Welcome To Serve is Divine and R.E. Hargrave!

I'd like to introduce to an author freind of mine: R.E. Hargrave.

She publishes at Renaissance Romance Publishing same as I do. I had the pleasure of being one of the editors on To Serve is Divine. If you like your BDSM books hot, hot, hot, this one is for you! But don't let the sex pull you away from the story. This one is not all pure smutt. Far from it! The draw is immediate and lasting as you are carried into the story of healing and regaining one's life.

So I give you a guest post from R.E.!

 

 

Howdy, and thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here! I will admit when our lovely PR lady at RenRom, Lisa, contacted me to let me know I had another guest post signed up, I was excited. Then she gave me just two words to work with and I facepalmed. She giggled at me and said, “It's Chel, what do you expect?”

You do love to challenge me, don't you? ( Yes, yes I do! )

 

Why Erotica?

 

 

 

Perhaps we should begin with: “What is erotica?” According to Wikipedia:

 

            Erotica(from theGreekἔρως,eros"desire") can describe any collectible object that   deals substantively with erotically stimulating or sexually arousing subject matter.  The object may be a painting, sculpture, photograph, dramatic arts, film, music or literature.

 

The important part of that definition is the variable “sexually arousing.” Nobody can tell us as individuals what is arousing. To adjust a well-known phrase – One man's pain is another man's pleasure.

For some, vanilla or “plain” sex is satisfying – they're happy and don't require any more than the sweet, creamy treat. They always know exactly how it's going to taste and just how much will fill them up but not go overboard.

But some of us want to go overboard. For those people, they like to pile on the toppings and mix them up: voyeurism, exhibitionism, toys, multiple partners, spanking, same-sex partners, bondage, submission – the list goes on and on.

Every adult should be free to partake in whatever they enjoy as long as it doesn't forcibly take away another person's rights away. Safe. Sane. Consensual – remember it, and live by it.

One thing is certain: people, as a rule, get aroused; what's uncertain is whether it'll be a story that heats them up or maybe the sight of leather that quickens their pulse. Could even be a smell or a sound – you never know.

Because the way of thinking and talking about sex has become more forward and acceptable than in the past, less things are seen as taboo. Therefore, more people are willing to admit what they like and what turns them on.

A little true story for you . . .

In honor of To Serve is Divine's release this month, I am having a tattoo done which incorporates my cover elements in addition to story themes. Like the cover, there are orchids and black pearls as a focal point of the tattoo.

It starts on my upper back, comes up and over my collarbone, and then down my chest. Due to the location my tattoo artist, we'll call him G, hand drew the design onto me. While he was working, we were discussing what the ink meant to me: my books. Another guy came up to watch. He glanced down at the assorted orchid pictures G was working from and made the comment: “Those are very vaginal flowers. What kind of book are you writing?”

I smirked at him, and replied: “BDSM erotica,” and immediately had the attention of everyone within hearing distance.

Flower guy started laughing and preened while claiming he'd called it on the orchid description.

It was almost comical to watch their faces as I explained why I really had chosen orchids. Not for the obvious sexuality of the flower's appearance (though that was a bonus), but because of what it takes to keep them alive. They are so delicate that you have to be meticulous with their care or they'll shrivel up and die – much like a Dominant must care for their submissive in order to earn their trust and submission completely.

Later, as I was paying and we were out of ear-shot from other people in the shop, G leaned in and asked if he could get an autographed copy of the book for his wife.

So, “Why erotica?”

Why not? People enjoy it and there's no shame in seeking pleasure – whatever form you find it in.

 

 

 

Biography/About: 

R.E. Hargrave is a fledgling author who has always been a lover of books and now looks forward to the chance to give something back to the literary community. She lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX with her husband and three children.

Social Media Links:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/REHargrave

Website – http://www.rehargrave.com/  

Twitter – https://twitter.com/REHargrave

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11156155-r-e-hargrave

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/REHargrave