C. C. Harper - Author

The other day I was thinking to myself “When did I start writing? Was it before or after I developed my extreme fondness for reading?” I’m not really sure, but my perception tells me they manifested at about the same time. Of course as a child I read quite frequently and even with my friends we were always playing and telling stories to each other. Yet, that was not writing.  The first time I remember writing a story was when I was “talking”, with a friend of mine, through notes we used to put in each other’s mailbox. They were not exactly letters, they were more like the 80’s version of WhatsApp messages, but in handwriting, some were a lot more extensive and there was no shortening or contraction of words, which - by the way - I find it to be one of the most vile and hideous manner of stabbing a language in its written form.  Anyway, our storytelling game started with a dream, or a nightmare depending on the perspective. Though I think it wasn’t really a nightmare, it was on...

    Yesterday, on Instagram I came across a post - on one of my fellow authors’ account - about this trend of criticizing adults for reading YA books. I have to admit that I was completely oblivious to it, but apparently it has sparked a fair amount of debate in recent years. Personally I found it such an odd behavior that I nearly dismissed it. But after replying “I don’t think there’s much to understand” to Tanya, I started thinking that I actually might be wrong, and there is something here that requires to be studied, analyzed and understood.   I didn’t have much time to think about it thoroughly, with all the variables and elements that might be involved, but I firmly believe that criticizing someone's reading choices is counterproductive. In my opinion reading, in any form, is a valuable activity, and people should do it more often. So, I decided to get it out of my system in an exploratory manner, approaching as many hypotheses as I could think of and this is ...

  As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, millions of us engage in a time-honored ritual: setting New Year resolutions. From promises to eat healthier, exercise more, or finally learn that second language, we embark on this journey of self-improvement with high hopes and determination. Yet, as the weeks roll by, these resolutions often dissolve into the chaos of daily life. By February, the gyms start to empty, journals gather dust, and the motivation that seemed so abundant fades into a familiar routine. Why is this so common? And more importantly, is there a better way to approach self-growth and fulfillment? The answer lies in embracing a philosophy that has stood the test of time: Carpe diem! The problem with New Year Resolutions is that the concept is deeply flawed. It implies that meaningful changes must be tied to a calendar date—that January 1st holds some sort of magical power to reset our habits and mindset. Take a habit; for example, it takes at least 60 days to ...