Saturday, April 28, 2012

Hello Stranger


My short story collection, High Stakes, is now on Amazon. While the trade paperback is currently $11.99 you’re going to be able to pick up the eBook for free. That’s right, FREE. How, you might ask?  Subscribe to this blog. That’s how.

I plan to promote the book by giving copies away on Amazon. The moment the promotion is available, I’ll contact the subscribers of this blog. You’ll be the first to find out about it.

Writers are nothing with out readers. So I want to meet you. I want us to start a good relationship. Subscribe and you’ll be the first to discover free giveaways, interesting stories and meet me. I want this relationship to work.


Book Description

Dark fiction writer Joel Betancourt’s short story collection delves into matters that create our core. You’ll find twenty-seven stories involving obsessed artists, vampire dolls, and desperate gamblers. These are just a few of the interesting characters you’ll meet playing for High Stakes.


Editorial Reviews

"Joel Betancourt's writing is dazzling ... brilliant ... Sharp dialog and surprising, even shocking plots (many of which deal with heart-breaking loss) make this collection a fantastic read. Betancourt's a powerful new voice in fiction of the weird and fantastic." --Rick Hautala, author of Occasional Demons and Indian Summer

"Betancourt is especially adept at subtly bending the reader's mind, using words that flow like smooth jazz to uncover parts of human nature hidden in the shadows..." --Pitch Black, editor and publisher of Horror Garage

"Betancourt's short works appear to emanate from a dark, fevered mind ... Already well known for his Horror, this collection of tales display the depth and diversity of his talent. Bolt the doors and lock the windows." --Graeme Johns, author of Immortal Desire and Situation Sabotage

"Betancourt has compiled an excellent collection of stories in High Stakes ... His stories make you stop and think ... I highly recommend this collection." --Colleen Wanglund, reviewer for The Horror Fiction Review

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

It all Started with a Simple Departure

Do you remember in school when the teacher was sick or it was close to vacation and you’d come into class to find a television in front of the room? Do you remember that pleasant, thank the stars, feeling you’d get. Well, guess what? Today's your lucky day.


                                                           Departure Part I



                                                           Departure Part II



                                                           Departure Part III



Departure was the first script I wrote. Actually, co wrote with a close friend of mine, Mike Demers. Ross Yabut was the editor, camera man and all around tech genius that pulled it together. There was also a long list of other people as well as the actors that helped make this small dream come true. We struggled through several nights of hell back in 2002 to get this thing made. Co writing and directing this film was the beginning for me. I’ve wanted to be a story teller ever since.


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Learning the Ropes

Welcome to my blog. I am currently reviewing material and plan to have a few things up shortly.