Lazarus Carpenter
I have lived in Wales for over twenty five years. Born in North Yorkshire, I am now an author, actor, musician and song writer, previously being a therapist, trainer and researcher, specialising in mental health. He was educated in Middlesbrough, Sheffield and Cambridge. With a fascination for Welsh History, I create worlds within worlds; magical, haunting, spirituality permeating sound moral codes of life. I live quietly with Debbie Eve (also my illustrator and our dog, Noodle in a small cottage surrounded by the beauty of the Brecon Beacons in the Valleys of South Wales.
‘Crach Ffinnant – The Prophecy’ takes readers to 14th century Wales, where the Welsh people are under the heavy rule of the English. The story centers on Crach, a humble dwarf, who is destined to play a crucial role in his people’s future. Though unaware of his fate, he is sent on a journey by his master, the wise wizard Llwyd ap Crachan Llwyd, to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
The dynamic between Crach and Llwyd is one of the book’s highlights. Llwyd’s calm wisdom contrasts nicely with Crach’s self-doubt, making their relationship engaging and memorable. The novel explores themes of destiny, justice, and personal growth, with Crach’s journey being one of self-discovery and transformation.
The world-building is rich, providing a vivid backdrop of Welsh culture and the historical tension between the Welsh and English. The mix of magic and history creates a compelling atmosphere, though the pacing can feel slow at times as Crach grapples with his mission.
Overall, Crach Ffinnant: The Prophecy is a thoughtful and uplifting story about courage and destiny. It will resonate with fans of historical fiction, magical realism, and tales of personal growth
It was a foggy evening in late October when Inspector Septimus Summer-Garden received the call that would plunge him into one of his most peculiar cases yet. The illustrious Craig y Nos Castle, perched atop the Welsh hills, had long been a symbol of grandeur and mystery. But lately, it had become the scene of inexplicable happenings, strange noises, ghostly apparitions, and an overwhelming sense of dread among the staff.
Now, Inspector Summer-Garden was not known for his sharp intellect or keen observations. No, he was more the type to trip over his own feet and accidentally stumble upon the truth while trying to find his hat. But his reputation as a “detective” was unshakable, at least in his own mind. Arriving at Craig y Nos in his battered, slightly squeaking vintage car, Inspector Summer-Garden was greeted by Lady Eleanor, the castle’s owner, a worried woman with a stern face and a twinkle of skepticism in her eye.
“Inspector,” she said, “something is haunting this castle. Doors slam on their own, whispers echo in the halls, and last night, the ghost of a woman in white was seen gliding through the corridors.”
“Ah, ghosts, you say?” Summer-Garden exclaimed, adjusting his oversized hat. “Fear not, Lady Eleanor! I shall uncover the truth behind these spooky goings-on.”
He wandered the dimly lit corridors, tripping over a loose rug, knocking over a suit of armor, and mumbling to himself. His eyes widened at the sight of flickering chandeliers and shadowy figures that seemed to dance just beyond the corner of his vision. He questioned the staff, including the nervous but loyal servant, Mr. Jenkins.
“Have you seen anything unusual, Jenkins?” Summer-Garden asked, trying to sound authoritative.
“Well, sir,” Jenkins replied, sweating profusely, “some say it’s the ghost of Madame Adelina Patti, who died here over a hundred years ago. But I think it’s just the wind or someone playing tricks.”
“Precisely!” Summer-Garden declared, puffing out his chest. “But perhaps the ghost is merely a misunderstood spirit, perhaps seeking justice or a lost treasure.”
That night, Summer-Garden set up a series of traps, mostly involving a lot of candles, a mirror, and a suspiciously large f;oral hat he believed the ghost might be wearing. As midnight struck, a faint figure appeared, white dress flowing, eyes hollow. Summer-Garden, trembling with excitement, stepped forward.
“Ah-ha! I have found you, spectral lady!”
The figure paused, then suddenly collapsed into a pile of pillows, revealing not a ghost but Lady Eleanor herself, dressed in a white sheet to entertain her guests at a Halloween party. It turned out the “haunting” was a clever ruse designed by Lady Eleanor to attract visitors and boost the castle’s reputation. The noises and apparitions were orchestrated by staff members in the dark, and the “ghost” was simply a servant in disguise. Inspector Summer-Garden, blushing furiously, scratched his head.
“Well, I suppose I was a bit off the mark. But at least we uncovered the truth!”
Lady Eleanor chuckled.
“Inspector, your… enthusiasm is always appreciated.”
