Tyler James Russell
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tjamesrussell.bsky.social
Tyler James Russell
@tjamesrussell.bsky.social
TO DROWN A MAN and WHEN FIRE SPLITS THE SKY
@UnsolicitedP. Work in @FrictionSeries, @Asimovs_SF. Best of Net/Rhysling Nominee
Tonight's film is THE SEVENTH SEAL, probably my favorite of the semester. What's not to love? Medieval fantasy. Spiritual haunting. Death-obsession. Yes, yes, and yes, please.
November 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Still not sure what I’m feeling about this book (though I’m curious enough to try the Netflix adaptation). But it does an incredible job of using section breaks as propellant. A twist, a curve, a poetic reflection that lifts the prose beyond everything else surrounding it
November 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Pre-ordered and arrived. Can’t wait to begin!
November 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
You’re 15. You’ve ridden a donkey for months and people are already trying to kill the baby you just had a frikkin barn. Then these two bust in and start playing DRUMS at you while rapping about chinchillas. I love this season.
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Obviously, every project has its own gestation, a unique process with its own ebbs and flows. But EVERY TIME - there's something suddenly toothy and solid when it crosses the 100 page mark
October 12, 2025 at 2:46 PM
October 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I'll be MCing a Banned Books Night night TOMORROW at Mondragon Bookstore in Lewisburg at 7. Come out and read your favorite forbidden passages!

#bannedbooks #bannedbooks #literature #resist #readmore #readmorebooks
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Best seat in the (new) house!
September 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Closing in on the end of book 8 of #Malazan, reaffirming my belief that this is one of the most stunning-realized pieces of literature ever written, genre and time aside. Remember reading a review that said Erikson did for this fantasy world what Faulkner did for Yoknapatawpha and, honestly, yes.
August 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Fun as it was, #JurassicWorldRebirth felt more like Jurassic World: Reheated Leftovers. Here are my pitches for reinvigorating the franchise: 1/
July 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This has been an emotional, bittersweet week, but right now I’m deeply thankful for so much, and my heart is very full.
June 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Today officially marks my last day teaching at Lewisburg High School after 12 years. While I’m excited about new adventures, this place and the people have meant so much to me. Plus, how can teaching so many brilliant students be anything but an amazing job?
June 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Wasn’t sure what I’d think of #clairobscur, but have LOVED the first hour. The central narrative premise worked a lot better than I expected. Really looking forward to this now!
April 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Not sure why I connected so strongly with the newest #LifeisStrange, a supernatural murder-mystery set in the Literature department of a small liberal arts college…
April 25, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Haven’t watched the show, but man, #TheExpanse books are a blast. Close 3rd POV (my favorite), with some really generous, natural exposition. Explains everything without ever feeling like you’re getting an infodump. And comes across as totally easy, which means it was really hard
April 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Can't remember the last time a book physically affected me the way this one by @tananarivedue.bsky.social did. Absolutely unforgettable
April 5, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The fact that China Mieville wrote this in his mid-20s will never not astound me
February 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Had a fun time finishing #dragonagetheveilguard this weekend, but boy, every single character saying exactly what they were thinking in every single interaction definitely got old. Subtext!
February 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This year, I've been keeping track of my word counts for the first time ever, trying out some of @mdbell79.bsky.social and @jamiattenberg.bsky.social newsletter tips. Here at the end of 2024, I've finished with almost 2 complete drafts of a 500+ pager—over 373k words!
December 31, 2024 at 2:26 PM
Christmas-time in EPCOT and The Magic Kingdom!
December 26, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Very happy to be back in PA after a 2000 mile road trip to and from Florida. Disney and Universal, but also found the house I lived in when I was born, and my childhood beach which I have not seen in more than 30 years!
December 23, 2024 at 12:56 AM
Happy 2nd birthday to my first novel, WHEN FIRE SPLITS THE SKY. A road trip, an apocalypse, and a crumbling marriage, told from both sides. What’s not to love? This book means so much to me—you should pick up a copy to celebrate!

#fiction #novel #dissociativeidentity #writing
November 23, 2024 at 1:23 AM
Last night’s film, Ingmar Bergman’s classic THE SEVENTH SEAL. I swear, I love this movie more every time I see it. A dark, visual poem about death (that is also surprisingly funny: "is there no exception for actors?" is downright hilarious dialogue)

#filmstudies #film #ingmarbergman
November 21, 2024 at 12:35 AM
Hey look! I've got an essay in this new book from @unsolicitedpress.bsky.social! PEN & PULSE: Essays on Writing, Craft, and the Writer's Journey

#fiction #literature #creativewriting #novelist #writingcommunity #writing
November 3, 2024 at 11:14 PM
More Halloween goodness, including a pumpkin-in-a-pumpkin I’m very proud of
October 28, 2024 at 12:00 AM