Name R.E. Hargrave
Age Old enough to know better 😉
Where are you from
Born in Reno, Nevada, raised primarily between California and South Carolina, with a few other states tossed in, I’m now in Texas raising my own three children with the help of my high school sweetheart.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
The first book in my BDSM Erotica trilogy, To Serve is Divine, is now available in audio format. The next two in the series are in production, and a final boxset with a possible surprise is planned to wrap it all up.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When the first reader reached out to me and thanked me for my words.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
My first official book was Sugar & Spice. It’s a short story, about twenty thousand words, and it’s family friendly. Because it was going to be my first book, I wanted it to be something my kids could pick up and read, too. Obviously I wasn’t going to let that happen with the erotica, so I penned this sweet tale using my then nine-year-old as my inspiration for the little girl in the story. My daughter also got to be my first pre-reader on the story, so there’s a special memory there for us. She considers it her book. LOL.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
Probably? LOL
For longer stories I tend to gravitate to writing in third person, while my short stories are more likely to be first. I am a slow writer as I’m particular with my word choices and have a hard time word-vomiting onto a piece of paper. I tend to edit myself as I write which puts an anchor on the process.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
To a submissive, “serving” is everything. It’s what we thrive on, live for… yearn for. In a word, it’s Divine.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
The BDSM Lifestyle is a beautiful thing that is often misunderstood. There is a kink for everyone. While one thing might not be your cup of tea, it could be another’s, and that’s okay… as long as it’s consensual. Don’t judge. Be open to new things, learn to communicate with your partner(s), and have fun while being safe. #LongLiveKink
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic, and are experiences based on someone you know or events in your own life?
I tried to make the story very realistic, and eye-opening. Multiple facets of the BDSM lifestyle are incorporated, from objectification to pony play to the importance of aftercare, and are based on my own personal experiences and those of others in the lifestyle whom I’ve spoken too.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life? Do you have a mentor?
Stephen King
Laurell K. Hamilton
Anne Rice
These are the writing powerhouses (of the more mature variety) who won my heart with their stories and styles. So much detail. So much greatness.
Fiona: Are there any new authors who have grasped your interest? Who is your favorite author, and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
As an Indie author myself, I’m going to keep this answer to Indies. Lesser known authors to keep an eye on:
Lucy Lit (http://amzn.to/249zi6j) can weave a sensual Southern tale that will keep you turning the pages.
M B Feeney (http://amzn.to/1sRLPQH) is one of my favorite UK authors. Her ability to pull you in with witty dialogue is incredible. Not over the top sexy, but spicy enough to keep you interested. Oh, and she may have a thing for writing in US Southern boys.
Lorenz Font (http://amzn.to/1TGZKkQ) Oh, my gosh, this woman can write a tale! Dipping into one of her many novels is always an adventure that will be jam-packed with action, twists, and romance.
Not an easy call to make, but if I had to narrow down and choose only one Indie author who I would read regardless of the summary because I just KNOW she’s that good: Amber L. Johnson (http://amzn.to/20H0FUu)
Fiona: Name one entity who you feel supported you outside of family members.
Easy. My cover designer, an author herself, happens to also be my best friend. We found each other through Twilight fanfiction several years back and have continued to grow from there. She handles the graphics, I handle the editing. #Teamwork
J.C. Clarke is phenomenal if you are needing any kind of graphics done (including template design event banners, mugs, tees, etc.) at a price you can afford. Look her up if you’re so inclined: The Graphics Shed on etsy: http://ow.ly/ZgoM3
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
I’m trying to. Somedays are a real struggle and I wonder if I’m spinning my wheels on a glorified hobby. You know these days. The ones where you get a less than nice review, or the little sale indicator on your kdp dashboard doesn’t blip up even once. However, you shake it off and keep going. My “day job” is as a freelance editor, so the writing comes wherever I can work it in, but whether I write new words or edit someone else’s, I try to give my business the attention it needs everyday through pimping and social media presence. Alas, the days of the reclusive author are coming to an end. If you want to make it in the Indie ocean, you have to jump in and swim. And keep swimming.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
My latest release is actually my first foray into the horror genre. It’s a short story, clocking in at about 7500 words, but it’s detailed and gory. This is the second version of it, so I’d have to say I made the changes I wanted to do before I published it. As of right now, SLOTS is exclusive to The Edge of Madness boxset (only 99c! for 15 stories).
