About Val B Russell
Who am I? I am everything I write. If you read it here, you’ve met me and I thank you for giving my art your precious time. If you haven’t read my poetry, diatribes or stories, then you’ve not met me yet, but I hope something on this blog piques your interest enough to make you stay and have a good look around.
For those in search of a professional bio, this is everything thus far from soup to nuts and a couple of kitchen sinks, but remember, my entire life is my CV from which I derive every tidbit of material for my stories and poetry. Therefore without further delay, I present my third person narcissistic professional profile, an always changing and ever growing entity that never ceases to amaze me
Val B Russell is a Best of the Net and twice Pushcart nominated poet, novelist, satirist and publisher/editor of tuckmagazine.com, a globally focused online lit, art, photography and music publication whose primary policy is to promote the work of independent artists around the world.
Poetry:
“Cockroaches and White Bread” Referential magazine. Nominated for Best of the Net as well as a Pushcart Prize
“POEm” Voxpoetica anthology: From 9/11 to a New Year
“Lipstick and Menthol” Voxpoetica
“Tic Toc” Voxpoetica
“Circular Motion” Voxpoetica
“Jam” Ditch Magazine
“I Am” The Caper Literary Journal anthology: VWA: Poems for Haiti
“Frank Sullivan’s Storm” The Cuffer Anthology iv: Short Fiction
She is currently working on ”Me and Ma” a satirical and gritty account of her childhood experiences with her brash and unforgettable mother. In addition to this she is a freelance writer for various publications, both print and online magazines.
Hercircle e-zine
Herizons magazine (print)
Reader’s Digest
For those who are into the human non careerist details, the following basics are for you:
I AM
50
A woman
A mother
A Canadian
A hardcore activist for the poor, abused and disenfranchised
A feminist
A survivor or rape, child abuse and domestic violence. My ability to overcome has been due in large part to my devotion to my child and a healthy but dark sense of humour.
A thorn in the side of oppressive people, governing bodies, ideologies and religions.
A promoter of other writers and artists.
A writer in need of an agent and publisher.
A starving artist.
Just stopping by to say hello, my fiesty prolific friend. Love your bio, love that you remain a thorn in the side of those that deserve it, hate that I can’t comment on your poetry. Open the door and let me in, dammit;) HUGS
I have no fucking idea why my comments are closed all over this blog but I will see what I can do to fix that. As for being awesome, I am only as awesome as the people I have been blessed to know who help me grow as a human being and artist: Bryan Borland, Loria Taylor, Leigh Binder, Jessie Carty, Telly McGaha, Elizabeth Stelling, Anne Marie Lockhart etc You all give me something to say and feel and utlimately express. Yes it’s pure cheese but cheese that is true. I love you all so there.
You are awesome..period!
And really, the only reason I wrote this (albeit true) is because the comments aren’t fucking closed!!!!
Goddammit, Val.
Years later, I realize you might have been right.
There is only one thing worse than being wrong ML, and that, is being right. You do know I still love you? I do.
It is apt that I come at the bottom of all the wonderful comments above me. You have a true voice, poems that resonate long after the browser is closed. I found you via another blogger and am glad I did.
Keep posting please.
Dave
It’s nice to meet you Val. Like I said, I really look forward to perusing more of your posts, as from only one read I can tell you are a terrific writer.
Louise
It’s good to meet you too Louise! If you submit your work, I’m still taking short stories and flash fiction for Tuck Magazine.
Its nice to encounter someone who has sincere feelings for someone other than them self.Your spiritual integrity has given me immediate strength and motivation . Thank you, Dave
Hi Dave, I agree, it can seem like the world is filled with selfish people, but sometimes it’s hard to distinguish the selfish from the fearful. Fear can make people appear cold when in fact they are loyal, kind and loving. I think after you get older you can spot the difference easily but when we are young our powers of discernment aren’t yet perfected. As for me, if each one of us can make another feel like they want to live a little longer, laugh and feel hopeful, then how can one measure the immensity of that? We are so incredible, we humans. I hope you come back and read again Dave, thank you for your kind words.
