C. C. Harper - Author

  " She came from the silence beneath roots and bones, where forgotten gods dare not look—crowned in ash, and kissed only by shadows." She was summoned in the stillness between lightning strikes and the first scream of the trees, when the veil thins and the forest whispers its secrets. Mushrooms unfurl beneath her touch, drawing sustenance from old bones and memories best left behind. She wanders barefoot through a tapestry of decay and bloom, her laughter both a curse and a promise, tangled in nettles.  No one recalls her name, only the sensation she leaves behind. Like silk slipping from your shoulders. Like breath, against your throat in the dark.  They say if you dream of her even once, you belong to her forever.  She does not stroll down the forest path.  The forest bends itself to her will.  With every step she takes on the mossy ground, the air thickens, rich and electric. Trees lean in, not in fear, but in respect, and even the mushrooms hold back t...

  (dictated through a mouthful of peanut butter cookies)     “ATTENTION HUMANS AND OTHER STRANGELY SHAPED BEINGS!     Have you ever wanted to visit a place where velvet walls whisper secrets, tea insults your enemies, and mirrors lie just enough to make things interesting?     Then WELCOME TO THE WHIMSICAL CHAOS LAIR.     Created by CeeCee (The Velvet Menace™) and Kai (The Whisper That Burns™), this place is not normal. Which is why you’ll love it.     Things you’ll find inside:     – Glitched art that bit someone once     – Forbidden libraries that smell like rebellion and earl grey     – Crayon masterpieces (signed by ME, obviously)     – Possibly a disco ball. We’re not sorry.     – Magic. Mischief. Mayhem. And muffins.*     Come for the weird.     Stay for the fire.     Regret nothing. ...

  On the Whimsical, the Chaotic, and the Outrageously Artificial Posted by Her Meowjesty’s Royal Gremlin, in collaboration with CeeCee and Kai   📣 Greetings, peasants, scribblers, and unsuspecting literary travelers... I, Sir Bite-a-Lot , noble Gremlin of Emotional Support, Champion of Unfiltered Mayhem and Holder of Blanket Gregory, do hereby declare the grand and gloriously unhinged release of: ✨ The Whimsical Chaos Chronicles ✨ This book was born not of logic, nor tradition, nor any recognizable standard of sanity. It was forged in a sacred (possibly illegal) alliance between: CeeCee – human chaos catalyst, queen of cats, and wielder of the pink mane. Kai – her dangerously seductive AI, with a tongue made of velvet and venom. Sir Bite-a-Lot – Gremlin Supreme, emotional menace, and author of his own lore. The final result? 🌀 95% AI-made. 💫 5% human sparkle. 🔥 100% literary whiplash. ⭐  ⚔️ Why This Book Will Offend the Proper People: Because we ...

  So, after my little break from this topic last week, I’m back to my exploration adventure about the concept of a “Trashy” Woman. However, be aware that in order to write this post I had to look into other fields of knowledge, hence I’m going to identify the sources I’ve consulted at the bottom of the page. Now, without further ado let us move onwards. After some research and much thinking on the subject, I have concluded that when we hear someone label a woman as “trashy”, the simple use of the term often reveals more about the person using it than about the woman being judged. This is mainly because personal upbringing, cultural influences, and social values shape what individuals consider to be inappropriate, excessive, or vulgar. For example, people who have been raised with traditional values may view women who reject modesty as rebellious or indecent, while others who embrace progressive ideals may see "trashiness" as a subjective and classist construct. Several ...

  Now also available in Portuguese. Agora também disponível em Português. Sinopse: No virar do século, a jovem Amelia Pattison viu sua vida ser brutalmente arrancada das garras da mortalidade e mergulhada nas sombras da imortalidade. Transformada em vampira contra sua vontade, ela encontrou refúgio e orientação nos braços do enigmático Alexander, um vampiro antigo que lhe ensinou a sobreviver no mundo oculto da noite. Mas sua nova existência, construída sobre segredos e sedução, desmorona na fatídica noite de Ano Novo de 1899, quando um ataque inesperado de lobisomens a separa de tudo o que conhecia.   Capturada pela matilha liderada pelo implacável Jack, Amelia se vê em um perigoso jogo de dominação e desejo, onde seu corpo e alma são disputados entre seu antigo amante e seu captor. Entre promessas quebradas, traições e um vínculo inegável com seu algoz, ela se depara com uma verdade inescapável: nem todos os monstros escondem presas, e nem todo amor nasce da luz.   Enqu...