As Summer-Garden departed the castle, he was already planning his next case, perhaps involving a missing monocle or a suspiciously absent cheese platter. But deep down, he knew that sometimes, the most mysterious things are just tricks and illusions though he would always approach them with his signature bumbling charm. And so, the haunting of Craig y Nos Castle was laid to rest until next Halloween, when perhaps the ghosts will return just for a little fun.
It was a busy morning and the city was preparing for the annual Summer Festival. Streets were filled with colourful banners, children’s laughter, and the scent of freshly baked pies. But just as the mayor was about to give his speech, a crisis arose, his prized top hat was missing! Mayor Bumblesworth, a jolly gentleman with a twinkle in his eye, looked distraught.
“My hat! My favorite top hat! It’s vanished!”
Inspector Summer-Garden, adjusting his glasses that kept slipping down his nose, took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry, sir. We’ll find your hat.”
The inspector started his investigation at the mayor’s office. He carefully examined the scene, though his glasses kept fogging up in the warm room. On the floor, he noticed a faint trail of tiny feathers.
“Feathers,” he mumbled, squinting. “That’s odd.”
Constable Pipwick, his ever-watchful assistant, pointed to a small torn piece of fabric caught on a chair leg.
“Could this be part of the missing hat?”
Summer-Garden nodded.
“Possibly. And those feathers, perhaps a bird was involved?”
Suddenly, a loud squawk interrupted their thoughts. Peering out the window, they saw a curious sight: a bright green parrot sitting on a lamppost, squawking loudly. The parrot flapped its wings and squawked,
“Polly wants the hat! Polly wants the hat!”
Pipwick looked puzzled.
“A talking parrot? That’s unusual.”
Summer-Garden squinted at the bird, then at the feathers on the ground.
“It seems our feather trail leads to that parrot. Maybe he saw who took the hat.”
The inspector, nearly tripping over his own feet in his eagerness, hurried outside. With some difficulty, he managed to coax the parrot down from the lamppost using a few breadcrumbs.
“Polly,” he said gently, “do you know anything about the mayor’s hat?”
The parrot tilted its head and squawked again,
“Find the thief! Find the thief!”
Following the parrot’s clues, Summer-Garden and Pipwick wandered to Lansdowne Park, where children played and flowers bloomed. The feathers on the ground led to a small hole behind a bush. Inside the hole, they discovered a tiny nest lined with bits of fabric and, to everyone’s surprise, the mayor’s top hat! It was slightly chewed, and a mischievous squirrel was sitting nearby, nibbling on a corner.
Pipwick chuckled.
“Looks like Mr. Squirrel took the hat for a nap!”
Summer-Garden nodded, adjusting his glasses.
“And the parrot saw it all. Clever bird!”
With the squirrel gently persuaded to relinquish the hat, the inspector carefully retrieved it and returned it to the grateful mayor.
“Thank you, Inspector Summer-Garden!” the mayor exclaimed, placing his beloved hat back on his head. “You’ve saved the festival!”
As the crowd cheered and the festival resumed, Summer-Garden smiled warmly.
“Another case closed, with a little help from a parrot and a squirrel and my trusty glasses, of course.”
Pipwick grinned.
“You’re quite the detective, sir!”
Summer-Garden tipped his hat, nearly knocking over his glasses again.
In the busy city, everyone knew about Inspector Septimus Summer-Garden. Despite his well-meaning nature, he was famously clumsy and forgetful often wandering off mid-sentence or tripping over his own shoelaces. But when it came to solving mysteries, no one was quite as determined… even if quite a bit more distracted. One bright morning, the town’s beloved vegetable market was in uproar. The farmers’ fresh produce had been disappearing overnight! Carrots, cabbages, tomatoes, all vanished without a trace. The villagers were worried; the town’s annual Harvest Festival was only a week away. The mayor called for Inspector Summer-Garden to crack the case.
“Don’t worry, Mayor,” Septimus said, adjusting his crooked hat. “I shall find out who’s been sneaking off with the vegetables!”
He set off towards the market, clutching his magnifying glass, though it was more for show than for actual magnifying. As he arrived, he immediately tripped over a basket of zucchinis, sending them rolling across the cobblestones.
“Ah, a clue!” he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. “Or… perhaps just a zucchini catastrophe.”
He carefully examined the empty patches where vegetables had once been. There were faint footprints in the dirt, small, muddy, and slightly squiggly.
“Hmmm,” muttered Septimus, leaning in close. “Small footprints. Could be mice? Or perhaps… a very tiny thief?”
He looked around and saw a trail of carrot peelings leading behind a stand. Following them, he ended up near the alleyway. There, he spotted a little rabbit, happily munching on a half-eaten tomato.
“Aha!” he shouted, startling the rabbit, which promptly scurried under a nearby tree.
