Hello my lovelies!
Today is my first day back after a much needed three week break from book blogging and I couldn’t be happier! My first week off was a welcome relief and had me questioning whether I wanted to continue running Rabid Reads. But by the second week I came down with serious case of blogging withdrawal and I had my answer.
I wasn’t completely idle during my vacation. I read a couple of ARC’s that have been burning a hole in my Kobo Vox and got hooked on the controversial Fifty Shades series (I’ll be posting reviews shortly). Last but not least, I put out a call for an associate reviewer and was lucky enough to find one! So, with no further ado, please join me in welcoming:
Hi, my name is Josh and I like cats, reading, and writing. I am as of yet unpublished in the literary ‘zines but I am hoping to remedy that soon. As for reading, I like literary anything including sci-fi and paranormal romance. The latter is pretty much new territory for me, but I am hoping to buff up on it quickly.
My relationships with cats pretty much go back to my childhood. We have always had a cat in the house. I guess I should mention now that I am based out of Virginia Beach, land of battleships and boardwalks. Although it is a hopping place, I am pretty insular, once again, looking to write up a storm.
But back to cats. The love of my life, Isabelle, recently died from a lack of potassium. She had had a bad kidney for awhile. But she finally stopped eating and passed about four weeks ago. Losing a pet as you hear can be as hard as losing a family member. I feel, however, that I have lost a part of myself, the part that constantly hungered for the sink to be turned on, to hop up on the desk, or to lay in a greasy pizza box. It has been bizarre to continue. Cats, in some way, shape, or form, have been an integral part of my own literature with Isabelle being my primary model since I have begun writing. So reading werewolf fiction is a treat, as it is so often about the delicate blend between wo/man and beast – animal consciousness – which is so hard to pull off with tact and grace. I did not set out to be melodramatic in this my first post. But I have a latent tendency to do so and so I apologize for that. I also don’t transition well. My favorite writers as of now are Annie Dillard, Gary Lutz, and Clarice Lispector. Let’s hope that they soon skin-shift.
About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
welcome josh
so cool a male reviewer
Welcome aboard Josh! So sorry to hear about your cat <3 I totally share the feeling being a cat lover myself.
Where did you dig up a male reviewer Carmel?
@roro I know! I couldn’t resist when he applied.
@Tynga Sheer dumb luck. LOL I was shocked when he applied.
hi Carmel! welcome back from your much needed break. a HUGE welcome to Josh as well.
Welcome Josh! Happy to see you as a part of Carmel’s team and I am so sorry for your kitty loss – I know I will be devastated when the inevitable happens to my kitties one day. *hugs*
Looking forward to reading some reviews and to see what books pique your interest most. 🙂
Carmel – that is pretty awesome that your found a reviewer so quickly and a guy at that. Very interesting – I’m excited to read reviews from a guy. 🙂
Thanks @Ao Bibliophile !
@Chrystal Me too, it’s always interesting to get a male perspective. 🙂
Welcome back Carmel and hi Josh! It’ll be interesting to read reviews by a male reviewer.
Welcome back Carmel! Good to see you missed us as much as we missed you 😉
And welcome Josh! Sorry to hear about your cat, it’s a horrible thing to go through :-(. Looking forward to reading your reviews!
CARMEL!!! *hugs* Welcome back!! *sniffle* We missed you! Welcome Josh! I’m so sorry about your cat 🙁 It’s horrible to go through that, no matter what pet you have. I can’t wait to read your reviews!
Hello Josh! Welcome! 😀
Hi Josh! Sorry to hear your cat died – like you said, it feels like losing a family member.
I’m looking forward to your reviews!
@Paranormal Haven Thanks and that seems to be the consensus.
@Kat Balcombe Good to know that I was missed. 😛
@Ruby Thanks chicka! 🙂
That’amazing! Congrats! Josh, welcome and so sorry about your cat! I’m a cat person myself and it’s always heartbreaking to lose one. Here’s to new beginnings!
Carmel–it is awesome to see you’re back!
Josh, I am a big cat fan, and losing one IS losing a family member. My heartfelt condolences to you. Welcome, by the way–I look forward to reading your reviews!
Welcome back and Hello Josh. I have 2 cats, both strays. They wandered into my garden one day and refused to leave 🙂
Welcome Josh, i hope you will enjoy to be here with us. I’m also sorry to hear from you cat ( and she had the same first name than me…)
take care
Welcome Josh, sorry Isabelle is gone but she apparently left you with wonderful memories to treasure.
Being the human slave of my own 2 cats has been an experience as prior to 9 years ago cats were outdoor pets so the relationship dynamic is totally different, and priceless!
Welcome back Carmel, glad you found help and glad you had time to recharge.
Thanks @CS-Connie Suttle !
Thanks @emmameade.com ! Cats do have a tendency of doing that sometimes. 😉
@Jackie Burris Happy to be back! 🙂
Welcome Josh! this is awesome! Seems that Carmel found the perfect voice for her blog, looking forward to your reviews. Sorry to hear about your Cat 🙁 as a pet owner myself I now exactly how you feel.
Carmel, I missed you!
@roro Thanks. It’s definitely not yet my end of the woods.
@Tynga Thanks for the condolences.
For me, there really was no digging involved. Just spooky level google search timing.
@Ao Bibliophile Thanks. I definitely feel welcome to be here.
@Chrystal Well there are some kitties who are more troubling than others. Isabelle happened to be one of those. She lived much longer than I anticipated but her end was still incredibly abrupt. Thanks for the condolences.
@Paranormal Haven Thanks. I hope to keep it interesting!
@Kat Balcombe I look forward to making them. This was my post looking backwards to look forwards. That’s some cat logic there. Thanks for the condolences.
@Ruby I can’t wait to write them. Thanks for the condolences. I’ll try to keep the cat news to the margins from here on out, though.
@Nicola Thanks. It’s good to be here.
@Celine Hi Celine! Thanks for the condolences. The reviews to follow will be very good.
@kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews Yes, that’s the right attitude to have! I dedicate the reviews to come to all of catkind! (and werewolves)
@CS-Connie Suttle Thanks for the condolences. I know it was very odd having an intro post hijacked by a cat but they can do that.
@emmameade.com Very cool. It’s great when they want to stay. My cat wouldn’t let me hold her for more than a minute before she started getting pawy.
@miki Thank you. I’m very sure I will enjoy it here. Isabelle is well-missed.
@Jackie Burris Thank you. She certainly has left memories and hair (she was a heavy shedder). And even with her gone, I continue to be her slave.
@Lupdilup Thanks. It’s comments like yours that make me confident in my position here.
@Lupdilup Thanks for the love! I missed you too. 😛
Welcome to the blogosphere Josh. Looking forward to reading your reviews!