Writing While Distracted

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.”

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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.

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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

Rainbow Snippet June 9-10

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Brenda

More from Sum of the Whole this week, my first novel and the beginning of a series I had not planned to write. I like to call Rowan House my accidental series because I didn’t intend for it to be a series but secondary characters sometimes demand their stories be told. My only regret is not starting a series bible sooner. I have started one now as I’m fairly certain the series which stands at three books now (Sum of the Whole, Both Ends of the Whip, and Knotted Legacy (September 2018) will be six books in total. Today’s snip is a bitter moment between Sarah and Jaya.

From Sum of the Whole:

Sarah walked over to Jaya and reached up to touch her face. “It’s not because I don’t care for you.” She pulled the number tag from her collar and dropped it in Jaya’s palm. Jaya looked down at the small disc in her hand and found no words for the gift she had been given or the pain that wrapped itself around her heart and refused to let go.

“I’ll stay with you tonight if it pleases you.” Sarah’s fingers rested on Jaya’s chest.
“It pleases me.” Jaya closed her fingers around Sarah’s tag, letting the hard edges dig into her palm. The familiar pain of loss filled her. She let Sarah lead her to the bed and pull her down. Sarah settled Jaya’s head on her chest and carded her fingers through Jaya’s hair. The silence between them deepened, heavy with unspoken thoughts and whispers of shattered love.

Jaya stayed awake after Sarah had drifted off to sleep, savoring the feel of her body against her and memorizing the way her breath puffed out against her skin and the quiet noises she made in her sleep. She eased out of the bed and crept to her dressing table, where she pulled a small cedar box from its hiding place. She opened the lid and dropped Sarah’s shiny brass tag next to Deidre’s tag, blue-green now with the patina of time. She ran her fingers over the tags and closed the lid on her pain as she shuttered her heart.

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Rainbow Snippet June 3-4

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Brenda

A blast from the past this weekend, a snip from my first novel in the Rowan House series.

From Sum of the Whole:

JAYA STOOD IN the courtyard in front of the stable. The soft sounds of birds interrupted the morning quiet. Perfect, so utterly perfect. She had been up most of the night thinking about the ride she had planned. A woman led a large bay, fully tacked out for Jaya. What was her name? Jaya had considered her before settling on Sarah. The faded jeans fit her like a second skin, showing off her curves. She had the sleeves rolled back on her loose chambray shirt to reveal the exquisite vine tattoos accentuating the defined muscles in her arms.

“I didn’t get your name.” Jaya tugged her black kidskin riding gloves on.

“Octavia.” The woman met Jaya’s appraising gaze with one of her own. “Mistress.” A switch or a bold submissive. Enticed by the woman’s boldness, Jaya considered altering her plan for the morning.

Octavia held the reins and ran a hand down the horse’s neck. “He’s a real gentleman, Mistress, all seventeen hands of him. A real goer but he won’t leave you if you don’t make a fence.” She did nothing to hide the amusement in her eyes. Jaya supposed many people who came to Rowan House imagined themselves as better riders than they were. It had been years since Jaya had taken the time to ride.

“I’m not planning on riding a steeplechase.” She climbed the mounting block and settled into the saddle. She checked the fit of her stirrups and adjusted the length.

“He’s a good fit for you.” The woman frowned as she caught sight of the crop Jaya had in her hand. She raised her chin and pointed to it. “You’ll not be needing that, Ma’am.” Her voice was loud.

Jaya rubbed the bay’s neck. “Rest easy. I would never use a crop on…” She raised the crop and traced the edge of Octavia’s cheek with it, looking in the woman’s eyes. “Any horse. This is a pleasure ride this morning.”

“Do you fancy company, Mistress?” Octavia rested her hand on Jaya’s boot, her eyes full of hope. “I could show you some sights.” Her generous mouth spread wide in a smile. Jaya wanted to dismount and kiss the cheeky grin right off her face. She cupped the woman’s cheek and traced her thumb over her full lower lip.

“Maybe tomorrow.” A purposeful scuff of boots on gravel made her look up. Sara stood in the courtyard in tan jodhpurs and a white shirt. Her brow was furrowed and her mouth set in a thin line. She stood with her hands on her hips.

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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Rainbow Snippet May 12-13

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Brenda

Hello Snippeteers! Both Ends of the Whip released on Monday, this week’s snippet takes place the morning after last week’s snippet. Wishing all of you a great week.

