Statistics prove that the cover of a book is the most influential element in determining sales. An author can have the most intriguing story of the year, but if the cover doesn't attract people's attention that book will just end up sitting on the shelf.

Read what authors and other people in the romance novel industry have to say about Andrei Claude

Andrei Claude Wins Mr. Romance

On April 30, 2005 the Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine held it's 22nd Annual Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant in Saint Louis, Missouri USA. The Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine holds exclusive rights to the Mr.Romance title. This is in fact the Mr. Romance International pageant, which is open to aspiring cover models worldwide. All other pageants, contests or television shows held on a national level or otherwise, bearing the name Mr. Romance would need to be sanctioned by the Romantic Times Book Club who exclusively owns all the rights over this title.

The winner of this Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant was the European International Male Model Andrei Claude, followed by Ryan Williams who was the first runner up and Mark Patton who was awarded second runner up of this pageant.

This whole event was exciting, and turned out to be also very entertaining. The cover model contestants were required to perform in three separate segments. The first was a Question & Answer, here each contestant was asked to pick a random question which he would have to answer in front of the entire audience. Each question was obviously related to Romance, and at this point the contestants were being judged on their reply. The judges were looking for an honest answer, which would reflect the character of each contestant.

The second segment was called Describe Your Ideal Date. Here the contestants were dressed up in date/formal wear, and would have to walk the stage while a voiceover described their ideal date. Each contestant was required to submit Their Ideal Date in writing prior to the pageant.

The last but not least was the Pose Down. As the name implies this segment was all about posing, showing character, charisma and style. In most people's eyes this was the actual pageant, and it was from this segment of the show that the winner would really be determined.The reason this last segment was of such high importance to both the contestants and judges, was because the poses each cover model was required to perform were what most would describe as romance novel book cover poses. So here the judges and the audience would have a chance to really evaluate how good each contestant looks in the various poses, as well as how confident they are and look while performing such poses. The dress code here wasn't too complicated... just a pair of black pants. The contestants performed this segment shirtless, just the way it would probably be while shooting a romance novel book cover. At this point I would imagine that the physical shape each contestant was in would probably influence the judges in a way as well. The pose down round was carried out as follows.

Three female models would be already positioned onstage as each cover model contestant walks in. Every contestant would have to then perform a different pose with each of the three female models onstage while the music was being played in the background and the audience cheered along. This segment was without a doubt now the climax of the pageant. Most of the contestants seemed to be having a great time onstage, and the audience just couldn't get enough. Needless to say the atmosphere was getting pretty wild at this point. As the contestants would exit the stage, following their pose down round and still shirtless they would interact with fans in the crowd who at this point were really clicking away at their cameras.

As the last contestant concluded his pose down and approached backstage, all the cover model pageant contestants were called back onstage. Lined up at the back of the stage the winners were announced second runner up, first runner up, and finally Mr. Romance 2005. The evening was still not completely over. Fans, journalists, authors, readers and publishers approached the stage to take pictures and interact with the cover model contestants. Interviews were being filmed and pictures were taken for next hour or so.