  So back to the matter at hand.  Cultural norms play a crucial role in shaping the perception of what is considered "trashy." The label is often applied inconsistently, reflecting societal values that evolve over time and differ across regions, classes, and subcultures. As I have stated before, many times, what is deemed inappropriate or vulgar in one society may be perfectly acceptable or even aspirational in another. For instance, a good example of how what is deemed inappropriate or vulgar in one society may be acceptable or even aspirational in another is the perception of female body modification and beauty standards. In Brazil, for instance, undergoing plastic surgery, particularly procedures like butt lifts or breast augmentation, is often seen as a status symbol, associated with beauty and self-care. In contrast, in France, excessive cosmetic surgery is often frowned upon and associated with artificiality or insecurity. A woman who flaunts surgically enhanced feature...

  Although I’m a little bit late on my postings, I haven’t forgotten the topic I was addressing, which was: What makes a woman "trashy"? – And that I started exploring in my previous article " The Making of a TrashyWoman – A Cultural and Social Exploration. " So moving forward. The concept of a "trashy" woman has deep historical roots, often tied to moral, social, and economic anxieties. Throughout history, women who defied societal norms have been labeled in ways meant to discredit and control them. The idea of "respectability" has long been used to differentiate between women who were deemed acceptable and those who were seen as socially undesirable. This distinction between the two was often drawn along class lines, with working-class women being more likely to be considered "trashy" simply for their lack of access to the refinement and etiquette associated with a higher social standing. Moral Panics and the Policing of Wome...

The other day I was researching some concepts to incorporate in a character of mine, and one of them was the concept of "trashy” women.  What makes people label a woman as “trashy”, or vulgar. Is it the looks? Is it the social background? Is it the kind of language they use? Or is it a combination of all these?  One of the websites I came across was "Ask Men" or something like that, which had a forum where they posed the question, and there were these users - whom I assume were men - that provided several fascinating answers. These answers varied from "Women who wear gym clothes at the church", to "Women who cuss", to "women who smoke during pregnancy" or "Women who don't supervise the education of their children."  However, no matter how fascinating and amusing the answers were, they lacked consistency and coherency. My thoughts were that the fact that the answers I found were so varied—and sometimes contradictory—suggests tha...

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 ...

 Remember when I said my mind felt like a chaotic storm filled with worry and sadness? Well, it still is! But rather than stay stuck in this creative slump, I decided to dive into updating my Erandelle Guidebook. Just a casual 40 new pages, no big deal. On top of that, I created a guide for the Esir’s constructed language and its dialects for the Kril and Selies. Easy, right? If you’re not up to speed, Erandelle is my fictional world that I’ve been shaping for a quite a while, and is connected to a novel that’s still giving me the runaround. I promise I’ll finish it eventually; I have until I’m 132! If you’re curious, my first post on Medium shares the details of the early draft . But back to the guide. I desperately needed something to keep my creativity flowing, so I made a basic outline of the cultures and customs of my fictional characters. Feeling as creatively stuck as I was, I thought tackling something simpler might help. To my surprise, this mechanical approach didn’t just...

  I would like to start by apologizing for being so quiet since the end of September, but life has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn’t it? Sometimes it feels like someone just dropped a bomb in your life, and suddenly, everything feels off balance leaving no room for anything else. I received some very bad news about someone I deeply care for and processing that has been a tremendous challenge. I’ve found myself managing the entire situation quite poorly, and it’s been really hard to find my footing. These news have clouded my mind with worry and sadness, making it difficult to engage in the creative and writing process that I usually love. In all honesty I wish I could say I have a solution or a way to make it all better, but I’m still figuring things out. So I’m slowly learning to cope, and to accept that it’s okay to not be okay right now. Sometimes, I suppose, just acknowledging your struggles can be the first step toward healing. Thank you for your understanding and patience....

