This Sunday night, Mike and Tim will be talking to paranormal writer and enthusiast Joe Augustyn!

Joe Augustyn is the author of the new book “GHOSTWRITER – THE POLAROID GHOST & OTHER TRUE TALES OF THE PARANORMAL” A collection of true ghost stories that includes the story of a friend’s house in Los Angeles where dozens of ghost polaroids were taken, photos that have never been debunked despite the efforts of many investigators and technical experts. The house has been featured on several TV shows, from “Sightings†to “Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files.†Joe personally experienced paranormal activity at the house, as well at other places he writes about in the book.

Augustyn started writing short stories in grade school. Visually oriented and drawn to the arts, he considered a career as a fine art painter before deciding to study film, a medium that allowed him to satisfy all of his creative impulses. While a freshman in college he won a Nissan FOCUS Award in a writing category. The other 10 winners were all grad students. The award ceremony brought him to Hollywood, and acceptance into AFI’s Center For Advance Film and Video Studies, the USA’s national film academy, on a producing fellowship.

At AFI, Joe worked on a record number of first year video productions and thesis films in positions ranging from assistant director to producer, on productions starring established actors like Christopher Walken, Steven Railsback, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stacy Keach, Alex Rocco, David Keith and Christopher lloyd. After graduation he crewed on several independent productions, as production coordinator, location manager and art department assistant. When a location accident laid him up for half a year with a crippled foot, he turned his attention back to writing. His first professional earnings as a writer came by way of a development deal on a science fiction comedy idea he pitched called “Alien in a Girls Dormitory.†The film never got made because the producers got sidetracked–hired to produce high end rock videos, a deal that led them to found Propaganda Films.

Joe completed two more paid writing assignments and then sold his first spec screenplay, a deal that allowed him creative control as producer. A lifelong horror fan, Joe’s film NIGHT OF THE DEMONS was a commercial and critical success, and a year later he produced NIGHT ANGEL, starring Karen Black and Linden Ashby. The overly ambitious and ill-fated production took a major toll on his health and he subsequently abandoned producing to focus on writing, which suited his temperament and his natural nocturnal biorhythm.

He went on to write NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2, collaborating on the story with playwright Jim Penzi. Released by Republic Pictures, it was their most successful film of the year and next to the original, was the biggest success of the franchise. Tired of working the same themes which the executive producers demanded, Joe elected not to write a second sequel. The third film was a disaster. A remake of the original was also produced without his creative involvement, and despite its much bigger budget was a creative and commercial flop.

The original film has continued gaining new fans as each generation of teen viewers discovers its quintessential 80s B movie charm.  In the decades since its initial release it has attained cult status. Zealous fans have gotten tattoos of the characters, named rock bands and songs after the movie, painted paintings of its characters and created websites dedicated to the original Night of the Demons.

Joe has since completed writing assignments and optioned his original spec screenplays to majors and indies alike. He co-wrote the action suspense film EXIT starring Shannon Whirry.

In 2001 Joe returned to his hometown of Philadelphia to shift gears and focus on writing novels. Incoming screenplay assignments from Hollywood and ghost writing deals delayed his plans, but he finally developed his prose skills and completed his first novel, THE NINE LIVES OF FELICIA MILLER. He has been very busy over the past few years writing and rewriting, and has several projects coming to fruition.

Upcoming novels include: a traditional (Romeroesque) zombie tale in the vein of Night of the Living Dead and The Walking Dead… a cautionary tale about a group of college students who experiment with a new drug, with catastrophic results… an edgy vampire novel… and an occult thriller with a military setting.

Joe is no longer writing screenplays but hopes his last screenplay HELL2PAY, a horror script with the same wry humor found in Night of the Demons, finds a home.

Active Member of The Horror Writers Association (HWA)

Website & Blog: http://wildcatpress.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joe.augustyn1

Twitter https://twitter.com/jwaugustyn

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041980/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

 Please join us on Sunday Night, May 4th, 2014

Midnight EST / 9 pm PST

Call-in number: 786-245-8127

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theouteredgeradio

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