What to do when you don’t know what to do

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Brenda

February is difficult for me. It is always cold, cloudy, snowy, icy, and/or rainy. I struggle with grief as it is the anniversary month of several deaths, both family, and friends. I struggle to find my center and don’t know what to do with myself. I usually cope by writing, immersing myself in a world of my own making, where no one dies unless I want them to. This year my timing is a bit off because of some health issues I had in December. So I’m at the brainstorming part of my next book but not ready to write. I haven’t known what to do with my grief, anger, overwhelm, anxiety and stress. I found the answer in an article about resilience. As a parent, I want to model resilience for my kids so they will have an understanding of how to cope with life. I tell my kids all the time. Don’t worry about things you can’t control. Do your best with the things you can control.

I took my own advice and I made two lists: Things I Can’t Control, and a list of Things I Can Control. Here are some of my entries: I can’t control the weather, other people’s behavior, time, space, the events of the world, or reviewers (for the authors out there). I can control what I eat, what I read, what I listen to, what I do with my time, the way I speak with other people, how I listen, and who I spend time with.

Listing calmed me, reminded me I am in control of the things that can help with the rawness that February brings. If you are as discomforted by February as I am I hope this post helps. If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts contact this hotline. Call. Text. Use online chat. Reach out.

1-800-273-8255

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

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Rainbow Snippet Feb 10-11

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Brenda

Hello and welcome to this weeks Rainbow snippet. More from my novel One. I loved writing this novel because it was like traveling to Italy all over again.

Mac placed the white pastry box on the table. She untied the blue and white ribbon and opened the box and pulled back the wax paper. The cannoli were nestled together and the scent of them filled the air.

Lana picked up the ribbon and wound it through her fingers. “Mmmm. I know this place. What kind did you get?”

“Two traditional and two pistachio chocolate chip.”
Lana’s face was hard to see in the light and Mac wished she could watch her expression as she took the first bite of her cannoli. The tender pastry cracked and a bit of filling squeezed out and onto the corner of Lana’s mouth. Mac wanted to slide over and kiss the sweet cream off Lana’s lips before taking her back to her room and feasting on her body till dawn. She scooted closer on the bench. Lana turned her face to Mac, her eyes wide in the dim light. Mac reached over and used her finger to wipe the spot of filling off the corner of Lana’s mouth. She reached up and caught Mac’s hand and pulled it to her mouth. She licked the filling off Mac’s finger, the touch of her tongue quick and light.

Brenda Murphy writes short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and short fiction have been published in various collections. Her most recent novel, One was published by NineStar Press. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs, twins, and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, https://www.brendalmurphy.com/blog.html

Website: www.brendalmurphy.com
Facebook:Writing While Distracted

Books available at

Dominque and Other Stories

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

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Creativity: Habit or Gift?

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Brenda

One of the questions writers hear over and over is: Where do you get your ideas?, often followed by the statement: I’m just not creative. I don’t have a hard time answering the first. I get my ideas from everything I see, read, experience, and bits of the world I discover, often while looking for something else. Like this picture of my grandmother and her best friend.

One day I will tell a story about this photo. I found it looking through a photo album at my mother’s house. I made a copy of the photo and added it to my flat file where I keep bits and pieces of ideas until I have enough to put together a project.

The second statement is so hard to hear. I detest the idea that creativity is a gift. I don’t think it is, because there are so many ways to be creative. It is not only writing, drawing, or painting or any of traditional ideas of what being creative means. Being creative is allowing yourself time to think, to do something only you could produce with your thoughts, and hands, and time.

Lack of time is the greatest barrier to creativity. If you want to create you have to set time aside to think, to plan, to play with your ideas, and to experiment. If you want to create make a plan, schedule it into your life. Set aside time to think and discover. Anyone can create. Fine arts are only one aspect of creativity. Do you like to make changes and adapt recipes? That is being creative. Do you spend time decorating your home or planting a garden? That is being creative. Creativity is what happens when you stop and let yourself imagine, and dream. Give yourself permission to look at life sideways. Take the walk, visit the museum, read, and absorb the world around you. Creativity is a habit. It is work. Rewarding, delightful, soul filling work. Do the work.