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
As far back as grade school I would play around with poems, and once I even did a co-authored story with a friend. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that I decided to pick up a pen and really try to create a full story from start to finish. What came of that was my former fanfiction known as To Serve is Divine. That story became book two of the Divine Trilogy, A Divine Life, while I recycled the fanfic title once the first book was written. In my overhaul for publication, it went from a story covering two days, to a full blown saga spanning about five years and topping out around 260,000 words.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I’ve got two short stories I’m trying to finish and polish for boxset publication this year, No Reservations and Austin Ink. Both fall into the erotic category and are going to be a little wild.
Here’s an unedited excerpt from No Reservations
I lifted the goblet up in cheers and then brought it to my lips, where I paused. No alcohol had been in my system for over a year—not since we’d started trying to conceive.
Dakota’s arm slipped around my waist while he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Here’s to letting go.”
Turning my head, I raised my dark eyes up to his face, needing to be sure we were on the same page. “Daks?”
“It’s fine, Lena. One weekend, a few drinks. What could it hurt? I think we both need to shut off all concerns this weekend and enjoy ourselves.”
“Listen to your boy, beautiful, he knows what he’s talking about.” Trin hustled over and nudged her body between ours then wrapped her arms around our necks. “Here’s to enjoying ourselves.” She pulled the arm draped around my neck in toward her mouth to sip the rosy libation in her hand.
We all drank to her toast, and then she planted a kiss on my mouth—much to my surprise. Joey whistled and Dakota spluttered, sending the gulp of Riesling he’d just taken back into his glass and all over his hand. I gave a half-hearted laugh with an innocent shrug. Had to love Trinity and her spontaneity.
“Joey, baby, why don’t you take Daks out to the garage and show him your new bike? Let Selena and me get in some girl talk and have a chance to catch up,” Trinity urged.
“Sure thing, babe. Come on, D.” Joey tipped his wine glass up and drained it, Dakota following suit. “Got some beer out there, too. We’ll leave the fruit punch to the women.”
Dakota laughed and Trinity rolled her eyes. “Hardy-har-har.” Like the grown up she was Trinity stuck her tongue out at Joey then grabbed my hand and began dragging me to the living room.
We plopped down on the sleek, brown leather sofa and set to chatting. It wasn’t until I was on my third glass of wine that Trinity revealed her true intentions for the weekend and told me why they’d really left Ireland.
“So, we were at this little pub, and this smoking hot redhead came up and started dancing behind me at the bar. Joey noticed her first. He kept looking over my shoulder until I turned around to see what was distracting him. Jesus, Selena, the eyes on that chick were incredible, like Joey’s. You know I’ve got a thing for green eyes.”
I chuckled at her vibrant storytelling, and nibbled another wedge of a buttery cheese with a creamy texture.
“Anyways, I looked from her back to Joey, and holy shit the look in his gorgeous greens—”
“Are you about to tell me the two of you took this girl back to your hotel?” I butted in, and she laughed.
“No. Not that the thought didn’t cross my mind. We did settle our tab so we could get out of there. We ended up screwing down in an alley because we were both too turned on to make it back to the hotel.”
“Wow, Trin. Of course, you did always like playing with fire so I guess I can’t be too shocked,” I teased her while giggling. A hiccup escaped.
“Don’t you know it, beautiful?” She brought her bare foot up from the floor to rub it along my calf.
© 2016 R.E. Hargrave, No Reservations
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Dialogue. I don’t talk much and am often more of an observer working things out in my head, and I guess that spills over into my writing. I have to push myself to make my characters more outgoing and less like me.
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I’m just starting to branch out more this year. I’ve finally gotten enough sales under my belt to warrant getting out into the public eye for signings and such, but it’s baby steps for now. Where you can catch me in 2016:
Deliciously Dirty in Dallas August 27
For details, or to guarantee copies: http://ow.ly/cv1W300CyMi
Deliciously Dirty in Phoenix September 24
For details, or to guarantee copies: http://ow.ly/M4PO300CyVH
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
J.C. Clarke of The Graphics Shed has done all of my covers with the exception of some of the anthologies and boxsets I’ve been in, and I adore her work!
The Graphics Shed etsy: http://ow.ly/ZgoM3
The Graphics Shed FB: http://ow.ly/ZgoWA
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Taking the time to make sure nothing I wrote would put a negative light on the BDSM community. My goal was to help enlighten, not add to the already wary perspective of kinksters.
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it?
You can’t please everybody.
