Today I have the pleasure of hosting author R.E. Hargrave on her blog tour supporting her new release, To Serve is Divine. Like myself, she is a stay at home mom, and I well know the intricacies of juggling writing and family, so I asked her to share with us what a typical day looks like in her home. She willingly indulged my whim, so I present to you -
A Boring Day in the Life of R.E. Hargrave
5:45 a.m. Alarm
kicks on (Lacuna Coil):
hit snooze a minimum of two times before dragging myself to the bathroom, and
then down the hall to 15 year old son’s room. Proceed to turn on the light, and
pull ALL the covers off of him. *NOTE:
Cannot turn and leave until child is sitting upright and speaking to me.
6:10-30ish a.m. Stumble
down the stairs to the sounds of excited animals: kitty claws skittering on the
wood floor while dog tails thump against metal crates. Before coffee can be
thought of, let the dogs out of their crates (while hoping their cow paws don’t
find the top of feet) and into the backyard. Turn around to face the cat who is
meowing like she hasn’t been fed in a week. Growl at cat, and ignore by heading
to the coffee pot. Coffee going, throw together three packed lunches, put food
in the three pet dishes, check Facebook on phone, fill water bottles, and begin
breakfast. *NOTE: If boy child has
not made an appearance by 6:20, go back upstairs to rave like a lunatic about
how he has to leave in ten minutes to catch the bus and to get a move on it. .
. . and no, coffee has not been ingested by this point, though the pot is full
and tempting on the other side of the kitchen.
6:30 a.m. Tell
son I love him, and to have a good day as he drags himself out the front door
into the dark driveway to walk down to the corner where the bus stop is. RUN to
coffee pot: scoop of sugar in bottom of mug, fill with coffee until quarter
inch to the brim, top off with milk, and . . . ahhhhh. Move to computer (I’m
back on the desktop as my laptop required a moment of quiet), flip switches,
push buttons, listen to happy hum of drug whirring to life.
6:30-6:45ish a.m.
Sip coffee and log in to Facebook while checking e-mail and Skype to see if
there are any pending tasks from the publishing house, or you know, to check up
on the gossip missed in the night.
6:45-7:20ish a.m.
Nine year old daughter makes an appearance fully dressed, brushing her hair and
a sleepy smile on her face. Pull away from computer and coffee (that is only a
third gone and will be cold before it is touched again), say good morning, and
go to entertain daughter till she leaves for school: breakfast, any last minute
forms to be signed, braiding hair, helping with jewelry, etc. *NOTE: Girl child did not need raving
loon of a mother barging into her room to get her moving.
The husband has made brief appearances in and around this as
he gets ready for work.
With a kiss to both, and a wave as they head out (the
daughter on her bike, the husband in his truck), the door is closed and my day
can really begin . . .
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Take coffee cup back to kitchen and top off to reheat. If it’s a laundry
day, get it sorted & going. If feeling productive, decide on something for
dinner and retrieve meat from freezer for thawing. Run vacuum, do dishes, let
dogs back in (protecting feet again), look around and decide that’s enough of
domesticity, and after dumping cold coffee out and starting a fresh, hot cup go
back to computer where the day passes as such:
Facebook/Candy Crush
Skype
Email/Blogging/Twitter
If a chapter has been sent for beta, take care of that;
otherwise open word docs (currently these are: The Beach House and A Divine
Life) and WRITE. What? Sugar & Spice and To Serve is Divine didn’t write
themselves!
*NOTE: The above
activities are rotated continuously throughout the day amongst moving loads of
laundry or going out to do the shopping (sometimes . . . occasionally . . . oh
hell, the husband usually goes because I can’t stand it!).
3:30 p.m. – 9:00ish Boy
child and girl child return from the trenches aka school (unless, of course,
it’s raining or there has been an afterschool activity in which case the taxi
driver cape is donned). Lunch bags unpacked, afternoon snacks dispersed,
conversations over the days’ events, oversee homework and instrument practice,
make children do daily chores . . . the headache encroaches as the whispers of
“What’s for dinner?” begin. Finally give in about 6 p.m. and put dinner
together to feed the minions.
*NOTE: The earlier
daily activities have tried to be pursued during this time frame, not always
with success.
9:00ish p.m.
Children have showered, dinner has been cleaned up & leftovers put away
with plans made for tomorrow’s lunches (for the children do not like sandwiches
in their boxes, they like dishes of leftover dinner). Dogs have been let out
one last time and second feeding of the day put down. Protecting feet, they are
crated up for the night.
Walk through the house turning off lights.
Help daughter pick clothes for next day and feed her fish.
Tell son good night and ask (pointlessly) that he not ignore
his alarm in the morning.
Head to bedroom to unwind with the husband by watching a
movie or TV show. Current favorite is Its
Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Goddammit, Charlie!) This is also when
reading gets done, or more writing in the notebook.
10:00ish p.m.
Lights go out. *NOTE: You all have
imaginations, you can figure out what probably happens next.
12:00 a.m. – 4/4:30 a.m. Take turns with the husband waking
up, blowing noses, using the bathroom, lying and staring at the ceiling while
plotlines unwind (and new ones form). Hot. Cold. Giggle fits.
Oh look . . . SLEEP! . . . Wait, what’s that? Lacuna Coil
*laughing* Thanks so much for sharing, R.E.! A writer's, and a mother's, work are never done!
If you are interested in reading more from R.E. Hargrave, you can check out her latest release, the first book of The Divine Trilogy, To Serve is Divine. A Scintillating look into the world of dominance and submission that is sure to leave you breathless.
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?
More about the author:
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.
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