E.J. Babcock, Aspiring Writer: R.E. Hargrave

I hope you guys/ gals are ready for this. I was so happy when this next author said yes. I know I say that a lot but it's true. So I am in the red my guest is in black.

1) Can you please introduce yourself to everyone?

Hi I am R.E. Hargrave, I live on the outskirts of Dallas, TX where I prides myself on being a domestic engineer. I married to my high school sweetheart, together we are raising three children from elementary age to college age. I am an avid reader, a sometimes quilter and now, a writer. My other hobbies include gardening and a love of a music. A native 'mutt,' Hargrave has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. I am fond of setting my 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!

You can find me on my blog: http://www.rehargrave.com/
On Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1vY1kCw
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/REHargrave

2) Would you like to share any work you have done or doing? (Teaser's and book's on bottom of this blog)

To date, my published works include four novellas and two novels. My third novel, and the final installment in my Divine Trilogy, is in editing now and will be released this December!

Sugar & Spice, Haunted Raine, Unchained Melody, and The Food Critic are all quick reads which can be found on Amazon for $1.49 or less (or free if you are subscribed to Kindle Unlimited).

To Serve is Divine and A Divine Life are the first two books in my BDSM erotica trilogy, and can be purchased on Amazon for $3.49 (or again, free through KU).

Until December, you can read about Surreal on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22318449-surreal

3) Do you have a favorite genre?

To read? Paranormal usually grabs me the easiest.

To write? Erotic romance seems to be my most comfortable niche.

4) Did you always want to write or what inspired you to do it?

As a child, I thought I’d grow up to be either a teacher or some kind of business admin person. Though I’d dabbled with short stories and some poetry, I didn’t actively try writing until about 2010. I haven’t stopped since, or regretted a minute of it.

5) Do you need a nice quiet space to write or are you blasting your music and writing?

Quiet is preferred, with Enigma playing low in the background. I can’t write to lyric heavy music or I find myself singing along rather than stringing sentences together. I’m also what I call an ‘edit-writer,’ meaning I pick my stuff apart constantly while I’m putting it down so I need to be able to concentrate.

6) If you could give one tip to someone who wants to write what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to open a notebook or word doc and just go for it. However, when it comes time to share it with the world, PLEASE get it professionally edited. If you spend any money in the journey to publication, an editor is where it needs to go. Too many writers are skipping this step and the result is a market flooded with material that is not ready to be seen yet, giving Indie authors a bad name.

7) What is the big dream? In other words where would you like your writing to take you to in the future?

Just to see my books be well-received.

8) If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be?

Laurell K. Hamilton would be high on my list. Her two series were the first to show me that a nice blend of plot and sex could be done. ;)

Now the fun questions:

1) Do you like pizza or salad?

Believe it or not, I’d rather a big salad with all the trimmings over a piece of greasy pizza.

2) What do you like more cake or fruit?

Is this a trick question? Are the diet police waiting to pounce?

3) What is your favorite kind of music?

I’m pretty open to most of it; it really depends on my mood. Unless it’s just loud and cacophonous. All that does is give me a headache.

4) Who is your favorite Author?

Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephen King, and Anne Rice are amongst my favorite “big name” authors. Some of my favorite Indie authors include Lorenz Font, M.B. Feeney, Amber L. Johnson, and J.C. Clarke.

5) Do you like Vampire, Werewolf, Fairy or shifter men when you read for pleasure?

Yes. However, vampires have been a long-standing love of mine. The other supernatural creatures didn’t really register on my radar until I was much older.

6) Do you have pets?

Since I was a kid. Right now we have two dogs, a cat, and my daughter has a fish tank in her room.

7) Do you have favorite animal not your pet's but like wild animals?

White tigers have always fascinated me with their beauty and majesty.

8) Do you like city or suburbs better?

Suburbs; I prefer calm and quiet.

9) If you could live anywhere where would it be?

I love the Pacific Northwest.

10) Do you have tattoos? Do you want one?

Eight and counting.

11) Do you like guys with tattoos?

Absolutely; Mr. Hargrave has a few ;)