Writing While Distracted

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Rainbow Snippet December 8-9

Posted on December 8, 2018 by Brenda

Hello Snippeteers,

Sorry it’s been so long, I fell down the NaNoWriMO rabbit hole and just surfaced. This week’s snip is from my work in progess, Veronica’s story:

Millie worked steadily her eyes fixed on some vision only she could see, her concentration evident as she pressed the weight off her chest. Sweat poured off Millie’s forehead with the strain and her arms started to tremble. Veronica wrapped her hands around the bar, worried Millie would not be able to rack the bar on her own. “Last one?”

Millie grunted her answer and lowered the bar again, her knuckles white. Veronica held on lightly, letting Millie handle the weight, assisting her only when she racked the bar. Millie lay on the bench, chest heaving, eyes closed. Veronica walked around to the side of the bench and picked up Millie’s water bottle. She looked down at Millie memorizing her expression. A look of satisfied exhaustion filled her features, Veronica pushed aside her desire to be the cause of her expression instead of her work out.

Millie opened her eyes and Veronica stared back unable to hide her want, dazed by the heat she saw in Millie’s eyes. Kiss her. Do it. Don’t think. Kiss her now.She leaned over her unable to resist the invitation she saw in Millie’s eyes. Millie’s hand came up and gently cupped the back of Veronica’s neck. She hesitated, her lips a whisper away from Millie’s. The door slammed open and Benita entered followed by Roxy. Millie let go of Veronica’s neck and sat up quickly. Veronica stepped back and thrust the water bottle into Millie’s hand. A flush rose in her face, and she caught Benita’s curious look as she shifted her gaze from Millie to Veronica.

“Did I miss the show Millie?” Roxy’s loud voice and incurable flirty attitude filled the space and the sexual tension between Veronica and Millie melted.

Millie snorted. “You did. But if you show up Tuesday you can watch my ass when I squat.”

Veronica forced a laugh, desperate to cover her awkwardness and disappointment. “Now your fan club is here, are we done?”
Millie tilted her head to the side, her expression shuttered. “Sure. Sorry to keep you from your book.” She turned away from Veronica her posture rigid.

Damn. She’s pissed off. Because I almost kissed her? Or because I didn’t? What is wrong with me? Even if she wanted me to kiss her. I can’t fuck this up I don’t want to hurt Myfanwy. Or make things awkward where I work. Fuck me.

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.

Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not loitering at her local tea shop and writing, she wrangles two kids, one dog, and an unrepentant parrot. She reviews books, blogs about life as a writer with ADHD and publishes photographs on her blog Writing While Distracted. You can find her on Facebook by clicking here. If Twitter is your thing follow me @bmurphysideshow

Books available at

Rowan House Series

Other Works

Rainbow Snippet November 9-10

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Brenda

Hi all, I’m knee-deep in NaNoWriMo, up to 20K in the first draft of the fifth book of the Rowan House series. It’s hard to believe that it all started with Sum Of the Whole, a short story that grew into a novel and then a series. Today’s snip is from Sum of the Whole. Happy Saturday!

From Sum of the Whole

“So, what are you going to do, Sarah? Live afraid? Now who is being a hardheaded woman?” Jaya clenched her jaw.

“I asked her to move out. But he knows where I live and you’re not exactly hard to find.”

“I can handle him.” Some part of Jaya wanted the opportunity to finish what she had started, but the frightened look on Sarah’s face made her stop talking. They drank their coffee in silence.

“I’d like to walk you to campus if you don’t mind the company.” Jaya had kept her tone light. Please say yes. She tossed her cup in the waste can.

“I’m okay.” Sarah’s voice sounded anything but okay.
“Text me when you get there and let me know you’re safe?” Jaya looked into Sarah’s eyes and reached for her hand. She pulled it to her mouth and planted a kiss on the palm. “Please.”

Sarah met her eyes and held Jaya’s gaze. She curled her fingers and cupped Jaya’s cheek. “I’ll text.” She left Jaya and hurried down the path.

Jaya walked to the edge of the pond and picked up a stone. She threw it as far as she could. It splashed into the water and ripples spread out until they disappeared on the far shore. She wondered if that was how what they had between them would end—waves of good times and hard times until it ended on the far shore of pride and stubbornness.

