The Dark and Bizarre Works of
Notorious News, Freaky Features,
Creepy Commentary, and Macabre Mayhem
Straight From the Dark and Bizarre World of Joe Townsel ...
FOLLOW APPEARANCES OF JOE TOWNSEL ONLINE WITH NEW WEBCASTS PAGE
NEWS
March 9, 2022
Your favorite Dark and Bizarre Author is now making regular appearances as guest/commentator/cut-up on some great, entertaining and compelling webcasts! There's several to enjoy now, and more to look forward to in the weeks ahead! Join us, won't you?
JUST IN TIME FOR THE "HOrrordays":
MATE TO ORDER
NEWS
December 6, 2020
Knocking your head against the wall, perplexed as to what would make the perfect gift for yourself, or even your fellow horror buff? Wonder no more, dear reader! My new novel, Mate to Order, is now available in all e-book formats and trade paperback (an epic-length stocking stuffer)!
BUY MATE TO ORDER
Also still available: All of my other works to complete your Dark and Bizarre Library! Follow the links below to order today!
BUY FURY DUTY | THE UNFRIEND ZONE | ANTICIPATION
While you're here, enjoy the newly-updated and enhanced joetownsel.com!
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New home page, with video book trailers and social media links.
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New News, Features and Commentaries section.
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Easier ordering of your favorite Joe Townsel books.
Enjoy your visit to the new and improved JOETOWNSEL.COM!
The end of smiles
FEATURE
October 19, 2020
Endangered.
Is it humankind itself, or the capacity to live?
Her soul and compassion are shielded from view.
His strength and humor are not to be seen.
For how long? Is it up to us?
Shrouded.
The mask hides another mask, lying beneath, less superficial.
The mask hides the malice of some, the kindness of others.
The mask is our savior. The mask is our jailer.
It is all of these things. It is none of these things.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN ... AGAIN
NEWS
March 13, 2020
Writers Digest is the premiere periodical and website for aspiring and professional authors. Part of the services the editors provide to writers is to enter competitions in a variety of categories and genres. Through the process, the writer gets valuable comments from the judges on his or her work.
Last year, I published Fury Duty, which I entered into the 27th Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Hardcopy Book and Ebook Awards. These are two distinct competitions with different judges. I'm happy to share the critique the judges from these prestigious competitions.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN
NEWS
March 3, 2019
Writers Digest is the premiere periodical and website for aspiring and professional authors. Part of the services the editors provide to writers is to enter competitions in a variety of categories and genres. Through the process, the writer gets valuable comments from the judges on his or her work.
Last year, I published The Unfriend Zone, which I entered into two Writers Digest competitions. I'm happy to share the critiques from the two judges.
The visitor at the door
FEATURE
May 30, 2017
My drowning pool is but the size of a grave,
Its waters engulf me, the killing tides cascade,
As I struggle against death, I wonder if I’m worthy to save,
But beyond the pool, as if on a distant shore,
I see the visitor at the door.
Beyond the drowning pool, there is a beckoning light,
My reach is gone, my arms paralyzed, adding to my fright,
I sink deeper into the dark unknown, permanent night,
But he remains with me, this man I cannot ignore,
He gives me strength, the visitor at the door.
THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE DAY - READ BY THE AUTHOR
FEATURE
April 30, 2017
Just a little bedtime story to keep you nervous about what might be lurking in the closet!
"Things That Go Bump in the Day" is one of my stories in Anticipation. I hope you are terrified and delighted after listening to this reading by the author.
Enjoy! And sweet dreams, little ones.
defending the dead
COMMENTARY
April 20, 2017
Season Seven of "The Walking Dead" is a wrap, but it remains a hot topic of discussion on the fanboy sites. Probably because it's been, by far, the most controversial season of the hit series (even before it got started).
Surprisingly, many of the plot points and characters of the TV show that have divided fans (extreme and casual alike) are based on the most popular era from the source material: the comics.
Frankly, I don't get it why Season Seven has gotten (and continues to get) such a bad rap. Maybe I'll understand it better if I address some of the more common criticisms head on:
the four r's
OR
REMAKES AND REBOOTS AND REHASHES AND REVIVALS ... OH MY
COMMENTARY
April 10, 2017
REMAKES ... AD NAUSEUM
Is Hollywood really running out of ideas? Maybe. But why should Hollywood be any different than this year's presidential candidates? (Just kidding. Sort of.)
Or maybe Hollywood is not running out of ideas. At least in terms of repackaging and rebranding.
Maybe it depends on the medium. If we're talking television, many viewers consider this to be a new golden age of the good ol' boob tube. However, if we're talking movies, it seems (especially in summer blockbuster season), that a lot of stuff playing on the silver screen is creatively bankrupt.
OFF THE GRIDIRON
COMMENTARY
February 5, 2017
Happy Super Bowl Sunday, everyone!
Today, it's all about the big game. But after the last post-game show is over, and Super Bowl LI highlights run their course on the 11:00 news, we can all still find post-season thrills in the many football-themed movies from the last several decades. Many football classics are also all about the big game. Classic football movies that lead up to the exciting climax of the big game? Far too many to list here.
Others give us inspiration as we follow the journeys of the players off the gridiron. In this blog entry, I'll concentrate on the latter category. Here a few of my personal favorites.