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Rainbow Snippet February 3

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Brenda

Happy Sunday! Sending everyone positive energy and hope you all have an amazing week. This week’s snippet is from a collection of short stories. I love short stories, writing them and reading them.

From Genevieve:

Dar volunteered to take Bobby to daycare every day, but she didn’t see Genny again until Friday morning. On her way back from the house, Dar dropped her keys. Skittering on the driveway, the keys slid under her car.

“Fuck.” Even with her long reach, Dar was going to have to lie down on the driveway to reach them. Stretching out on the blacktop, she extended an arm and grabbed the errant jumble of metal. Hearing the sudden crunch of shoes on gravel, Dar paused, and then pushed herself out from under the car. The black pumps were inches from her face. She looked up as Genny squatted down next to her.

“You okay?” From her spot on the ground, Dar could see the bright red lace Genny had on under her tight skirt. Genny stood up and stepped back.

“Dropped my keys.” Dar pushed up from the driveway, dropping her keys again in the process. Embarrassed, Dar stood up, gripping them hard.

“You have some dirt here.”

Dar’s nipples hardened as Genny stepped close. Reaching up, she brushed Dar’s face with her fingertips. Dar’s cheeks burned as Genny trailed her fingers down her face. She let them rest on Dar’s lips, and Dar trembled under Genny’s touch. They locked gazes.

Genny’s amber eyes held Dar open and exposed. Slowly, she pressed the length of her body against Dar. Mesmerized, Dar watched Genny’s tongue slide over her lower lip, the blood-red paint glistening. Dar clenched her hands. The keys dug into her palm. She ached with need and desire. Not here. You can’t grab this woman and kiss her right here. She dropped her gaze.

Genny stepped back, lowering her hand. “Sorry. I guess we’ll both be late.”

I hope you enjoyed this week’s snippet. Please check out their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

Brenda Murphy writes short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and short fiction have been published in various collections. Her most recent novel, is One, published by NineStar Press. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs, twins, and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, https://www.brendalmurphy.com/blog.html

Website: www.brendalmurphy.com
Facebook:Writing While Distracted

Books available at

Dominque and Other Stories

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Interview with Hannah Carmack: Seven Sided Spy

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Brenda

The lovely Hannah Carmack is on the blog today answering some questions about her writing process. Her novel Seven Sided Spy, out now and available from NineStar Press and other e-book retailers is fresh, intriguing, and fun. If you are a fan of Spy vs Spy thrillers and Kathrine Dunn’s Geek Love, this book is for you.

Here are Hannah’s answers about her writing process.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I hate to admit it, but I’m one of those people that basically owns and operates from their bedroom, so if I’m writing I’m likely at my sewing desk, or sitting on my bed.

Do you write to music? Is there a playlist for Seven Sided Spy?

Yes! I feel like it’s becoming more and more popular to write/publish with music. I mean, Steve Almond did it, so why can’t we? The playlist I listened to while writing SEVEN-SIDED SPY was called KGB Pissbabies, which honestly could have been the name of the book, HA. But, I’ve also put out a new playlist to listen along with while you read. That can be found on my Spotify here

How did you research the settings/time period for Seven Sided Spy?

I was fortunate in that I started writing this while in school. So my research process was going to my AP US History course for 45 minutes a day. On top of that there were case-by-case basis where I’d do a bit more digging, i.e. cars of the time period, music, weapons, so on and so forth. J

If you could time travel what time period would you travel to?

Funny you should mention time travel. If you’ve read SEVEN-SIDED SPY, then you know future sight, backwards sight, it’s all a bit dangerous. If given the option, I’d probably stay right here and not risk fucking up the timeline by going to the past or ruining my ambition by traveling to the future.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I love reading contemporary. I write a lot of “high-concept” genre stuff, but I do have a deep appreciation for a basic, down-to-earth real-world based story. They’re easy to read and tend to make me think.

Pantser or plotter?

This is one of the questions you get a lot as a writer, and I cannot stress enough the benefits of being a plotter. Pantsing is fun for first drafts, but when you get down to the knitty-gritty, having an outline is IMMENSELY helpful in long-term planning.

