ABOUT
where it all began...
J. F. Russell has always been a bookworm from a very young age, which she has always found strange since no one else in her family ever picks up a book to read. In primary school, she was the student who teachers would send home with extra books to read. Her earliest achievement was being promoted from Aussie Nibbles to Aussie Bites before her classmates. At the age of 13, she discovered the online writing community, Wattpad, and began writing and publishing her own work. The first major breakout book she had was a wolf shifter romance called Forever Mine which accumulated over 90,000 reads on its first draft. Almost 10 years later, a now more mature and experienced writer, J. F. Russell gave the story a massive overhaul and it is currently one of the most popular reads of the Werewolf category on Wattpad.
personal life...
As well as being a huge bookworm, J. F. Russell has always been an avid animal lover and country girl at heart. As a child, she grew up on a hobby farm in Victoria, Australia where she has countless fond memories of being surrounded by a collection of animals. With calves, sheep, dogs, ducks, chooks, rabbits, a shetland pony and even a turtle at one stage, she lived every country kid's dream. It's these farming roots which embedded a love for animals and the land deep into her soul, a passion she carried even when her family moved interstate and left their beloved farm behind for a mining town.
Nowadays, she is back on her own farm in the South West of Western Australia with her fiancé and their collection of animals. Three dogs (Drover, Boss & Banjo), two horses (Krooz & Sana), two rabbits (Lenny & Benny) and paddocks of cows keeps her busy and entertained when she hasn't got her nose in a book or typing behind her desk. Her dogs, who she affectionately calls her editing team, are never far away when she's burning brain power during writing. They shadow her so much that she has to check behind her chair when she gets up for a break so she doesn't run one of them over.
writing career...
J. F. Russell writes anything her imagination comes up with, finding inspiration from the smallest of things. What she enjoys writing the most though is romance and fantasy. Some of her favourite tropes include small town romance, wolf shifters, grumpy x sunshine and mental health representation. She believes in soulmates, that every person has someone they're destined to be with in each life, and this is the theme you'll find in her books. Like everyone, J. F. Russell has faced some hard times in her life from bullying, anxiety, depression and PCOS. It's these hardships which inspire most of her work. Using them in her writing not only helps her heal but raises awareness so that others who have suffered the same pain don't feel alone.
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At least one animal must be in each of her stories.
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Her first debut novel as a professional author will be a small town romance called Sweet Like Honey.
close to the heart...
J. F. Russell is extremely passionate about fighting animal abuse and supporting animal rescue. Since she could afford it with her own income, she donates often to RSPCA and other animal rescue organisations on a regular basis. With each case of animal cruelty she learns of, her heart breaks a little more but gives her the drive to advocate for the creatures that are voiceless.