From Both Ends of the Whip:
Bridget leaned her head against Octavia’s chest and pressed herself tighter into Octavia’s arms. “I’m sorry about last night. I’m glad you woke me.”
Octavia opened her mouth to speak but shut it when she heard Vivian clearing her throat as she entered the kitchen. Breaking their embrace, they turned as one to face her.
“Is there coffee?” Her voice was rough around the edges. Her tight curls were swept up in a head wrap, showing off her profile. She wore a silk thigh-length aqua-blue dressing gown that clung to her. Her dark nipples were visible through the thin fabric. The shortness of the robe displayed Vivian’s long legs. A wide keloid scar blossomed in the center of Vivian’s calf and crossed the front of her knee before it disappeared under her gown.
Nothing on under there. Damn. What the hell made that scar? Car accident? Damn. Don’t stare. Too late. Octavia’s cheeks grew warm, and she shifted her gaze to Vivian’s face. The raised eyebrow and cool look in her eyes let Octavia know she had noticed her staring. Octavia glanced at the floor and tucked her hands in her back pockets.”

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.

You can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

Books available at

https://www.amazon.com/Both-Ends-Whip-Brenda-Murphy-ebook/

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Rainbow Snippet May 5-6

Posted on May 5, 2018 by Brenda

Hello All, this weeks snippet is another snip from Both Ends of the Whip, available for pre-order now. Relase day is Monday May 7. Wishing you all a joy filled week.

From Both Ends of the Whip

“Bridget. Wake up. Hey, love. Wake up.” She patted her shoulder.
Bridget started awake. Her breathing was rapid. “What?” She grabbed Octavia’s hand with both of hers.
Octavia squeezed her shoulder. “You were dreaming. It didn’t sound good. I woke you.”
Bridget snuggled closer. “I was. It was awful.”
Octavia shifted her arm and held her tight. “You want to talk about it?”
“No.” The sharp tone in Bridget’s voice pricked at Octavia. “I don’t.”
“I wasn’t trying to piss you off. Talking about it might make it better.”
“If it bothers you, I can sleep in the other room.” Bridget sat up, pushing away from Octavia.
“For fuck’s sake.” Octavia bolted upright and turned on the light. She squinted against the flare of brightness. “What the hell, Bridget? I wasn’t trying to start a fight. I thought it was the right thing to do to wake you up.”
“I don’t want to talk. It doesn’t help.” Her voice was flat. She lay down, turning away from Octavia. “Sorry I woke you.”
What the hell? Why won’t she talk to me? Octavia stared at the tight set of Bridget’s shoulders. What to say? Say nothing. Let it go. She’ll talk to me when she wants to. Or she won’t. Octavia stifled a sigh and turned off the light. She flipped her pillow over and lay down before rolling on to her side to face away from Bridget and the distance between them.

You can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

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 April 28-29

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Brenda

Hi All, I missed last week becasue I was traveling and my laptop died. It didn’t owe me a dime but it was annoying as hell. On a brighter note Both Ends of the Whip will be released May 7th and I’ve got a new snippet this week. Sending all of you positvie vibes.

From Both Ends of the Whip:

“I’m not sure why you had to find the only mud puddle in the whole field and roll in it.” Octavia brushed the mud from Max’s coat. She ducked under the crossties to work on his other side.

“Do you always talk to them?”

The brush clattered on the floor. Octavia bent to pick it up, one hand on the horse to steady him. “Only when I think I’m alone.”

Vivian laughed. “I’m sorry I startled you.”

“It’s okay.” She worked the brush over Max’s side and flank.

Vivian picked up a brush and worked his other side. “I’ve missed this.”

“Grooming the horses?”

“Spending time with them, yes. I’ve neglected them.” She patted Max’s shoulder. “But that’s going to change.”

“What happened?” Octavia placed her brush in the grooming box. She stepped around the horse. She looked into Vivian’s eyes. Sadness. Grief. Regret. Pain. So much sorrow. “Did you fall?” She gestured to Vivian’s leg. “I noticed your scar.”

“No.” Vivian looked away. “I haven’t had the desire. It was something I always did with my wife. Between assignments.” She stopped brushing Max and held the brush to her chest.

Married. She was married. Damn.“Breakups suck.”

Vivian raised her eyes and met Octavia’s gaze. “She died three years ago.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Octavia’s cheeks grew hot. “I’m sorry.”

Vivian sighed and placed the brush on the bench. She sat down next to it and looked straight ahead, avoiding Octavia’s eyes, her cool mask back in place. “I don’t tell people. I hate the pity in their eyes when they find out.” She rested her chin on her chest. “Or looks of disapproval. People have a right to know what’s going on, to read and see the truth about conflicts, not the sanitized version big media wants to tell.” Her voice was a fierce whisper. “Miriam died doing what she—” Vivian’s voice cracked. “What we believed in.”

You can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

Books available at Amazon NineStar Press