Edgar Awards’ Robert L. Fish Prize
“Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” featured in the January 2015 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for the best short story by a new author. The award was presented at the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Awards in New York City on April 28, 2016. See Russell’s acceptance speech. Listen to Russell read his story here.
Pearl S. Buck Award
“True Crime” a fictional retrospective on an honor killing in the West Virginia Coal FIelds, won the Pearl S. Buck Award for Writing for Social Change.
First Prize
Russell’s upcoming novel, The Moonshine Messiah, won first prize for book length fiction at the West Virginia Writers Annual Writing Competition.
Semifinalist
Russell’s novel in progress, THE MAYBERRY MESSIAH has been named a semifinalist for Screencraft’s Cinematic Book Competition.
Pushcart Prize Nominee
“Hot Weather Hooch,” Russell’s short story published in the Bluegrass Writers Studio’s journal Jelly Bucket, has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, awarded annually to the best stories published by small presses.
Claymore Award Finalist
Russell’s novel in progress, The Mayberry Messiah, was selected as a finalist for the Claymore Award. The finalists were honored at the 2017 Killer Nashville International Writers Conference in Nashville, TN.
Claymore Award Finalist
Allocution, Russell’s draft legal thriller was selected as a finalist for Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award.