Tag Archives: Carolyn R. Russell

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: August and All That

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , ,

White-nosed and Ray-Banned, the summertime soldiers stalk across the beach, resplendent in their neon orange swim trunks and gleaming neck whistles. They eye each other, keeping track, keeping score. One of them is kind, but not so kind that he can be bullied. From him, I’ll learn to stay adrift.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of “In the Fullness of Time,” a dystopian thriller published by Vine Leaves Press in 2020. Her humorous YA mystery, “Same As It Never Was,” was released in 2018 by Big Table. “The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen,” her volume of film criticism, was published by McFarland & Company in 2001. Her poetry, essays and short stories have been featured or are forthcoming in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, 3rd Wednesday, Litro Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, Club Plum Literary Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, Orca: a Literary Journal, and Dime Show Review. Carolyn lives on and writes from Boston’s North Shore.

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: Something Blue

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“It’s my first wedding,” gushes my client. “I want my gown to be really special.” Her mother nods in agreement.

Shockingly, I am no longer shocked.

I retrieve the marked tape looped around my neck and grab a sharpened pencil. But it’s just for show. I’ve already taken her measure.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of two novels and a book of film criticism. Her essays, poetry, and short stories have been featured in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, Flash Fiction Magazine, Club Plum Literary Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, Dime Show Review, and Propertius Press. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives on and writes from Boston’s North Shore. See more at carolynrrussell.com.

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: On the 495 North

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We’ve not moved for ages.

“What’s the square root of New Jersey?” asks my daughter from the back seat.

“Hmmm,” I say solemnly, as though this is the kind of question with which I grapple every day. What might the answer be? Springsteen?

I could sit in traffic all day.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of two novels and a book of film criticism. Her essays, poetry, and short stories have been featured in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, Flash Fiction Magazine, Club Plum Literary Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, and Dime Show Review. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University, and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives on and writes from Boston’s North Shore. See more at www.carolynrrussell.com.

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: By Dawn’s Early Light

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Shane had convinced her: that he was kind, that their fates were entwined, that he wasn’t like those creeps her mom breakfasted with on weekends. Liv couldn’t save her mother, but she could save herself. That she was now running for two was a wild card she’d figure out later.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen, published by McFarland & Company in 2001. Her humorous YA mystery, Same As It Never Was, was released in 2018 by Big Table. Carolyn’s new YA dystopian thriller, In the Fullness of Time, was published by Vine Leaves Press in March of 2020, and her essays and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University, and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives north of Boston with her husband and two children.

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: Reception

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

She found them at the bar, two men in their mid-thirties knocking back whiskey at her best friend’s memorial. She looked from one to the other. “Are you the good brother or the bad brother?” she asked.

The panic on their faces was gratifying.

They’d both been very bad brothers.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen, published by McFarland & Company in 2001. Her humorous YA mystery, Same As It Never Was, was released in 2018 by Big Table. Carolyn’s new YA dystopian thriller, In the Fullness of Time, was published by Vine Leaves Press in March of 2020. Her essays and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications, including The Boston Globe, Flash Fiction Magazine, and Bridge Eight Press. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University, and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives north of Boston with her husband and two children.

CAROLYN R RUSSELL: Released

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

The bullet misses her face; it deflects off the bullhorn she holds to her lips. Despite the hole in her lungs, she continues to chant as many hands lift her up and over the crowd. Then she is free, released now, at last, to be the eye, not the storm.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of “The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen,” published by McFarland & Company in 2001. Her humorous YA mystery, “Same As It Never Was,” was released in 2018 by Big Table. Carolyn’s new YA dystopian thriller, “In the Fullness of Time,” was published by Vine Leaves Press in March of 2020. Her essays and stories include pieces for The Boston Globe, Dime Show Review, Bridge Eight, Wanderlust Journal, and Flash Fiction Magazine. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University, and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives north of Boston with her husband and two children.