R.E. Hargrave Interview

Romance at a Glance is a podcast where hosts Bridget and Shani review romance novels and interview some of romance’s biggest authors diving into candid conversations about life, relationships, and sexual desires. Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor. Leave us a rating and review on iTunes.

Full transcript available below.


R.E. Hargrave Podcast Interview

We had an absolute blast talking to romance author R.E. Hargrave about her novella Ribbons and Os! She writes excellent BDSM and kink in her books and this interview got into it all. We also had a fun treat speaking with the narrator of R.E.'s books Tor Thom! And his deep voice rumbled into our souls! 

AND did we mention that she is generously giving away 5 audiobook code (US/UK) for our audience and 1 signed bundle of her 2 Xmas novellas Ribbons and Os and Brooklyn Blues. Enter on Instagram

Breaking down the Interview with R.E. Hargrave

R.E. Hargrave Christmas Novellas

What is a novella

  • a short novel or long short story.

How to write a novella

  • R.E. Hargrave breaks down how she breaks down her novellas and characters and how she decides a book will be a novella vs a book

  • “Get a complaint they wish the story was longer.” - R.E. Hargrave

Her BDSM full-length trilogy

  • To Serve is Divine - The Divine Trilogy Book 1

  • Originated a Twilight fanfic but once she realized that she had a fuller-length story, she pulled it and completely revised it to flesh the series out as well as alter and build out the world.

  • This was her push back on 50 Shades of Grey’s representation of the kink community

R.E. Hargrave is an editor of novels too!

  • She broke down how she works on other people's books, her evolution as an editor.

  • R.E. started out as a beta reader and did that for many years.

  • She is a very in-depth editor and grammar nazi.

Audiobook narrator Tor Thom breaks down some insights on behind the audiobook

  • Shani’s first question “How does it feel to have people getting off to the sound of your voice”

  • Thom talks through getting into the character so the listener can lose themselves in the story.

  • They talk through how he became her go-to narrator

  • Thom talks about a single narrator, vs a duet, vs a multi-person narrator

  • How to get the best sound for your podcasting or audiobook narration

  • Audiobooks turn on people! Tor Thom admits that his twins were “made” during an audiobook session!

  • ACX - Shani shares that she used to record audiobooks from ACX and that is where Tor Thom and R.E. Hargrave found each other

  • How erotica and romance novels help him learn about his likes.

R.E. Hargrave talks about how she got into BDSM writing from her own life

  • She started in the fanfic world reading and then slowly found herself going down the well!

  • R.E. Hargrave isn’t in the community of BDSM, but her husband and her practice in their lives.

  • Partially she started writing because she was looking for BDSM focused books to read and couldn’t find what she wanted, and so she began to write what she wanted to read!

Aftercare in Kink

  • BDSM is a whole lot of mental. If you’ve had a really good session, there is probably going to be some sub drop.

  • And it is really important to take care of the person after a session.

What is sub drop?

  • The temporary depression and/or chemical dis-balance experienced by submissive/masochists after intense BDSM play. - source

How you can practice a kink when you have kids

  • Sometimes it takes 6 months or a year between really good sessions, but the night whisperings can be very tantalizing!

Kindle Unlimited vs Prices for Books

Making money as an indie author

  • Isn’t writing books for the money. She just loves to write and tell stories.

R.E. Hargrave talks about her high school sweetheart who became her HEA


Full Podcast Transcript


Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires. 

As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance’s biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo in order to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.

Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.

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May your books be your lover and your hand your best friend