Wonderful blog. So glad to have found you… : )
Thank you Ellie
I’ve left a comment on your blog too and let me say, you are one helluva a writer your own self!
Hello Val,
I will find time to read more later,for you have certainly encouraged me to post more with your kind comments.I have lots of poems and just recently decided to post/share them.I do not consider myself a true poet,but I do find much enjoyment in writing thoughts as they emerge,quite often at times.Again,thank you much.Blessed Be 
I finally figured out how to subscribe to your blog
Hi Sirrah, I’m pleased you wish to return to read my words. As for your remark pertaining to no considering yourself a true poet I have this from Mirriam Webster as it defines the word:
Definition of POET
1
: one who writes poetry : a maker of verses
2
: one (as a creative artist) of great imaginative and expressive capabilities and special sensitivity to the medium
I think you more than qualify Sirrah.
hello again … we are the same age I like it!
I have tried to subscribed but there is no button n your blog – please help me – what I would liket is to be emailed your new art for the world beautification … many respects el
Dear Val,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review of Building the Barricade. I was one of the editors who worked on those poems–line by line alongside Piotr Florcyzk–and your response is very true to our feelings about the work, its intense immediacy and capacity to deeply move the reader. We are honored to bring Swir back into English, and honored that her poetry has moved another reader as it has moved us.
Thank you from all of us at Calypso Editions.
Sincerely,
Beth Myhr
It was my pleasure Elizabeth and I appreciate being given the gift of Anna’s words. This is once again proof that poetry is not dead as many cynics would have us believe. Poetry is having a renaissance of sorts and as poets we are living and creating during a revival of verse as a respected literary art form making these very exciting times indeed. You took on an important task editing her work and you’ve done a phenomenal job Elizabeth-I feel certain that Anna would be moved to tears by your dedicated and heartfelt effort to preserve her poems and the experiences that inspired their composition.
You forgot to put a kind soul and a friend
That is a lovely thing to say Dave, Thank you
I must tell you though, you are also a kind soul and friend.
I like this!
I’m happy you like this! Thank you Keshav and do come back again.
Thank you for having me here, very kind of you.
Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
You are more than welcome Adrian. Your photography is beautiful and moving and I put your site on my blog roll so that other people will visit your blog and enjoy your work. I wish you the best for 2011 and wonderful holiday season.
I love the format you use to describe yourself – what people would say who love you and hate you.
Wonderful to meet you, Val.
- Corra
the victorian heroine
Thank you Corra and it’s wonderful to meet you too! I hope we keep up the back and forth blog reading because you are an excellent writer and I think I could learn from you as well as be inspired.
Val,
I tagged you on the Prolific Blogger Award. Not being very tech savvy, I am not sure how to properly recognize you, but if you will go to Sharon of Australia on my blogroll and follow the prompts on her blog it’ll connect you to a lot of cool people not only in Australia but around the world. She is a writer there I enjoy, and I know they will like your work and your blog.
Dr. B
Dr. B, you are definitely bluegrass cool and sweet too.
I’ll make my way over there now.
Bonjour … about all the French I can muster, but I dropped in to look around and enjoyed much of what I read, primarily your poetry since that is my primary interest. Will drop in again to see what’s new from time to time.
Bonjour Pourpre! Luckily, french is not a requirement for this blog.
Drop in anytime and thank you for liking my very rudimentary and basic verse. I have no idea what the hell I’m doing poetically you know, but if enough people encourage me, I may inflict it on the blogosphere for freaking ever! 
besoin de verifier:)
Pour quoi faire?
Val. I am back! Please read my latest entry on my blog (six months later). I am sending this request to a few select people to help me in the next (scary) phase of my life. I would love to hear your comments. Best, Kelly
Hi Kellie! What a wonderful surprise this is, to see you here commenting. I thought you left the blog. I’ve just been to you site and left some words. What you are doing is fascinating and damn worthy. I’m going to following your progress because A. I like you and B. I think you are on a brilliant road of self discovery. hugs
Merci, thank you!