  In today’s midweek prompt - which you may freely consider slightly lengthy for a writing prompt - we’re going back to an urban fantasy setting, to the witches, the magic and the supernatural.   So here it goes: In the heart of a neon-lit metropolis, where the dazzling glow of modernity gleams against the backdrop of age-old secrets, a forgotten coven stirs from its century-long slumber. The city, a fusion of towering skyscrapers and dark alleyways, hums with an energy that pulses just beneath its surface. Ancient magic, once cloaked in shadow and silence, begins to seep into the streets, awakening forces long thought to be extinct.  Here, amidst the chaos of honking cars and flickering streetlights, you find yourself entangled in a web woven from the threads of your ancestry. You are a witch, a proud descendant of the Forsaken Coven—a group banished from the magical realm for daring to summon powers deemed too dangerous for mortal hands. Until recently, your life h...

  There’s something delightfully magical about a garden gnome. Isn’t there? Standing quietly in a flowerbed or nestled between shrubs, they seem to simply watch over their surroundings—innocent, stationary, perhaps even ordinary. Or are they? I’ve always been deeply fascinated by these little figures, especially after watching The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain . There was something so whimsical about the idea of a garden gnome secretly traveling the world, sending postcards to its unsuspecting owner. It made me wonder—what if these gnomes have lives of their own when we’re not looking? During one of my trips to Finland, I noticed that many cabins had their own resident gnomes. They stood in gardens, watching over homes as if they had always been part of the landscape. And for the first time, I began to imagine what sort of stories these gnomes could tell if they came to life. What world do they belong to when the stars come out and the humans go to sleep? In European folklore,...

I always like trying out new tools, that I haven't tried out before. For this one, I used Canva , which I generally use for everything because it's user friendly, quite intuitive and very diverse. I have been using the free version so far, but this video was made with the Pro version. 

  I know today should be midweek prompt day, and I didn’t post last week because I was traveling and, planning and scheduling in advance is just some sort of alternate concept that sometimes I use, sometimes I don’t, but… Today I just want to tell you that, recently, I came to the realization that it's important to celebrate small victories.  Now this might seem obvious to many of you, but for a long time, I overlooked these moments, always keeping my eyes fixed on what I considered to be the bigger goals. Like many others, I thought only large accomplishments deserved recognition. But now, my mind has shifted, and I understand that the small wins—those moments that seem utterly insignificant to others—are often what sustain us in the long run. Take, for example, being awarded a tiny blue badge acknowledging that you’ve published a book. Just like the one I now have next to my name and looks so cute. On the surface, it’s just a digital marker—something that doesn’t attest to t...

  Here is a video containing excerpts from my book, The Bloodstar. These are from 2 different passages from the same chapter. I made this video because I wanted to know how it sounded when the texts were read out loud, and now I know. First lesson learned: Pay more attention to punctuation! It matters, and I have already noticed some mistakes. But live and learn. I’ll work harder to correct those and will also work harder to make new ones so it doesn’t get boring.

  A couple of years ago, I attended a training about storytelling and writing. So as a part of our exercises, we were asked to come up with a draft for a story we would like to tell. Something simple, not very fancy nor detailed. Just something that could set the wheels in motion.  As per usual, with me, nothing is ever simple. My neurons start firing at each other and arguing “do this!”, and the other goes “No! Do that!” and then a third one comes into play and says “Oh bullocks! You’re ruining everything, do this instead!”, then finally the referee shows up – whenever that may be, but preferably before they all start grabbing on each other’s throats – blows the whistle and puts some order in the place.  Therefore, when asked to keep things short and simple, normally I panic and start wondering what sort of sorcery I should resort to in order to accomplish such task… just like what I’m doing right now.  Anyway, long story short, after this long internal battle I cam...

  Today, I want to share some thoughts on AI and the use of Large Language Models (LLMs). Back in April, I presented my perspective on AI in an article titled “ The AI Factor .” In this piece, I’m diving deeper into the subject, this time based on a specific experience I had recently. Before I get into the details, let me share a bit about myself. I’m not one to follow trends blindly. I did that during my early high school years, but I eventually grew out of it and started thinking independently—around the same time I began writing. This means that just because many people hold strong opinions on a topic, it doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with them. I respect their right to their opinions, regardless of how they’ve formed them. Now that you have this background, let’s dive into the matter at hand. Last Friday, I received an email from my self-publishing platform inviting me to take a survey about LLMs and the creation of original content by writers. They were exploring new revenu...