Robert L. Perry

I’m Just Harry’s Messenger

Hi! I’m the guy that Harry Chapman uses to write the most amazing mysteries she's solved with her beloved Booper, 100 pounds of gentle warrior dog, and her “all-for-one, one-for-all” Redhawks soccer team. Most people on their “author page” give a straight-forward biography. Well, I’m not doing that. I’m just the messenger for Harry.

I believe that Harry, as apparently imaginary as she is, exists in the loving heart of everyone who believes in doing—and does their best to do—the right thing. Harry tells her stories through my fingers to encourage tweens and teens like her to triumph over every challenge, to overcome evil with justice, and to work to create a healthy society.

Harry loves to play soccer because it’s the ultimate team sport; to succeed, everyone must do their part despite every obstacle. She rescues abused pets because they are so vulnerable to human cruelty. She breaks the rules when the rules allow corruption, bigotry, and wickedness to prevail. She confronts a society that ignores the welfare of the young and the weak, that seems to have lost its way and that waddles slowly toward its own demise: Child abuse, animal cruelty, drug epidemics, addiction, suicide, mental illness, bullying, social media trolls, political corruption, terrorism, bigotry, and injustice. Yet, Harry’s strong moral compass points steadily toward kindness, honesty, integrity, and above all, love. She hates hypocrisy and dishonesty.

You might not think that about Harry because she has a rough exterior. She loses her temper, acts like a spoiled teenager, and goes out of her way, it seems, to get into trouble. She is not so perfect either. She’s had a tough time growing up—alcoholic father, bitter divorce, fall from luxury to near poverty, death of her beloved Grandpa, depressed mom, and much more. She’s a survivor with a “hard shell," a rebellious spirit, and a sharp tongue to protect her. She’s a fighter for what she believes is right.

Inside that shell, however, is a girl plagued with the same fears every teenaged girl shares: She’s bewildered as she grows toward womanhood. She lives in constant worry—though she claims she doesn’t: Is she attractive? What do her peers think of her? How can she fix her Mom’s anger and depression? Is her Dad going to start drinking again? Are the Redhawks going to stand by her? What are her raging hormones doing to her body?

Yet she faces her fears—and overcomes the evil around her—with a huge heart, fierce courage, and boundless love.

Why did the spirit of Harry choose me to be her messenger? I have no idea! I am about as imperfect as you can get—all my friends, family and loved ones will agree! I’m just very grateful that the spirit of Harry chose me to share her stories.

Harry has been poking me in the back of my mind for years and years, trying to get my attention to write her stories. I ignored her urging because I was too busy with my ambitious careers as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, non-fiction author, writing instructor, and speechwriter, to name the ones that matter here. Pursuing what I thought would—I hoped—help children, adults, businesses, and a government agency to be more successful and make me a lot of money. For children, middle grade, and young adult readers, I wrote a number of non-fiction books about nicotine addiction, career choices, and personal computers published by Scholastic, Franklin Watts, and 21st Century Books.

Well, the ambition and “lot of money” thing just got me into a lot of trouble, but my mission of service has brought me great joy, loving friends and family, and an abundant life.

FINALLY, Harry’s spirit broke through my mundane mind and took charge of my best thinking. Now, Booper and Harry’s stories are flowing through my fingers as The Adventures of Booper and Harry. Every story reflects the complicated reality of grave problems and shows tweens and teens how to triumph over the difficult challenges they face in an increasingly complex world. It is Harry’s goal—and my personal mission of service—to help young people learn they, too, can stand tall, do the right thing, and create a better world.

Harry and I hope you agree we’re doing just that for you and your friends. Harry has a lot to say about the challenges you face on her website www.booperandharry.com and our blog on this page.

By the way, I’m putting my money where Harry’s spirit is, too. In Booper and Harry’s names, I donate 10 percent of all net proceeds to highly respected charities that support Harry’s dedication to the humane treatment of animals and human rights. You can find the names of the charities we support on our website.

We’d love to hear from you on social media:

Email: booperandharry@gmail.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/booperandharry

Twitter: @AndBooper

Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/blog/booperandharry

Facebook: www.facebook.com/2343507412552487. I know it’s long—copy and paste it into the URL bar!

Thank you, dear reader, for your time and attention. I know you’re swept up in a busy world, and it means so much to us that you enjoy The Booper and Harry Mysteries. I especially hope they help you find your mission to make your world a better place. The change you want to see begins with you!

The Messenger

Robert L. Perry