“Caught red-handed, or rather, red-footed!” said Septimus, trying to look serious but tripping over his own feet again.
Just then, he remembered something. The previous week, he’d seen a strange, shimmering shadow lurking near the market at night. Could it be a thief? Or was there something more mysterious? Deciding to investigate further, he tiptoed to the alley when night fell. As he peered around a corner, he saw a faint glow coming from behind a stack of crates. He tiptoed closer, knocking over a barrel in his excitement. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with a tiny, glowing creature, a fairy! She hovered in the air, clutching a small basket of vegetables.
“Oh!” exclaimed Septimus, blinking in surprise. “A fairy! Well, I’ll be… Are you the vegetable thief?”
The fairy giggled.
“Oh no, Inspector! I’m just helping my garden friends. We’ve been borrowing a few vegetables to feed our tiny forest friends. We didn’t mean any harm!”
Septimus scratched his head.
“So… you’re not stealing them? Just sharing?”
The fairy nodded.
“Exactly! We’re returning them soon, but we wanted to make sure everyone gets a taste of the harvest.”
Feeling relieved, Septimus smiled.
“Well, in that case, I suppose I’ve solved the mystery!”
He carefully helped the fairy gather the remaining vegetables, making sure they were returned to their rightful owners. The farmers cheered, and were happy to hear that their vegetables weren’t stolen after all. As dawn broke, Inspector Summer-Garden strolled back to the police station, humming a cheerful tune. Though he was often forgetful and clumsy, his kindness and curiosity always helped him find the truth, even if it was hidden behind a tiny fairy’s wings. And from that day on, the villagers knew that sometimes, the greatest mysteries had the simplest, most magical explanations.
It was a chilly evening and the city was preparing for the annual Lantern Festival. Everywhere, colourful paper lanterns floated gently in the breeze, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone streets. But just as the festival was about to begin, a panic erupted, the town’s most treasured lantern, a giant glowing orb given by the town’s founders, had gone missing! Mayor Bumblesworth, holding his own small lantern, hurried to the police station, looking flustered.
“My dear Inspector, the Great Lantern has vanished! It was secured in the town hall, and now… it’s gone!”
Inspector Summer-Garden, adjusting his glasses with a determined look, nodded firmly.
“Never fear, Mayor. We’ll find your lantern.”
The Inspector and Constable Pipwick arrived at the town hall. Inside, the place was bustling with worried townsfolk. The mayor pointed to the empty display case, which once held the enormous glowing lantern. Summer-Garden looked around carefully. His near-sighted eyes caught something unusual, a faint smudge on the floor near the window, and a small trail of glittering specks leading toward the back door.
“Hmm,” muttered the inspector, squinting. “Someone’s been here recently. And those glittering specks… might be shards of glass or maybe glitter from a costume?”
Constable Pipwick examined the trail. “Should we follow it?”
“Absolutely,” said Summer-Garden. “Let’s see where it leads.
The trail led outside into the alley behind the town hall. As they followed, the inspector nearly tripped over a loose cobblestone, which shifted to reveal a tiny hidden compartment beneath. Inside, they found a small, half-burned candle, probably used to illuminate the thief’s way, and a crumpled piece of fabric caught on a nail. It was a vibrant piece of cloth, decorated with bright stars.
“Starry fabric,” Summer-Garden mumbled, adjusting his glasses. “Could it belong to someone dressed for the festival?”
Just then, a mischievous-looking young girl with a twinkle in her eye approached, clutching a small lantern. She looked nervous.
“I… I didn’t mean to take the lantern,” she whispered. “I just wanted to see it up close. I thought if I borrowed it for a little while, I could make my own lantern look just as bright.”
Pipwick looked surprised.
“You took the biggest lantern in the town?”
The girl nodded shyly.
“I didn’t want to ruin the festival. I just wanted to make everyone happy.”
Summer-Garden, smiling kindly, knelt down to her level.
“It’s very kind of you to want to brighten everyone’s evening. But stealing isn’t the way. How about I help you make your own lantern?”
The girl’s face lit up.
“Really? I’d like that!”
With the inspector’s help, she gathered materials from around the town hall, and together they crafted a beautiful new lantern, smaller, but just as bright and the girl promised to return the stolen lantern before the festival. As they headed back, the town’s people cheered. The missing lantern was returned safely, and the festival went on with even more joy, thanks to a kind-hearted girl and a clever Inspector.
“Just another day in the city,” Summer-Garden said with a chuckle, adjusting his glasses. “And all it took was a little understanding and a lot of heart.”
Constable Pipwick grinned. “You’re a hero, sir!”
And with that, the lanterns shimmered brighter than ever, lighting up the night in above the city.
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 