On a sidenote, it’s been funny to see non-lifestylers call the book hardcore BDSM while those who live the lifestyle have called it a light romance. Goes to show you that it’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Fiona: If any of your books were made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
From the beginning, I’ve pictured Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman filling the roles of Catherine O’Chancey and Jayden Masterson in my BDSM trilogy.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
GET AN EDITOR. Please Do Not skip this step. Even if you’re an editor yourself. If there is any aspect of self-publishing that you want to put your money into, it’s editing. A quality cover is right up there as well, but while a cover can be overlooked, bad writing cannot. Also, for the sake of your editor, know that a full and thorough edit of a manuscript will likely take at least three months but could take longer depending on several factors such as quality of writing, the genre, and the length. Yes, you read that right. Three months. I’ve been approached by authors wanting to start an edit and publish in two weeks, and that’s not realistic.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
THANK YOU for all the years of continued support and amazing feedback you give through reviews or even just passing comments. Y’all make me want to keep doing this.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Unfortunately, none. I have Amber L. Johnson’s She Dims the Stars overdue in my queue, but when you’ve been editing all day long, reading at night isn’t exactly an unwind kind of thing. It’s difficult to turn off the editor and just enjoy the story, so I don’t tend to read unless I’m not actively editing a manuscript.
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
No. According to my parents, I was reading before I started school, though.
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
Oh, I’m a kneejerk crier. It really doesn’t take much to set me off. Laughing… well, let’s say I can be kind of twisted and the oddest things will set me off.
Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would like to meet, and why?
I’m so socially awkward it really isn’t funny. Public things send me near to anxiety attacks, so consciously thinking about going out and pursing a meeting with a famous person… does not happen.
(Please remember this if you ever come meet me at a signing. Odds are, I’m way more nervous than you, so come over and say hi! Make me engage. I don’t bite… unless asked to.)
Fiona: What do you want written on your headstone, and why?
She did it her way, and made it work.
Fiona: Other than writing, do you have any hobbies?
I cook. A lot. Things like pasta and bread get done from scratch around here. Check out my Instagram for pics! https://www.instagram.com/rehargrave/
I’m also in a collaborative cookbook you might be interested in for a variety of recipes (from amateur to advanced) along with personal stories from the authors about various real life kitchen disasters they’ve had. It’s only 99c on Kindle.
Cooking with The Crazy Lady Authors http://amzn.to/1KPzkum
I also sew, though that has taken a back burner to the whole writing endeavor so it’s been a few years since I made a quilt.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
We don’t have cable, just Netflix, so shows like The Walking Dead and Orange is the New Black are what we watch when it’s boob tube time.
Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Give me my good ‘ol down south comfort foods any day.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Office management and administration is what I’ve done in the past.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
www.rehargrave.com
About the Author:
International Best Selling Author R.E. Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX where she prides herself on being a domestic engineer. Married to her high school sweetheart, together they are raising three children. She is an avid reader, a sometimes quilter, and now, a writer. Other hobbies include gardening and a love of music. A native ‘mutt,’ Hargrave has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories—which range from the sweet to the paranormal to the erotic—on location in South Carolina and Texas, but it’s anybody’s guess as to what the genre will be!
Social Media Links
(I’ve hyperlinked each site name, but added the link in case the hyperlink doesn’t carry through):
Blog http://www.rehargrave.com/
Amazon Author Page
http://amzn.to/1UpLtfB
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/REHargrave
Twitter https://twitter.com/REHargrave
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6579501.R_E_Hargrave
Tsu https://www.tsu.co/rehargrave
Tumblr http://rehargrave.tumblr.com/
iAuthor http://www.iauthor.uk.com/profile/r-e-hargrave:7925
Wattpad http://www.wattpad.com/user/REHargrave
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/rehargrave/
Specific to The Divine Trilogy:
Facebook Divine Trilogy Page https://www.facebook.com/divinetrilogy
The Divine Trilogy blog http://rehargrave.wix.com/rehargrave
To buy SIGNED paperback copies from me directly: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-ksYYtDCM3xvtY2k0lBA6e7VwV_MUZ_7wPzN4SwjcdQ/viewform
To join my reader’s lounge on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/REsReadersLounge/
Current titles:
Anthologies
Cooking With The Crazy Lady Authors
Sensual Diversions (Feb 14, 2016; 90 day release only)
The Edge of Madness (March 1, 2016)
Novellas
Sugar & Spice
Haunted Raine
- Unchained Melody (ebook only)
The Food Critic
Fire Lust
Slots (in The Edge of Madness)
Novels (also in audio production for assorted 2016 releases)
To Serve is Divine (Bk 1 of The Divine Trilogy)
Catherine O’Chancey is a reserved, demure, and graceful submissive. All traits she trained hard to enhance when she discovered the world of Dominance and submission in college. In an attempt to start fresh after the unexpected death of her last Dom, Catherine moves to Dallas, TX to escape the shroud of darkness he left behind in her life. She has tried to fight the need that resides deep within her to submit, but finally has to admit she can’t for it is not a choice, but part of who she truly is. After months of mental preparation, she ventures back into the lifestyle by attending a coveted open-night event at Dungeons and Dreams, an exclusive BDSM club.
