Joseph O'Connell
Teaching Experience
Austin Community College since 1997 have taught English courses including composition and literature; and creative writing courses including fiction, memoir, poetry, screenwriting. Also teach honors courses with an emphasis on Texas literature and the Literature of War.
Retired as associate professor of English, August 2023
Returned as adjunct teaching select English/Creative Writing classes in Spring 2024
Served as adviser to the Rio Review, ACC's literary journal 2022-23.
From 2012-2020 was Coordinator of the Balcones Fiction Prize given out annually by Austin Community College to the best book of fiction published in the previous calendar year.
St. Edward's University:
From 1995-2005 taught creative writing, journalism and composition both in the traditional and New College undergraduate programs. Advised the Hilltop Views student newspaper from 1998 to 2004.
From 2005-2017 taught fiction and nonfiction workshops in the Master of Liberal Arts program and supervised graduate final projects
From 2007-2018 taught Texas Literature through ACC to visiting students from Odense Tekniske Gymnasium
UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY, Cincinnati, OH: Served as adjunct member of Ph.D. dissertation committee for creative writing student.
More information at my ACC web site or my blog.
Awards
Winner, North Texas Book Award in Fiction
Finalist, Writers League of Texas Book Award in Fiction
First prize in fiction, Deep South Writers Conference
First place, fiction, Louzelle Rose Barclay Literary Awards
Student Newspaper Adviser of the Year (St. Edward's University), Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
Professional Publications
Currently writing: The Contortionists, a book of historical fiction, through the Book Project of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop.
Documentary films: Director/producer of Danger God (aka Love and Other Stunts), released streaming/DVD/Blu-ray in 2020; Rondo and Bob released streaming in 2022.
Wrote introduction to creative writing collection : A Fire to Light Our Tongues, 2022, TCU Press
Novel in stories: Evacuation Plan: A novel from the hospice, 2007, Dalton.
Short fiction in: Lullwater Review, Other Voices, Apocalypse, Confrontation, The G.W. Review, Lynx Eye, Fugue, Chiron Review, New Texas.
Film industry columnist: Formerly for The Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman and The Austin Chronicle.
Free-lance articles and reviews, primarily about film and literature in: The Writer's Chronicle, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, San Antonio Express-News, Texas Co-op Power News, Texas Monthly, Variety, Video Business.
Formerly a newspaper reporter/editor for: the Austin American-Statesman, Temple Daily Telegram, Victoria Advocate, Lockhart Post-Register, Austin Light.
Personal essays: Frequently in the Austin American-Statesman, 1995-2000; also in San Antonio Express-News and Sorin Oak Review.
Radio/Stage: Essay written/read by me on To Kill a Mockingbird aired during "All Things Considered on Austin NPR affiliate KUT-FM; Short story "Hangover" produced as a radio play (narrated by me) on radio stations in Austin and San Antonio; Short story "The Gambler" adapted as a stage play during Frontera Fest.
Published: June 26, 2025