is located near us. Fortin & Sanders. There are a few others who do work for some of the publishers but the bulk of the business is in New York. We travel there if we have to.

Any advice for guys or girls who would like to make a career out of cover modeling?

Both: At this time, if you seriously want to get involved in the industry, you should be living in New York, unless you can start working with a smaller press near you. Contact the offices of Romantic Times Magazine. The ladies there are great and will help with contacts if they can. Also it doesn’t hurt to attend the RT Annual Booklovers Convention and enter the Cover Model or Costume Pageant to get a feel for the industry.

Leslie: Oh, and read at least one romance novel before you start out. (said with a smile!)

We can’t finish this interview without a mention of your “Hugs with a Heart” charity teddy bear program – can you tell us a little something about it? And where we can go to help?

Leslie: We started Hugs with a Heart over a year ago as a way to give back to the world for all the good fortune we’ve been lucky enough to receive over the years. Hugs, collects NEW 12” or larger teddy bears and then distributes them to needy organizations around the world. We worked with the U.S. Army for the children of Kosovo recently and Mercy Corps. for the children of New York City.
In February we participated in an annual All for Love event locally and fans of the romance genre donated over 400 bears!

Leland: If anyone wants to participate they simply send us a bear. They can mail a NEW 12” or larger bear to W.Burbank at 27825 N. Forest Garden Rd., Wauconda, IL 60084. We collect the bears year round and send them out as requested by organizations. For updates you can go to Leslie’s website www.leslieburbank.com.

Thanks so much Leslie and Leland, it’ s been an honor to be able to ask you about the fascinating world of cover modeling – there probably isn’t a romance reader out there who hasn’ t dreamed of someday being on the cover of a novel in a wonderful gown with her own romantic hero holding her close! We appreciate your letting us take a peek into what it’ s really like, and we also want to wish you both much happiness and success in the future, not only with your covers, but in all the other areas of your lives together! I have a feeling that if we were to nominate a “Mr. and Mrs. Romance” you guys would set the standard! Thanks again.

Please watch for a special feature on Leslie Burbank the author, when she appears as our New Voice of Today in a couple of months’ time, and click on the shield below to visit Leslie's website.

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Submitted by Celia and Debbie, April 2002