Is it fate or coincidence that Catherine garners the attention of one of the club’s board members who happens to be on the hunt for the perfect sub – a partner who enjoys receiving pain and pleasure as much as he enjoys doling it out?
Jayden Masterson is many things: a firm Dom, a shrewd businessman, and a gentleman. What he isn’t, is someone who partakes in relationships outside of contractual ones with his multiple, uncollared, regular submissives. While he likes rough sex, he is not an animal, and can find pleasure only if it is consensual. What his harem is missing is a pain slut; could there be one in his future?
Upon meeting Catherine, Jayden feels an instantaneous spark inside him that has him wanting to know not just her body, but her mind. He wants to unravel her mysteries and discover her secrets. Through pain can they find the pleasure they seek? Can part-time pain lovers find full-time fulfillment when it’s not in their contract?
***Trilogy contains explicit sexual content (including multiple partners and gender pairings) and mature situations which could be trigger-inducing for some readers. Not meant for underage readers. ***
A Divine Life (Bk 2 of The Divine Trilogy)
Over the past year of being Jayden Masterson’s collared submissive, Catherine O’Chancey has worked through the mental terrors left behind by her old Dom—she thinks. To celebrate their collaring anniversary, Jayden organizes a special day, during which her final limits and fantasies will be realized. Will it prove to be more than she can handle? Can she endure the erotic onslaught her mind and body will experience and survive unscathed?
While Catherine faces dark shadows and pleasurable highs, Jayden finds his own inner strength being tested. He has come to realize that, somewhere along the way, Catherine has taken possession of his heart, mind, and body. Now he faces his biggest challenge ever; he must let go of all his submissives but one: his jewel, Catherine. Can he leave his philandering ways behind? Has he made the ultimate mistake by putting his jewel into the hands of others?
Surreal (Bk 3 of The Divine Trilogy) — 2015 Golden Flogger Award Finalist
***2015 FINALIST for BDSM Writers Con Golden Flogger Award for Best BDSM Novel of the Year***
Catherine O’Chancey is a young submissive who has found her happily ever after, with a man far better than she’d ever dreamed.
Or has she? Is life that easy?
Jayden Masterson first opened his playroom to Catherine—a provocative Irish beauty with a penchant for pain—and then his heart to her everyday persona, Erin. For him, life has never been more perfect . . . Or more confusing.
He’s comfortable as a Dominant, but still finding his way as a lover and equal partner. Jayden is also learning that he can’t protect his jewel from everything—nor should he. Some battles she must fight on her own.
The travesties of Erin’s past still haunt her, and as the couple move forward in their merging relationship, they must now cope with the physical damage left behind by her abuser.
Catherine and her Master have a lot to learn—about each other, and about themselves. If Jayden and his jewel can overcome the challenges they’ll face on the next leg of their journey, their ending just might be . . . Surreal.
The Complete Divine Trilogy — All 3 BDSM novels in 1
An erotic read meant for adults, The Divine Trilogy is not your typical romance.
When you first meet Catherine and Jayden they aren’t looking for love at all. Catherine O’Chancey is a young submissive whose second Dom turned out to be an abusive fake. This is the story of her subsequent recovery and reentry into the BDSM lifestyle with the help of a new Dominant, Jayden Masterson. Come with me, and I’ll take you on the journey alongside Catherine and Jayden while their bond grows and deepens. It’ll be sexy and intense, but never fear, you get to be there to see the tender side of her new Dom as he helps her through her past tragedies.
The Divine Trilogy offers a different view of the BDSM world.
One that will enlighten readers and show them that those who live this Lifestyle often do so because it is a deep-seated need within their psyche, something that can’t be ignored. And that need is okay because, when practiced properly, BDSM is all about being Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Find within the pages a sampling of the different dynamics which can occur amongst kinksters. Everything from hardcore pain sluts to docile “littles” who want to be pampered and coddled, but the important thing to remember is that everyone has a place of acceptance, without judgement, in this Lifestyle.
Time and again reviewers have said they couldn’t put this book down . . . even when they don’t usually read this genre.