Books available at

Rainbow Snippet: November 3-4

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Brenda

Hello Snippeteers! I’m back! And it only seems fitting that my Rainbow Snipper this month is from the novel I wrote for last year’s NaNoWriMo. This week has been pretty spectacular for me as Knotted Legacy was chosen as one of The Lesbian Review’s Top 100 Vacation Novels. I’m doing NaNoWriMo again this year, and am writing Martha’s sister Elaine’s story. Elaine aka Cook from the Rowan House series is a loose cannon type of character who always surprise me. Here is to everyone doing NaNoWriMo, may your words flow like a raging river.

From Knotted Legacy:

Lucia finished her bite of cracker. “Why does she want to keep me away from you?”

Martha held her Mistress’s gaze. “Jealous.”

“Of me? She doesn’t seem to have a problem with any of the others showing you attention. Not even Myfanwy.” She took another bite of her cracker and finished it.

“She’s protective. She worries I’ll get hurt.”
“Are you worried?”
Martha shifted her gaze and avoided her Mistress’s eyes. “It makes no sense to worry about pain, Miss. It wouldn’t be life if there wasn’t pain.”

Lucia reached down and touched Martha’s chin. She lifted it and looked into her eyes. She rubbed her thumb over Martha’s cheek, her gaze soft. “No, pet, it wouldn’t be.” She clasped her chin for a long moment and then released her.

Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not loitering at her local tea shop and writing, she wrangles two kids, one dog, and an unrepentant parrot. She reviews books, blogs about life as a writer with ADHD and publishes photographs on her blog Writing While Distracted. You can find her on Facebook by clicking here. If Twitter is your thing follow me @bmurphysideshow

Books available at

Rowan House Series

Other Works

Rainbow Snippet September 15- 16

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Brenda

Hi all, here is this week’s snip. I’ve been hella busy this week with promo and getting the word out about Knotted Legacy. Today I’m going to unplug a bit and recharge. Today’s snip is from my new release Knotted Legacy.

From Knotted Legacy:

Lucia remained kneeling, her head bowed, her hand resting on her cheek where Madame had kissed her. Martha waited until Lucia rose. She kept her head down as she turned away from Martha and left the room, closing the door softly. Martha walked to the window and looked out at the garden. Bees hovered over the late September blooms, a riot of orange and yellow. She chewed her lip as she replayed her meeting with Lucia and Madame. What the hell have I agreed to? This is trouble. She’s trouble. And beautiful. What am I going to do? What are you up to, Madame?

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

Books available at

Rainbow Snippet September 8-9

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Brenda

Hi all, it has been a crazy week here with the kids back in school, working on my yard and the rental house, and other things to keep busy so I don’t freak out too much about my novel release on Monday. I should just plan this kind of obsessive, can’t sleep, have to keep moving kind of anxiety into my schedule when I’ve got a book coming out. So far I’ve distracted myself by canning 44 pints of crushed tomatoes, 7 pints of zucchini bread and butter pickles, slicing up 10 pounds of peaches for the freezer, mowing, weeding, and tilling three garden beds, and planting my fall vegetables. Not to mention cleaning my office, my house, the basement, and the garage. At least I’m productive in my creating my distractions. This week’s snip is more from Knotted Legacy, available at most book retailers on Monday, September 10th. Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead.

From Knotted Legacy:

“YOU LOOK LIKE hell. Up all night?” Elaine’s smirk made Martha wince.

“No. And thank you, sister dearest.” Martha turned her back to her and bent to slip her boots off, not wanting to discuss what had happened.

“She turned you down? I knew she was a bitch. Why’d you waste your time?”

Martha turned back to face Elaine and quirked her mouth at her. “This is not open for discussion. Please don’t ask.”

Elaine’s taunting expression morphed into sisterly concern. “I won’t. It had to be hard to be there without Octavia.”

“I wanted to have lunch there. And I didn’t expect to have to stay.”

Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not loitering at her local tea shop and writing, she wrangles two kids, one dog, and an unrepentant parrot. She reviews books, blogs about life as a writer with ADHD and publishes photographs on her blog Writing While Distracted. You can find her on Facebook by clicking here. If Twitter is your thing follow me @bmurphysideshow

Books available at

Rowan House Series

Other Works

Rainbow Snippet Sept 1-2

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Brenda

Taking a break from canning tomatoes for this week’s Rainbow Snippet. More from Knotted Legacy. The release day is September 10 but is available now for preorder from NineStar Press and Amazon. If you preorder from NineStar be sure to use the code PREORDER and save some cash and get the book three days early.

From Knotted Legacy:

Lucia picked up her menu. She studied it, and Martha took advantage of her distraction and studied her. Her loose curls were pulled back, displaying her long neck, and the low neckline of her dress showed off the swell of her breasts. Her brown skin glowed in the firelight reflecting off the white stone, making her blue-green eyes even more stark in her face.

“It all looks so good. Can we have the tasting menu?” She placed her menu on the table.

“Sounds perfect. It’s what I usually order. They have a wine flight they serve with it. It’s nice to let someone else make the decisions.”

Lucia tilted her head and fixed Martha with her gaze. “It is. As long as you trust the other to make the right choices.” Her voice was the same she had used with Robin, soft yet unyielding, quietly insistent, the voice of a woman so secure in her power she knew her words would be obeyed without question no matter the volume.

Martha’s body responded to her tone. She took a sip of her water before she answered. “Indeed. It only works if it’s so.”

Books available at

Rainbow Snippet August 25-26

Posted on August 25, 2018 by Brenda

Hi All, I’m back from vacation and ready to rock Rainbow Snippets again. I just sent off the final proof to Knotted Legacy to my editor and all systems are go for the September 10th release. Here is a little more from Knotted Legacy to whet your appetite.

From Knotted Legacy:

“How has it worked out? Any conflicts?” Lucia turned back to Martha and looked into her eyes.

Martha met her gaze. “Occasionally we have people who choose to leave, but I’d rather have them leave than be unhappy working here. Our guests deserve to have submissives and Mistresses who are emotionally present and like their work.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you like your work?” She closed the distance and stood in front of Martha, a teasing light in her eyes.

“Very much. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t.”

Lucia tilted her head and pursed her lips, her expression thoughtful. “Is the bath through there? I need to freshen up after my trip.”

Martha wanted to linger, to continue getting to know this woman who challenged her. “Yes. Would you like me to send up someone to attend you?”

“No. I’m used to attending to myself.”

Perhaps I could help you? Don’t say it. Keep it together.“Would you like a tour of the house? After lunch?”

“I’d like that.” Lucia unbuttoned the top button of her shirt and pulled the hem from her pants. She unbuttoned the rest of the buttons and stripped off her shirt. The saucy black-and-white polka-dot bra with black lace she wore matched the playfulness in her eyes. “Very much.”

Books available at

Rainbow Snippet July 28-29

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Brenda

Hello all, I’m celebrating this weekend because I am officially finished with my day job as of August 1. I’m stoked and happy that I will have more time for my creative pursuits. I’ll be finishing another novel in the Rowan House series, working on a paranormal duology with a good friend, and spending more time with my family. Today’s snippet is more from my September release Knotted Legacy, the third book in the Rowan House series.

From Knotted Legacy:

The waiter arrived and took their order, and they passed over their menus.

Lucia looked around the dining room. “I want to memorize this room, all the small details so when I think of this meal I’ll be able to close my eyes and remember it. I’ll be right back here. A perfect day. A perfect meal.” She brought her gaze back to Martha’s eyes. “Perfect company.”

Martha flushed. The sincerity in Lucia’s voice fanned the tiny flame of hope in her chest. Could this be more? Does she want more than lunch? I want it to be more. Please let it be more. She focused on the sensuous line of Lucia’s mouth, unguarded, she opened herself to Lucia and let her desire show.

The waiter arrived with their wine, breaking the moment. Martha stifled a groan. She sipped her wine. She held Lucia’s gaze over the rim of her glass. “To more perfect days.”

Lucia touched her glass to Martha’s before she took a sip. She raised her glass. “To unexpected pleasures.” She sipped her wine. She set her glass aside and slid her tongue over her lower lip.

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.

Books available at