January 17 / Haralambi Markov / Book Reviews

[Friday Story Dissection] “The Jacaranda Wife” by Angela Slatter

The Girl With No Hands Angela Slatter

Title: “The Girl with No Hands & Other Tales”
Author: Angela Slatter
Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale / Lore
Pages: 210
Type: Collection
Stories: 16

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What’s Friday Story Dissection?

It’s a weekly feature on the blog where I cast a more in-depth look into short stories, either in a collection or in an anthology. The idea is for these short stories to exist within the context of a loose narrative, determined by a theme, intent and story order intended by author or editor.

Anthologies have adopted detailed prompts to narrow down the wiggle space of submissions, thus creating a more focused narrative. I believe short story collections tell a larger story with individual stories feeding off and layering a top each other. Read More [Friday Story Dissection] “The Jacaranda Wife” by Angela Slatter

January 17 / Haralambi Markov / Uncategorized

[Cocktail Recipe] Kelly Link’s Octopus Cuddler

Last night during my all-nighter as I was chasing down a wild deadline, I found myself tweeting in the early hours of the morning (Bulgarian time) and encountered this tweet by author Kelly Link*:

Looking up drinks you make w/ cloudberry liquor. There is a drink called Kitten Cuddler, but we do not have creme de banane. So: Golden Sip.

— kellylink (@haszombiesinit) January 17, 2014

Maybe it was the sleep deprivation, but I really started thinking about why a cocktail would be named the Kitten Cuddler (pretty random name). My brain was trying to find a correlation between kitten fur and banana crème. Anyway, somehow the conversation led to this tweet: Read More [Cocktail Recipe] Kelly Link’s Octopus Cuddler

January 15 / Haralambi Markov / Uncategorized

I’m Not Dead (Yet)

I’m not dead. Things have gotten a bit quiet and I will return for the next review in my Story…

Read the Post I’m Not Dead (Yet)

January 13 / Haralambi Markov / Musings & Rants

The Reviews, Eligibility and Milestone Post

I have read many posts about reading your own reviews and many more about awards season self-promotion. I have said a lot of sage things about reading your own reviews as in “do not read reviews” and “I’m way too shy to promote my own work”, but do I do as I say?

Far from it.

Ever since “The Fungi That Talk Softly” came out I’ve been super hyped about it. It’s one of the stories I consider a milestone in my writing as it departed from how I normally approach a story. It’s certainly a publishing milestone as it made its way into one of my prized markets.

Chances are I won’t shut up about it soon and this post aims to illuminate why.* Read More The Reviews, Eligibility and Milestone Post

January 12 / Haralambi Markov / Music

Song for Sunday: DWV “That Christmas Song”

Drag queens are one of my biggest inspirations. There is no one braver than a man who puts on female…

Read the Post Song for Sunday: DWV “That Christmas Song”

January 10 / Haralambi Markov / Book Reviews

[Friday Story Dissection] “The Living Book” by Angela Slatter

The Girl With No Hands Angela Slatter

Title: “The Girl with No Hands & Other Tales”
Author: Angela Slatter
Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale / Lore
Pages: 210
Type: Collection
Stories: 16

—
What’s Friday Story Dissection?

It’s a weekly feature on the blog where I cast a more in-depth look into short stories, either in a collection or in an anthology. The idea is for these short stories to exist within the context of a loose narrative, determined by a theme, intent and story order intended by author or editor.

Anthologies have adopted detailed prompts to narrow down the wiggle space of submissions, thus creating a more focused narrative. I believe short story collections tell a larger story with individual stories feeding off and layering a top each other. Read More [Friday Story Dissection] “The Living Book” by Angela Slatter

January 8 / Haralambi Markov / Promotional Work

Mushrooms in My Story: The Aseroe Rubra

What’s with the sudden mushroom business? Is this a mushroom blog now? And why does this mushroom like Cthulhu wearing lipstick?

I have questions for the first two questions and nothing to say about the last one, even though it is I who asked it.

This is most certainly not a blog dedicated to mushrooms though I will have a series of posts up on mushrooms in the days to come to promote Electric Velocipede’s very last issue. BUY THE ISSUE! BUY ALL THE ISSUES!

My story “The Fungi That Talk Softly” name drops random scientific names for fungi for emphasis and while that creates a certain atmosphere, names are meaningless without a visual. Read More Mushrooms in My Story: The Aseroe Rubra

January 7 / Haralambi Markov / Art

Some Days You Have to Lean Back and Lose Yourself in Pinterest Quotes

Read the Post Some Days You Have to Lean Back and Lose Yourself in Pinterest Quotes

January 6 / Haralambi Markov / Promotional Work

“Tales of the Fox & Fae” is OUT!

Yesterday, I learned another awesome thing I’m in has become available for purchase. I’m so talking about the “Tales of the Fox & Fae” (follow the link) edited by Adele Wearing and published by Fox Spirit Books. The paperback can be ordered through Amazon with an e-book soon to follow.

My story “The Woman and the Jar of Words” was tremendous fun to write as I went for a post-apocalyptic Japan with traditional akuma existing as horrifying experiments. Spiders, foxes and a badass swordswoman. Awesome, eh? Here’s more about the anthology. Read More “Tales of the Fox & Fae” is OUT!

January 5 / Haralambi Markov / Music

Song for Sunday: The Reverse Narrative in Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Sacrilege”

I adore the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Even though I can’t say I love everything they put out, there’s magic in what they do and Karen O can sing anyone into a trance. For this Sunday’s musical offering, I have selected a newer single “Sacrilege”, which has one of the most dramatic and cinematic video experiences ever. Read More Song for Sunday: The Reverse Narrative in Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Sacrilege”