Writing While Distracted

Knotted Legacy

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?

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

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

Books available at

Knotted Legacy

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

Knotted Legacy

Other Works

Rainbow Snippet June 23-24

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Brenda

Hello all, I hope everyone had a great week last week. I took last week off to spend time with my family. Today is my eleventh wedding anniversary. Between us, we have written eight books, had twins kids, loved three dogs and a onery parrot, survived two major surgeries, a broken arm, and the medical adventures of both sets of our parents and there is no one on the planet I would rather do it with. Wishing all of you happiness and love. I hope you enjoy today’s snip.

From Both Ends of the Whip

Vivian brought a chair over, and Octavia sat down and held Bridget on her lap. “The stairs are too narrow for you to carry her.” She poured a glass of water and held it for Bridget while she drank. The heat from Bridget’s body warmed Octavia. The cellar air was cool as the sweat dried on her skin. She shivered.

Vivian frowned. “I should have asked Martin for blankets.”

“I can walk.” Bridget lifted her head and shifted in Octavia’s lap. “Mistress.”

Vivian touched her face. “You’ll be no use to anyone if you fall down the steps.”

Bridget snorted. “I was a line cook for five years. I’m not frail.” She stood up and poured herself a glass of water and chugged it down. She placed her glass on the table and smiled. She shifted her gaze between them. “And I’ll crawl up the stairs if it means I get to watch the two of you together.”

Vivian shook her head. “You are a menace and have learned nothing.” Her tone was playful. “Very well. Get up the stairs before I decide to persuade you.” She picked up the quirt and pulled the tails through her fingers.

Bridget quirked her mouth. “Not sure that’s motivation to behave or not.” She picked up her clothes from the table. She turned her back to them and sashayed up the steps swinging her hips.

Books available at

In this groupyou’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.

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Rainbow Snippet May 19-20

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Brenda

Hello Snippeters, I’m writing this on my porch, it is raining like hell and the sun is shining which is always special and I’m hoping for a rainbow. This week’s snippet is from One. A book I released last Fall. Set in Italy it is a favorite story of mine as it reminds me of a fabulous trip I took with my wife.

From ONE:

“THE NIGHT-MANAGER let them in through the small barred door next to the drive. The parking lot of the hotel was paved with cobblestone. Lana held Mac’s arm as she picked her way across the lot, her heels and the three glasses of wine she had consumed with dinner making it hard for her to navigate the rough round stones. They walked to the tiny walled garden at the back of the hotel. Small brass candle lanterns lit the wrought iron tables and benches in the seating area, bathing the entire area in a seductive pale golden light. The smell of warm bricks mingled with the floral scents of the late blooming flowers that overflowed their terracotta pots surrounding the tiny oasis.

“I’ll be right back.” Mac left Lana sitting on the high-backed bench. She turned to look at her. Damn. So beautiful. So perfect.She lingered in the doorway watching Lana unobserved, memorizing everything about the night and the woman who waited for her. They had spent dinner laughing and talking about racing and engines and favorite drivers. Smart. Sassy. Passionate. She made Mac ache for things she hadn’t known she wanted.”

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.

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