Career
Before publishing her first novel, Russell’s career started in a variety of writing fields, beginning as a newspaper columnist in college. Upon graduation, she worked as a broadcast journalist, newspaper reporter, magazine columnist, technical writer and editor and instructional designer. Prior to selling to Dorchester Publishing, Russell wrote seven novels, several partials and sought publication for thirteen years.
Foreign the November 2009 issue of Reality Therapy Book Reviews Magazine (issue #309), Russell interviewed Diana Gabaldon about her seventh book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone.
A history buff from a young age, Russell’s novels are based on real-life historic people from the early 14th century. Her goal is to not leave footprints on history while writing.
Russell’s fascination with history extended to her spare time where she often worked for one weekend each summer as a living history re-enactor at the Shrewsbury Reinaissance Faire in Kings Valley, Oregon. Scotia, the heroine in Russell’s first novel,, is based on a real-life female from Scotland"s history.
Russell first learned of Scotia while at a demonstration by the Seattle Knights.
Her research involved finding a first source reference that linked Scotia to Scotland"s past Russell discovered evidence of Scotia"s existence in a book detailing the lineage of Scottish kings. was initially rejected by several publishers for having a main female character who was considered too strong.