I’m SF Russell, a writer of historical fantasy and folklore fiction: stories where myth and legend rub up against the uncomfortably modern, and nothing is quite what it seems.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve written. Ideas, short stories, novel outlines, and more abandoned novels than I’d care to count. Somewhere there’s an old green notebook from my pre-teen years filled with hundreds of character names and nothing else. I still raid it for inspiration today.
In September 2022 I started writing short stories for competitions, and discovered how much I love writing to a prompt and a deadline. I’ve been a finalist several times in the Globe Soup contests, and earned a named mention on the Not Quite Write podcast.
Those stories became my debut, A Night of Strange Dreams, published in February 2026. When I put them in order, something odd happened: a hidden architecture appeared that I hadn’t known I was building. Transformation, shady corporations, a certain Norse god and his ravens, and a great deal of red and green. Eighteen stories that turned out to be one book.
I live and write in South West England.
There are more stories waiting in the wings. To hear what comes next, keep an eye on the blog, or say hello on the contact page.
Short bio for press and events
SF Russell is a writer of historical fantasy and folklore fiction, steeped in myth, legend and the uncomfortably modern. He is based in South West England and has been a finalist several times in the Globe Soup short story contests. A Night of Strange Dreams (2026) is his debut collection.