Writing While Distracted

And So It Begins

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Brenda

February starts tomorrow. Where I live, it is the longest, shortest, coldest, cloudiest month of the year. It is my least favorite month. This year instead of wallowing in my usual February funk I’ve decided to actively change my attitude toward February. I doubt it will ever replace August as my favorite month, but maybe by the end of the next 28 days, we will be cordial. One of my new year goals was to expand my writing repertoire so this month I’m writing a novella. It is a new length of fiction for me, and my first paranormal story. The story has been banging around in my head since last spring, so it feels incredible to let my characters loose on the page.
The other change I am planning this month is breaking up with my phone. Why? Because my screen time tracking app numbers appalled me. I spend enough time on my phone some weeks for it to qualify as a part-time job. As a writer, I love connecting with readers, as a reader I love connecting with other readers and geeking out over books. But I also want to make sure that I’m not drowning my sorrows in my phone, chasing little hits of endorphins, the way some folks pursue alcohol or drugs. ADHD folks have higher rates of addiction to alcohol and substances than the general population and are at a higher risk for screen/technology addiction. As part of my self-care this month I’m going to change the way I interact my phone and adopt more healthy habits.

I found a fantastic book to help me with my phone addiction. How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price is the how-to book I’ve needed to make the break with my device. Price approaches the process of phone addiction with charm, wit, and facts to back up and support her suggestions for mindful use of our phones. She is not a zealot or Luddite. Price has a realistic outlook when it comes to the convenience of smartphones and does not recommend or suggest that you switch to a flip phone and head off into the wilderness unless that is what you want to do.

The beauty of her approach is her myriad of sound suggestions of how to practice mindfulness while using our technology. Catherine Price offers actionable recommendations and a plan to follow to make sure that way you interact with your phone fits your life and is designed by you, not app designers using the best brain hacking technology money can buy to have you staring at your screen instead of your family.

I encourage you to evaluate the time you spend with your phone, to decide if your interactions are positive and support your goals. I have a long list of items to accomplish this year, and I know I have to make some changes in how I use my time if I am going to achieve them. My first step is to make sure time spent on my phone is time I’ve chosen to allocate instead of merely being sucked into the vortex of apps designed to keep me tied to my screen, oblivious to the world and distracted from my goals. For the next month I’m going to follow the steps outlined in How to Break Up With Your Phone and work on my phone habit. Wish me luck and if you decide to join me, drop a comment here. I’ll post a follow up in March.

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Rainbow Snippet Jan 26-27

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Brenda

Today is Sunday, the last Sunday in January and the start of a new week. I love Sundays. It’s my day for planning, taking some time to unwind and to prepare for the week ahead. I’m stoked because this week I will start on an erotic shifter romance that I have wanted to write since last spring. Today’s snip is from Double Six, the fifth book in the Rowan House series.

From Double Six:

Harsh sounds of their rough breathing filled the room as they held tight to each other. Petra lifted a shaky hand and reached for Elaine’s cheek. Elaine drew back. With a soft sigh, Petra let her hand fall back to her chest. Elaine looked away from the hurt in her dark eyes and pushed herself to sit before she slid off the table. She reached into her bag and pulled out a soft fleece throw and covered Petra with it. Petra curled her fingers over the edge of the blanket and drew it up to her neck.

“I’ll get you some water.” Elaine fled the room, running from the wave of emotion threatening to pull her under.

In the kitchen, she poured a glass of water with trembling hands. So responsive. So perfect. She took everything. Only Robin has been able to tolerate that. What have I done? She hurried back to Petra. She lay with her eyes closed, curled on her side. Elaine touched her shoulder and she started. “Drink this.”

Petra took the glass from her and kept her eyes averted from Elaine’s face as she sipped her water.

Robin pushed through the door, her gaze swept over the scene before briefly connecting with Elaine’s. Lips pressed in a frim line, she backed out of the room. The swish of the kitchen door closing was loud in the silence between them.

Petra cleared her throat. “Well, I can see why they talk about you.” She took another sip of water.

Elaine traced her finger over the pattern on the tablecloth. “I’m not going ask if that’s a compliment.”

