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Joshua T. Whaley's life has been an unusual and captivating journey, shaped by influences as eclectic as horror movies, heavy metal music, and extraordinary professional and personal experiences. Raised in a household where horror films were the norm, Joshua's childhood was a mosaic of cinematic chills. His parents, avid fans of the genre, introduced him to movies like Halloween 2 and Ghost Story at an early age. He vividly recalls watching Friday the 13th, Part 3, and A Nightmare on Elm Street during their cable premieres—a profound influence on a young, impressionable mind.

As a teenager, he lived up to his reputation as a troublemaker. His days were intertwined with horror films by Fulci and Argento, borrowed from a local mom-and-pop video store, and fueled by the adrenaline of skateboarding to the backdrop of Metallica, Slayer, and Iron Maiden. Long hair, band t-shirts, skinny jeans, and combat boots formed his armor as he and his friends navigated the carefree chaos of the 1980s.

When Joshua turned eighteen, life presented him with two stark choices: the military or jail. He opted for the former, joining the Navy and embarking on a three-year adventure across the Caribbean and South America. Though naval life was grueling, Joshua cherishes moments of discovery—hiking in the Panamanian rainforest, snorkeling in Saint Croix, and exploring archaeological wonders in Ecuador.

After his military service, Joshua's path took an unconventional turn. He worked for the Broward County Medical Examiner, assisting in the collection of deceased bodies before transitioning into the funeral home industry. He later pursued a degree in Criminal Justice, which led him to become a police officer for a brief period. Yet, the role didn't resonate with him, prompting a bold relocation to the West Coast.

Joshua's writing journey began over 15 years ago with the publication of The Prophecy of Zechariah and The In'Ferno Effect. Like many first-time authors, he underestimated the value of a professional editor, relying instead on a thesaurus to refine his storytelling. Though the grammar was shaky, the narratives themselves held promise. Recognizing his initial errors, Joshua put writing aside temporarily, focusing on public safety and carpentry, before reigniting his passion with Lost Cannibal Manifesto. This time, he meticulously learned from his past mistakes, crafting a story he believed horror fans would adore.

As his writing evolved, Joshua revisited his earlier works, polishing them into something he could finally be proud of. From there, he continued to produce novels and anthologies from his home in the Pacific Northwest.

Yet, life dealt Joshua an unforeseen challenge. In 2021, he began experiencing severe stomach cramps, sporadic but debilitating. Though he initially dismissed them as stress-induced ulcers, the pain escalated. Only a few days into 2024, as he worked on a new book in his studio, the cramps intensified. Seeking relief, he drank Pepto-Bismol—a remedy that had often helped—but found no reprieve. Within minutes, his body felt ablaze, his skin reddened, and sweat poured from him as though he were submerged in unbearable heat.

Overcome with disorientation and panic, Joshua fled to the guest bathroom, turning the shower to its coldest setting in a desperate attempt to cool down. As he reached for the diverter, darkness enveloped him. Fear gripped him as his vision went black and thoughts of death swirled, knowing his wife and golden retriever were peacefully asleep down the hall, unaware of his turmoil.

When his consciousness finally returned, Joshua found himself shivering in a full tub filled with icy water that was ready to overflow while the shower was still running. Was it a near-death experience? He cannot say for sure, but the event was unlike anything he had ever endured. Strangely, it mirrored the fiery demise of characters in his philosophical novel, The In'Ferno Effect. The eerie coincidence and luck that he had not drowned left Joshua pondering whether the connection was a mere chance—or something more profound. 

As a result of this question, Joshua embarked on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. He read everything he could from the ancients, including the Enuma Elish, the Bible, the Nag Hammadi Scriptures, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead, among many esoteric others. With this new outlook on life, one where he realized that we are all living on borrowed time and every breath is a blessing, he embarked on a new journey with his writing career, hoping to inspire others with what he had learned.

You will be happy to know that Joshua has discovered he has an allergy to beef and pork products, which has led him to practice a pescatarian diet, meaning he is a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish. Because of this change, Joshua no longer suffers from the debilitating stomach cramps.

As Joshua is semi-retired, choosing to work as a carpenter three days a week, he enjoys the lakes, rivers, and breathtaking ocean beaches of Oregon and Washington when not typing away on his keyboard. His hobbies include paddleboarding, windsurfing, and surfing, among others. However, his time spent with his golden retriever named Lancelot seems to be his favorite. The metal music of his past has evolved into the softer, more spiritual sounds of reggae, and he believes that Bob Marley is one of his greatest teachers. If you ask him to quote the lyrics from a Marley song, chances are he can recite them verbatim. Yet, the occasional Iron Maiden song will still put a big smile on his face.

This story of survival, creativity, and resilience is not just the story of Joshua T. Whaley's life but a testament to the unpredictable paths that shape us and the extraordinary tales waiting to be told.