Hannah Carmack enjoys volunteer work and spends most of her time working for the organization STEM Read, connecting reluctant readers and bookworms alike to the world of literature and science. Her debut novel Seven-Sided Spy will be hitting shelves this January with NineStar Press. You can find out about her other works at www.hannahcarmack.com

Teaser: In the midst of the cold war, the CIA’s finest and most fatal female agent, Diana Riley, vanishes. Kidnapped by the KGB and taken to the backcountry of North Carolina, she and her team of unsavory partners are forced to undergo illegal experimentation.

But, when the experiments leave them horribly deformed and unable to reenter society without someone crying monster, the previously glamorous and high-maintenance spies must escape KGB captivity and avoid recapture at the hands of Nikola, a ruthless KGB agent with an intense and well-justified grudge against her former flame.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37562881-seven-sided-spy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hannah-Carmack/e/B078PYSSSG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Nine Star Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/seven-sided-spy/

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Rainbow Snippet January 28

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Brenda

I’m back from a long road trip and here with this weekend’s Rainbow Snippet from One. Hope your January was peaceful and productive.

Lana frowned. “I know I have fender covers, but I can’t remember where I put them.” She walked to the far end of the garage and rummaged through the wall cabinets. Mac studied the schematic in the manual and the engine matching up the images in the book with the engine in front of her. The opening riff of one of her favorite dance tunes reverberated through the garage. Lana returned with the fender covers. Mac smiled at her. “I like your music.”

Lana grinned. “It reminds me of college and graduate school.”

Mac laughed. “It reminds me of college girls.”

Lana raised an eyebrow. She placed the fender cover over the right side of the car and then the left. She turned to face Mac and rested her hand on her hip. “Any particular girl?”

“Nah.” Mac’s face grew warm. “No one special.” No one like you.

Connect with other LGBTQI authors at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

Brenda Murphy writes short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and short fiction have been published in various collections. Her most recent novel, One, published by NineStar Press, releases November 6, 2017. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs, twins, and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, https://www.brendalmurphy.com/blog.html

Website: www.brendalmurphy.com
Facebook:Writing While Distracted

Books available at

Dominque and Other Stories

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Last Rainbow Snippets for the Year.

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Brenda

Hi folks here it is the last Rainbow Snippet for the year from my first novel Sum of the Whole. I’m off to visit my family and do a bit of traveling, so I’ll miss a few snippets for Jan. Enjoy.

Sarah pulled away and looked down. “Nothing about Rowan House. No one here knows about my past. I want to keep it that way.” She balled her fists before jamming them in her coat pockets. “I can’t lose my fellowship.”

“Fine. But I’m part of your past.” Jaya pushed her hair back from her face. “I am who and what I am. Rowan House and what we did there is part of who we are. If you want to pretend it didn’t happen, I can’t do this. I’ve lived too long denying myself.” Jaya kept her voice low as she pinned Sarah with her eyes. Sarah’s face softened. She tilted her chin, her gaze steady as she met the challenge in Jaya’s eyes. That look. My Sarah.

Sarah grabbed the front of Jaya’s sweater. Twisting it in her fist, she pulled Jaya hard against her. She brought her mouth to Jaya’s. Their mouths crashed together and her teeth cut Jaya’s lip, the salty-sweet taste of coppery blood flavoring their kiss. Jaya wrapped herself around Sarah, holding her in a tight grip, and Sarah relaxed into her arms. She kissed her neck and Sarah’s pulse quickened under her lips. She kissed along Sarah’s jaw and back to her mouth as their kissing morphed into gentle nips and small nibbles. Sarah broke their kiss and leaned her head on Jaya’s chest.

“I can’t lose my fellowship. If I’m outed as a former sex worker, I…” She looked up at Jaya. Unshed tears filled her eyes

“You’re safe with me.” Jaya held her gaze and sealed her promise to Sarah with a gentle kiss. “I’ll keep your secret.”

Sarah’s phone buzzed, shattering the moment between them. “I have to go. Meet me again tomorrow? Same time?”

