About Me

Photo by Casey Fatchett Photography, http://www.fatchett.com

Joe Lunievicz has excelled in many areas over the years – as competitive fencer, public speaker, yoga instructor, and improvisational actor – but in his heart he always knew he was a writer. For years he wrote early in the morning before work and then, after his son was born, late into the night.

At 16, Joe began writing stories, essays, and poetry that illuminated the unique subcultures he’s been part of in his native home of New York. His work has explored the worlds of amateur rugby and fencing, fantasy and science fiction gaming, and stage combat and theatre. These experiences certainly inspired Joe’s debut novel, Open Wounds (WestSide Books, May 2011). His fiction and poetry have appeared in Smoke Magazine, Playboy.com, Rugby, Dragon Magazine, Another Chicago Magazine, and Mothering.

His honors and awards for writing include:
• “Game Face,” Aberrations, Issue #20, 1994 – Honorable Mention: The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, 1995, Datlow and Windling
• The Pell, a one-act play, selected to be performed at the OPAL One-ACT Play Pulse Ensemble Theatre Festival, January 2002
• Old Chatham Fiction Workshop, Old Chatham, NY, Scholarship, 7/95
• Ragdale Foundation Writers Retreat, Lake Forest, IL, Invited for two-week residences in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003
• Wesleyan Writer’s Conference. Wesleyan University, CT, Jakobson Scholarship, 6/95

Joe is also a sought-after national speaker on diversity issues, drug treatment, team building, HIV/AIDS, and public speaking (despite being terrified of it as a child!).
A graduate of C.W. Post Long Island University, Joe attended both the City College of New York’s graduate creative writing program, (where he studied with William Matthews), and Stony Brook University’s continuing education program. He performed with the KLAATU improvisational comedy troupe for 4 years. In 2007, Joe earned his teaching certification from the Lotus School of Yoga in New York City and has been teaching ever since.

Joe started fencing 30 years ago. He was fascinated with the sport as a child after seeing Captain Blood and The Mark of Zorro. A lover of all sports, Joe played rugby for 16 years in the New York Metropolitan Rugby Union with the Long Island Rhinos Rugby Football club. He also served in the Peace Corp for 2 1/2 years in Honduras.

Joe lives in Queens, New York with his wife and son.