Books available at

Rainbow Snippet Jan 19-20

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Brenda

Hello Snippeteers!

This is my first snip for this year. I submitted the fifth book in my Rowan House series, Double Six, on Friday and I’m snuggled in with the snow and noodling my next book. I hope wherever you are you are safe and warm.

From Double Six:

Petra trailed her fingers over the stocks set into the floor. She paused beside the newest addition to the dungeon. A large polished wine cask mounted on its side, adorned with cuffs and chains to secure submissives over its wide curved surface. She drummed her fingers on the cask. “Victor’s Vineyard. I know this winery. I had no idea they offered anything besides wine.”

“They don’t. It’s a gift from a former client and her submissives. They commissioned it.” Elaine shifted in her chair and crossed her legs.

“She must have been very grateful.” Petra stopped next to an iron and wooden device resting against the wall. She side-eyed the antique torture cabinet. “An iron maiden?” Petra rested her hand on her hip and quirked her mouth at Elaine. “Really?”

“Just for the head fuck aspect, it’s not functional. I’ve considered having it modified so I could use it for seclusion. But my sister insists it would destroy its value as an antique. Pity.”

Petra sauntered to the top of the polished wood whipping post and drew her fingers over the top of the post. “This is fantastic.”

Books available at

Bring on 2019

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Brenda

This past year I wrote 59 blog posts, wrote and submitted three novel-length manuscripts, and two short stories. I also renovated a house and did eighty percent of the work myself. I have young children, a partner, and older parents with health issues that often require me to make an eight-hour drive to be there to help with their needs.
People ask me all the time if I sleep. The short answer is no, not much, but then I never have slept much more than six hours a night at any point in my life.
I also don’t watch television, or movies very much. I also left my part-time job this year as healthcare worker after 31 years, and that affords me more time to write. I am also extremely fortunate to enjoy excellent health.
Why tell all of you this? Because I’ve read the most incredibly stupid advice to writers about all the things you must do if you want to “be serious” about your career.
The types of articles and posts that contain this type of advice assume that what works/worked for them will work for everyone. This is not true. I’m going to say it louder for folks in the back THIS IS NOT TRUE!
Every writer is unique, what works for me, will most likely not work for you. I have wicked ADHD, which is why I don’t sleep and am driven to keep doing something, to move, to think, to create when most neurotypical folks are resting or sleeping.
I also tend to hyperfocus which means I can write in the middle of a busy street, or my living room surrounded by my family with all kinds of chaos going on. It doesn’t mean that I’m more serious than the next person it only means I have found a way to work that works for me.
And this is my advice for folks for 2019, find a way that works for you. Go ahead and read the books, try different methods, explore your options, and in the end trust yourself. You do you. My second bit of advice, please for all that’s good in the world and your sanity, don’t compare your output to anyone else.
The same folks who want to tell you that you must write every day like to say “we all have the same 24 hours a day.”
I want to point out that is not true. My 24 hours do not look like your 24 hours. We each have unique responsibilities and time constraints, physical and mental abilities, that make our 24 hours what they are, and yes we can control some of what our 24 hours look like, but work and family obligations are often beyond our control, as a mom of twins, trust me, even with the best-laid plans, two kids with fevers wreck your day, and may wreck your week!
My wish for everyone out there is to have a happy, sane and healthy New Year, filled with joy and that you accomplish your goals your way.

Books available at

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.

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 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.”

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. Or if Twitter is your thing follow me @BmurphySideshow

Books available at

Filling the Well: Oslo and Stockholm

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Brenda

I’ve written before about using photographs and my travel journals as part of my writing research for books. My most recent trip to Oslo and Stockholm is no exception and I expect to write a least two novels set in each country. I spent much of my time simply absorbing my environment and letting my senses soak up the scents, sounds, sensations, and sights. I enjoyed local food and as always I asked questions of my friends and hosts. The thing I noticed immediately, mostly because I am an avid gardener, were the types of flowers blooming in public and private gardens. As a writer, I work hard to add the little things that lend verisimilitude to my work. The gorgeous flowers I saw everywhere in Oslo and Stockholm will feature in my next novel. Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

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