“Sure.” Anytime. Anywhere. All the tomorrows. Forever.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

Brenda Murphy writes short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and short fiction have been published in various collections. Her most recent novel, One, published by NineStar Press, releases November 6, 2017. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs, twins, and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, https://www.brendalmurphy.com/blog.html

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Filling the Well and Looking Ahead

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Brenda

This year has been a rollercoaster with some fantastic highs, and some very stressful lows I achieved some goals that have been years it the making. I’ve had two novel published and have signed a contract for a third. I am a firm believer in goals setting and planning, and my life is so predictable I usually am able to execute my plans. But this summer I learned the value of being flexible as I spent the summer in hospitals, first with my daughter when she broke her arm and required surgery to repair it, and then with my mom as we sorted through different options to treat her cardiac issues. And then this month it was my turn. I had unexpected but necessary surgery the week of Christmas. My family and friends were fantastic, my parents making the eight hour drive to come and help my wife and I with our kids and to care for me. I’m still recovering, but the way I have felt for the last month gives me even more respect for those that deal with chronic health conditions. As the year closes I’ve been forced to sit, never easy for me, but I’ve used the time to think, and plan. In this time before the New Year starts take some time, to sit and think, make some plans, and set some goals for the New Year but remember to stay flexible and build in some time to reconsider, and regroup if life does not go as planned. I’m spending the next three weeks with my family, filling the well. Wishing you all a very happy healthy new year.

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Rainbow Snippet Dominque

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Brenda

In the run up to the end of the year I will leave you with a snippet from my short story collection Dominque and Other Stories. I’m taking some time off to travel and spend with family and friends. Wishing all of you a healthy and happy winter holiday and new year.

From Virginia:

Virginia stopped pacing and stepped close enough that Nicole could feel the heat of her body in the chilly office. Her eyes had the same intensity Nicole had seen in them right before she sprang off her starting block and plunged into the pool. The same intensity she had longed to be subject to. Nicole trembled. She clenched the edge of the desk to keep herself from reaching out to touch Virginia. If she were a different woman, she thought, she would take Virginia’s face in her hands and kiss her, letting her lips say all the things she couldn’t say with her voice.

“Nicole.” Her voice was rough—her silken tones stripped bare. And then Virginia’s lips were on her mouth. In that moment, Nicole changed her mind: she didn’t want to be anywhere else on earth but here in this small office reeking of chlorine and sweat. She kissed Virginia back with all the longing she had held tight to for the last year. Plunging her hands into Virginia’s hair, she wrapped her fingers in the short, soft curls, pulling Virginia’s mouth against her.

Easing her hands from Virginia’s hair, Nicole broke their kiss. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the time I first saw you. The letter…” Nicole dropped her voice and her head. Virginia brought her fingers up, tipping Nicole’s chin, her eyes hard and sharp.

“Ah, yes. The wine stains and cat hair were impressive.” Virginia nibbled Nicole’s’ lower lip. “It was sweet and hot and why I’m here.”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

Brenda Murphy writes short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and short fiction have been published in various collections. Her most recent novel, One, published by NineStar Press, releases November 6, 2017. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs, twins, and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, https://www.brendalmurphy.com/blog.html

Website: www.brendalmurphy.com
Facebook:Writing While Distracted

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Sunday Rainbow Snippet

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Brenda

This weeks Rainbow Snippet it from One. Set in Italy this book was hella fun to write. Happy Sunday.

From One:

“I hope you don’t mind. I like to sit on the aisle and she was willing to trade for a window seat.”

Mind? Not sitting next to someone who radiated discomfort at my existence for seven hours? Sitting next to the hottest woman on the plane? Nope. “No, that’s great. She wasn’t thrilled to sit next to me.”

Lana placed her bag under the seat in front of her. The flight attendant came through the cabin asking if anyone wanted anything while the rest of the aircraft passengers boarded.

Lana ordered a sparkling water. “Would you like anything to drink?” Lana rested her fingertips on Mac’s arm, her light touch sending shockwaves through Mac.

“Water would be great.” Mac pulled her tray table into position.

Lana moved her hand. Missing the heat of her touch Mac wished she had not, wished she would have left her hand resting on her skin, wished in some alternate universe this was someone who would have her hands more places than her arm.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/

Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two kids, two dogs, and one unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog Writing While Distracted.

Blog: https://blog.writingwhiledistracted.com

Website: http://www.brendalmurphy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Writing-While-Distracted

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