Work

Debut Novel

Moonshine Messiah

The Moonshine Messiah, Russell’s debut novel, has been acquired by Shotgun Honey, the coolest indie crime publisher on the planet. Due out May 26, 2023. Check out the official announcement here.​​

Mystery tribune

True crime

“True Crime,” a story about a historic honor killing in the West Virginia coalfields, won the Pearl S. Buck award and appears in Issue 19 of Mystery Tribune.

Flash Fiction at Shotgun Honey

Shooter’s Remorse

Shooter’s Remorse, a flash fiction story about a junkie bank robber trying for a new life, was published by Shotgun Honey.

Punk Noir

The Four-One-One

“The Four-One-One,” about Russell’s legal anti-hero, Lester “the Truth” Williams, was published by Punk Noir, available online.

Econo Clash

Rough Justice


“Rough Justice,” another Sheirff Mary Beth Cain adventure, appeared in Issue 7 of Econo Clash Review.

Black Cat Mystery& Science Fiction

Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick

Russell’s award-winning story “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” was re-printed by Black Cat Mystery and Science Fiction

Black-Hearted Woman

Rock and a Hard Place



“Black-Hearted Woman” was published in Issue 4 of Rock and a Hardplace.

Frequent Flyers

VIRTUAL NOIR AT THE BAR

Russell read his short story “Frequent Flyers” at Yonder’s Virtual Noir at the Bar on September 17, 2020.

CHIMERA IN A HARD PLACE

A Franken story


 Chimera From A Hard Place, is a “Franken story” composed by nine different authors and published by Rock and a Hard Place Magazine.

Don’t Let the Law Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya

BROADSWORDS AND BLASTERS

Russell’s story “Don’t Let the Law Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya,” appears in ​Broadswords and Blasters  available on Amazon.

The Stash House

ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

“The Stash House,”  a story about a drug mule for the Hillbilly Mafia appears in Issue 1 of Rock and a Hard Place Magazine  available on Amazon.

Reading & Drinking

Noir at the BaR

Russell was honored to read one of his stories at Noir at the Bar, held at Eryk Pruitt’s bar, Yonder, in Hillsborough, NC.

In the Morning Hour She Calls Me

TOUGH Magazine 

Sheriff Mary Beth Cain rides again in Russell’s short story, ​​In the Morning Hour She Calls Me, published in TOUGH Magazine.

The Strong Arm of the Law

Flash fiction offensive

“The Strong Arm of the Law,” a flash fiction story staring Sheriff Mary Beth Cain, the protagonist of Russell’s novel in progress, THE MAYBERRY MESSIAH, appears in Out of the Gutter Online’s Flash Fiction Offensive 

Hot Weather Hooch

Jelly Bucket

Issue seven of ​Jelly Bucket, the award winning literary journal by The Bluegrass Writers Studio, contains “Hot Weather Hooch,” a story about a reporter in the 1970’s who stumbles upon the scoop of a lifetime. The issue was published in July 2017. 

Her Brother’s Keeper

Thug LIt

“Her Brother’s Keeper” can be found in Issue 20 (November 2015) of the excellent crime fiction magazine, ​​Thuglit, available for purchase on Amazon.

watch yo teeth

OUt of the gutter

“Watch Yo Teef,” a flash fiction story by Russell W. Johnson, was published in ​​Out Of The Gutter Online, February 2016. Read the full story here

The Tasmanian Solution

Universal Enigma Anthology

“The Tasmanian Solution,” a story about a nurse battling a deadly disease and a deadlier government reaction appears in ​Universal Enigma Anthology by Blueberry Lane Books. The May 2017 publication is available for purchase on Amazon.

Frequent Flyers

Deep south magazine

A tale about a desperate father at the end of his rope, “Frequent Flyers,” was published in ​Deep South Magazine, May 2016. Read the short story here.

Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Russell’s debut story, “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick” was published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine‘s Department of First Stories.