Wednesday, September 9, 2009

ABOUT

After one year spent reviewing, sticking to this category of blogging and this community, brimming with eager and avid readers smacked hard by the speculative fiction fairy I feel confident enough to create an ‘About’ page and finally give some insight on what goes on in this slice of ever changing chaos.

Although the anniversary of my blog came and went some months ago, a subtle something prompted me to steer my blogging one step further in hopes of sounding more mature or at least as professional as other more popular blogs. With this invisible milestone passed I am presenting a short and hopefully insightful page for possible readers and presses alike.

ABOUT:

My name is Harry Markov, but I’d gather you already know that from the small bio blurb on my blog, so I’ll move on. I have been born, raised and currently residing in Bulgaria, Eastern Europe, where I am ploughing through my International Economic Relations degree. I plan on storming the SF&F literary scene with a number of novels in an eclectic mash of genres, but so far the heavy artillery is the works. As we speak I am also planning the launch of a proper author’s blog dedicated to my writing ramblings.

My addiction to speculative fiction stems from Japanese anime series, which introduced me to worlds I only wished existed. As my tastes evolved from the childish Digimon to the bloody Hellsing I was introduced to Rowling at the age of 11, then to Tolkien, Le Guin and Pratchett. The rest is pretty much a natural progression. The Internet along with blogging introduced me to the newest titles, containing, action, gore, magic and that weirdness I enjoy so much.

“Temple Library Reviews” is the extension to my addiction, an online reading journal to remedy the problem with my short memory and also a valuable tool to keep plugged in the fast growing SF&F scene that seems so far away from my small country.

GUIDELINES:

I review literary works of any lengths and formats. Novels, novellas, short stories, magazines and e-zines, anthologies and comic books. I welcome everything as long as it’s in either of these genres:

* Fantasy: I don’t have a favorite sub genre, so everything from epic to urban is accepted.
* Science Fiction: This is a field I read less in, but has been rewarding no matter the pick.
* Horror & Gothic: I like the good scare as well as the good dread and the moody melancholy. If it’s dark, bring it on.
* Cross Genres: I am open to paranormal romance, alternative history, steampunk, literary with bizarre tropes or world building or with an active spiritual/mystical/supernatural tone.
* Non Fiction: If it concerns anything above.
* Comic Books / Graphic Novels / Manga: As long as they fit the genre categories above.

I am not easily disturbed and I am open to any and all subjects, if they are vital to the story and serve as an exploration of the dark recesses of the human mind that we like to pretend are in check. GLBT content is okay with me and I don’t shy from violence, if it is fully necessary to the story. As a young, hot blooded man, I don’t mind sex in fiction and steamy paranormal romance is never a bad thing every once in a while, but I am not open to erotica, though I may make an exception, or reviewing pornography.

Since I started covering the newer releases without doing the basics first I have embarked on detailed reading of already famous or older series on my way to fantasy enlightenment. So I am sad to announce that I would have to screen what I read. This means that I will not accept self-published work any more.

17 comments:

Todd Newton said...

Woo, glad I got my review in before you laid down the "No Self-Pub" law.

Harry Markov said...

I would have succumbed for you anyway.

ediFanoB said...

Fingers crossed for your novels.

Harry Markov said...

Aw, shucks. Thanks Michael.

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com
Good luck & I love the blog!!!

Bookfool said...

Look at you! You're so cute!! Not at all like your avatar. LOL I stopped accepting self-pubbed books a while back, too. I'm sorry to say (because some of them were brilliant and it's sad for those authors, who lose credibility points by ending up in the self-pubbed crowd) the vast majority were so awful that I felt obligated to give them up. I was reading way, way too many bad books.

Good luck with your writing! I'm working on scaling back my blogging time so that I can get back to writing, too.

Kat Hooper said...

Hi Harry,
I like your shorts. And that ironwork behind you is awesome!
Kat

Harry Markov said...

@ Shawna: Thank you for the compliment!

@ Bookfool: Yes, exactly. This is the same reason. I have too many books to read as it is and no time to screen through self published novels.

@ Kat: The ironwork is the fence of my university. Very classic. And thanks. I like those shorts, even though I have the hardest time matching them to a shirt.

Mark David said...

It's certainly a pleasure learning about you and your blog Harry. I do get that sense of maturity and professionalism from your writings, so really can be confident about that. You and Carl V. are my premiere sources for speculative fiction right now, and both of you sure convinced me to give that genre a try (I'm hoping to read plenty of that next year).

It'd be nice to read your own works of fiction. Do let us know as soon as the new site for that is up. Best wishes on your writing endeavors! :)

Harry Markov said...

@ Mark David: I hope I don't disappoint further on with my reading recommendations. Thank you for stopping by and I hope that a year from now I will sound even more mature in my reviews.

I will let you guys know, when I start the new blog.

Mark David said...

By the way, I've been meaning to write a new About page myself but just haven't gotten around it yet. I was thinking of writing something with a narrative feel. Since you posted your new About page, you've just inspired me to start working on mine. Thanks :)

Harry Markov said...

I have been meaning to complete one for some time now, ever since I did the whole layout change, but time was always against me and when I had time I relaxed. Yesterday I said, enough is enough.

Mark David said...

"Enough is Enough!" hehe, you know what, you're right. I'll start writing mine tonight :) Have a good day ahead of you Harry!

Ana said...

oooooooo, hello there Harryster!

*grin*

Harry Markov said...

YES! I finally reveal my true face!

PS: Hello.

bloggeratf said...

I like the new pic much better :P

cynfulcharm said...

Hi Harry, and all visitors, Hello,

I am the author of the supernatural thriller/horror series DEMON HUNTER and I would like to inquire how I could get a novel review or guest interview on your blog.

You can see more about DEMON HUNTER Here: http://www.cynthiavespia.com/Book_Titles/Demon_Hunter/demon_hunter.html


Let me know if you need any further information.

Thank you.

Cynthia Vespia
www.cynsights.blogspot.com

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