I was music major in college, and it was my creative outlet prior to my writing career. I love Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Beth Orton, Radiohead, and Dave Matthews.
Movies
I used to work in a video store just so I could watch three movies a day. Currently producing a feature length film (stay tuned).
Of course, the first thing you're asking is: "Is Russell cool enough to be my friend?" To that I say, "No." I'm not even going to try and convince you. I'm just not as cool as anyone else here. But maybe, you know...if I hang out here long enough...
I am a real live Montanan, born in Bozeman where my dad was matriculating.
My first novel, In Open Spaces, was released by HarperCollins in June 2002, and made the San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller list. In Open Spaces was also named as one of The Best of the West 2002 by the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Here are some excerpts from the reviews for In Open Spaces
This heartfelt exploration of the lives and hard times of a prairie ranch family fairly pulses with the intrigues of existence. Russell Rowland has given us a vivid and distinctive piece of homespun to take its proper place in the literary quilt of the West.
--Ivan Doig, National Book Award winner, This House of Sky
"Charged with dramatic tension -- a joy to read."
--Ha Jin, author of Waiting, winner of the National Book Award
"Russell Rowland's compelling Montanans show us the extraordinary that lurks
in ordinary lives, reveal the epic heart of everyday trials and triumphs."
--Guy Vanderhauge, author, The Last Crossing and The Englishman’s Boy
"[An] outstanding debut...Rowland's examination of family dynamics is poignant and revealing...."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A family epic that has a muted elegance....A gracefully understated novel."
--New York Times Book Review
"In Open Spaces...is sage, humane, and immensely readable."
--C. Michael Curtis, senior editor, “The Atlantic Monthly”
My new release, The Watershed Years, is a sequel to In Open Spaces. Click the book cover to view the book at Amazon.
Also, I have recently taken on the position as Fiction Editor for the wonderful online publication, The Smoking Poet. Log on to The Smoking Poet for submission guidelines.
Who I'd like to meet: Everyone! Well, not quite everyone. But most everyone. I don't want to meet Carl Rove. Or O.J. Or Brittany Spears. I'm not interested in meeting that guy who wrote A Million Little Pieces, or Celine Dion. I'm definitely not interested in meeting Martha Stewart. I think that's it. Everyone else is invited.
Thank you for your friendship! If you like Lucinda Williams you will probably like Rosy Nolan. Will you come check out my music and leave me a comment?
NEW YORK -- Boston Red Sox little man Dustin Pedroia won the AL MVP award Tuesday, becoming the first second baseman to earn the honor in nearly a half-century...
Hello, thanks for the friendship (bedankt voor de vriendschap(dutch)), a reader and owner (sadly enough not the library in the picture) of a small 2nd handbook store in Haaksbergen, the Netherlands ....
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