C. C. Harper - Author

 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...

  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...

  In my quest to master the chaos and add a sprinkle of order to my blog, I discovered a genius trick – dedicating specific days to celebrate certain themes. Et voilà! Just like my iconic Folklore Fridays, now I shall be rolling out Prompt Wednesdays for your (or mine, to be more honest) midweek inspiration. Not the most original names, granted, but hey, they will surely get the job done! So, here I am on this wonderful Wednesday pondering all things dark, gothic, and fantastical. It seems I can't help but drift towards this sub-genre; there's just something always intriguing about the gloomy, decaying world of dark, gothic fantasy where characters tend to lean towards madness or turn to the (un)dead. Nevertheless, despite the heavy dose of tragedy and impending doom that defines this genre, who can resist indulging in a nice cup of tea or coffee while diving into Bram Stoker's "Dracula" or Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman"? Given these considerations, whe...

  As anticipated in numerous works of science fiction, video games, and movies, the era of Artificial Intelligence has arrived, bringing controversy in its wake. Also as expected, society typically avoids debating these advancements proactively; instead, discussions arise only when the technology is on our doorstep, enforcing a sudden adjustment to a new reality rather than promoting a smooth transition. Consequently, due to common human behavior, individuals are launching passionate crusades against the implementation of AI, though in certain domains more than in others. The controversy surrounding AI arises from several factors, such as: Ethical Considerations: The increasing sophistication and autonomy of AI systems raise ethical concerns regarding AI bias, privacy violations, and the possibilities of misuse for surveillance or manipulation. Job Displacement: A major concern regarding AI is its ability to automate tasks that have historically been done by humans. This can resu...

  Today, I am going to share a deeply personal part of my creative journey - the process behind “The Lost Tales of Erandelle”. Why share this? Because sometimes, in order to move forward, it's important to revisit the past without getting stuck in it.  On August 5, 2012, I published the first chapter of what was then known as "The Emerald Bay Chronicles" on this blog, which had a different name at that time. Subsequently, I posted chapters two through five in the following days before halting. As you may recall, vampires were immensely popular at that time, saturating the literary landscape with books and series focused on them. My challenge stemmed from having already explored a gothic/vampire phase in my teenage years. So by 2012, I found myself disenchanted with the vampire theme, craving something fresh and different. I had multiple ideas swirling in my mind about elves, influenced by numerous fantasy universes such as Warhammer Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons, Forgotte...

  Downtown, where the concrete jungle mingles with the urban canvas, a graffiti artist stands out from the rest. Known as Cipher, he maneuvers the spray can with the finesse of a magician, turning drab walls into vivid masterpieces teeming with vitality. However, beneath Cipher's remarkable skill lies a sinister secret.  Unbeknownst to him, his creations possess a force beyond his imagination. With each artistic gesture, his pieces leap from their confines, bursting into existence with a will of their own. Initially enchanted by his newfound power, Cipher luxuriates in the wonder and praise bestowed upon his artistry. Yet, his creations soon break free from his control, causing chaos in the city streets with wild abandon. As anarchy sweeps through the urban landscape, Cipher confronts the grim reality behind his artwork.  Plagued by remorse and shadowed by his troubled history, he must discover a method to tame the unleashed power before it obliterates all he cherishes. A...