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...

  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.

  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...

  In the savage belly of the city, where neon demons shy away from the shadows, sprawls the Obsidian Market. A mysterious realm muttered about in clandestine whispers, reserved for the shrewd and the fearless few. Among the sinuous alleys and veiled corridors, fantastical entities and nocturnal creatures gather like moths to a flame, drawn by the seductive pull of contraband and enigmas powerful enough to reshape destiny itself. This domain is a shadowy maze of secrets and whispers, where loyalties shift like the wind and danger lurks in the dark, ready to strike from the depths.  Amidst the howling chaos of the market, a young thief known only as Ash slinks like a phantom through the shadows, his footsteps whispering against the cold cobblestone streets. With fingers quick as lightning and a mind racing at the speed of light, Ash dances through the twisted alleys and dark corners, his gaze locked on a treasure that promises riches beyond the grasp of mortals. His prey: a priz...