A Coal Country Kid Turned Writer
WVU Magazine | West Virginia University
WVU alumnus, Durham, North Carolina-based attorney and award-winning fiction writer Russell W. Johnson has published two books in a series he dubs the Mountaineer Mysteries, drawing creative inspiration from the kitchen table stories of his coal-mining roots.
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Interview with Author, Russell W. Johnson
NOW APPALACHIA! | Authors on the Air Global Radio Network
Eliot interviews author Russell W. Johnson about his latest novel THE MOUNTAIN MYSTIC. Russell is a fiction writer and North Carolina attorney. His debut story, “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” was published by ​Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in January 2015 and won the Edgar Award’s Robert L. Fish Memorial prize for best short story by a new author. Since then he’s been published in a number of outlets and recently won the West Virginia Writers Association’s Pearl S. Buck Award, as well as first place for book length fiction. In addition, he has been a nominee or finalist for the Pushcart Prize, Claymore Award and Screencraft’s Cinematic Novel competition.
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Russell Johnsons The Moohshine Messiah
Murder in the First | Mystery Tribune
As part of “Murder in the First,” a series reviewing and celebrating debuts within the genres of crime, mystery, grit-lit, and all things dark, Casey Stegman looks at Russell W. Johnson’s debut, The Moonshine Messiah, and charts its unique journey to publication.
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Suing for Peace
Guest Post | Reckon Review
When I’m not busy trying to be a writer, I make my living as a lawyer. I know, I know. How original? Another John Grisham wannabe. I admit it has become kind of a cliche given the number of attorneys turned author. Scott Turow, Richard North Patterson, Meg Gardiner, Theodora Goss, even Marcia Clark of O.J fame—just to name a few.
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The Mountain Mystic aka He’s scared of germs, comedy ensues
Dark Waters
We’re joined by attorney and author Russell W. Johnson to discuss his Mountaineer Mystery series and some of our favorite topics – dark fiction in dark times, dealing with rejection, and whether Jessica Lange was secretly the real killer all along. We also get a sneak peek at the second book in the series, The Mountain Mystic, and discuss character morality, conspiracy theories, and Ron Earl Phillips covers.
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Cross Lanes Native Publishing a ‘Mountaineer Mystery’ this spring
Clint Thomas | WV Gazette Mail
Johnson’s first published novel is set in a fictionalized version of Southern West Virginia’s coalfields, dealing with contemporary cultural and…
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Interview with author Russell Johnson
Eliot Parker | Now, Appalachia
Eliot interviews author Russell Johnson about his latest crime thriller THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH: A MOUNTAINEER MYSTERY. Russell is a fiction writer and North Carolina attorney. His debut story, “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” was published by ​Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in January 2015 and won the Edgar Award’s Robert L. Fish Memorial prize for best short story by a new author. Since then he’s been published in a number of outlets and recently won the West Virginia Writers Association’s Pearl S. Buck Award, as well as first place for book length fiction. In addition, he has been a nominee or finalist for the Pushcart Prize, Claymore Award and Screencraft’s Cinematic Novel competition.
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Author Interview with Russell W. Johnson
Brad Proctor & Jason Grell | Papercuts
In this episode we discuss Russell W. Johnson’s debut novel THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH from Shotgun Honey Books, the long process of finishing a book to publication, working with multiple agents, receiving a blurb from author of the Walt Longmire series Craig Johnson, winning the Edgar Awards’ Robert L. Fish prize, setting his novel in West Virginia, THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH evolving from a standalone novel to a trilogy, moonshine, WVU football, and much more!
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Interview with Author Russell W. Johnson
Howdy Hillsborough | Chapelboro.com
Alexis and Eryk are joined by local attorney and fiction writer, Russell W. Johnson.
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A Mystery Novel From The Coalfields
West Virginia Morning | WVPB
On this West Virginia Morning, Russell Johnson is an attorney in North Carolina, but he was originally from Charleston and his family comes from McDowell County. His first book, The Moonshine Messiah, is a mystery set in the coalfields of West Virginia. Bill Lynch spoke to Johnson about his book and the long road to getting published.
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CHUNG LING SOO’S GREATEST TRICK
Russell W. Johnson| Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine
A Department of First Stories tale is featured in this month’s episode in our podcast series. And it’s one that went on to win the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for best short story by a new American author. Russell W. Johnson is a North Carolina lawyer who writes in his spare time; he has already shown a great mastery of plot and misdirection. On a recent trip to New York City, he made this recording.
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