Brenda L. Murphy((she/her/they) is an author of steamy sapphic romance, captivating paranormal tales, and immersive fantasy worlds. She has been a frequent GCLS Goldie finalist, with her novel Double Six taking home the 2020 Goldie Award for Erotica. She also has a popular podcast Writing While Distracted. Brenda was nice enough to grace us with presence and discuss writing tips and her latest works
Q) Your latest book Empress of Air and Fire: brings an end to your Chronicles of Mahon Book series? Did you have the ending planned when you wrote the first book or has it evolved as you wrote?
A) I am not a hard-core outliner and I had no idea where the series would go after the first book. I wrote Winter Spell because I saw the premade cover and wanted to write a story to for it. Writing a fantasy novel was appealing to me as its one of my favorite genres, but the idea of a writing a 90k+ novel put me off, instead I wrote each roughly 20k novella as they came to me and just followed where the story and my imagination led me, which is why the final book Empress of Air and Fire is 40k I needed to wrap up all the loose ends from the other books.
Q) You have a couple continuing series, when you are starting a new project do you start with the characters or the plot/ setting?
A) For my series I usually start with a location and then fill it with characters I want to write about. One of the nice things about a shared universe series is you can create settings and characters and use them from novel to novel to tie the stories together. If I have an idea for a character who needs a story, having multiple series allows me to slot them in where their story fits.
Q) Do you think it’s important that queer readers see themselves in the romance genre?
A) Absolutely. I grew up in a time where queer folks never ever saw themselves in any romance. If queer love was represented it was never with a happy ending. Either the characters were portrayed as deviant criminals who either 1) un-alived themselves, or 2) ended up dead via some accident or murder, or 3) or were incarcerated for their behavior. The occasional queer character who was not a villain would be involved in a one-sided affair with the end result being that their love interest would either shun and out them or have an affair with the queer character and then return to their straight relationship. We need to see ourselves in fiction with happy, healthy relationships. Every one of my stories has a happy ending for that reason, even my horror novels have happy endings.
Q) Did any particular authors or books influence your writing style?
A) On yes, Fiona Zedde, Megan Hart, Beverly Jenkins, Joey Hill, Jaqueline Carey, Octavia Butler, Helen Oyeyemi, and Toni Morrison are at the top of the list. Every bit of fiction I have read offered some instruction in the craft, and I learned so much from each of the writers listed.
Q) Besides you creative output you also maintain a blog providing writing tips at https://blog.writingwhiledistracted.com/feed/) . What are the most tools you feel writers should develop when starting out?
A) I number one tool/habit/muscle that writers should develop starting out is to write. It doesn’t have to be a lot, and it doesn’t have to be every day but it has to happen. You have to make time and consistently write. The hardest part of writing is to get the words out of you head and into your computer or a notebook or whatever way you want to capture them. No matter how many great ideas you have for stories, none of it makes any difference it you never record it. Writers write. It is simple but not easy. In addition to my blog I have a podcast for writers and I discuss more tools and methods for writers
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-nxxci-162b470
Q) what is your next project you are working on?
A) I am finishing up another novel in my small-town romance series and I prewriting a new fantasy trilogy I have had in my head for the last year.
Q) If people want more information about your or your projects, where should they go?
A) My email list is most up to date, and where I share snippets from works in progress, run giveaways, let folks know about sales and free books tell them what I am reading and offer book recommendations, as well as information about my resources for writers. Folks can snag a free book, if they sign up at this link:
Final four questions –we ask everybody
Q) When the zombies take over the world where will you be?
A) Riding shotgun on the Zombi Assault Vehicle.
Q) What is your favorite Fandom
A) I am torn between Hazbin Hotel and Demon Slayer
Q) What piece of art, be it in the form of music, a book, a film or picture, do you think people must experience before they die?
A) The Duomo di Milano, it is one of the most magnificent buildings I’ve ever seen. It has over three thousand statues, amazing art, and stained glass and took centuries to complete as it was done with hand tools. The view from the roof is stunning.
Q) Give one fact that most people would not believe about you?
A) I hold a general class amateur radio operators license.
Paper Phoenix ink 