FROM ‘CRACH FFINNANT & WINNIE THE WITCH’
https://www.facebook.com/lazaruscarpenterrauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofcrachffinnant/
https://www.debbieeveillustrator.com
https://www.wordsmatterpublishing.com
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Author: lazaruscarpenterauthor
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 ‘O’ MAGIC’ & SOCIAL MEDIA
PART ONE
Promoting our work across social media is crucial to engage readers and the many other opportunities existing for authors in the world today. Whatever we do needs to engage the mind and spirit of readers and establish a ‘memory link’ though visual impact. We use imagery from related themes and the illustrations and quotes from our book to do this, working very closely with our publisher, Words Matter Publishing to aid continuity and networking. Sharing promotions across social media on Facebook, Twitter and others, creates a large net of possibility. Just as an exercise, consider how many groups you post to and what the membership is in total, how many friends who share your posts and how many friends they may have. For us it equates to over 300,000 possibilities. Of course it is very early days for us and we do not get anywhere near as many hits. But the possibility is there and the net widens every day.
Below are some examples
https://www.wordsmatterpubishing.com
https://www.debbieeveillustrator.com
https://www.facebook.com/lazaruscarpenterrauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofcrachffinnant/
‘UPCOMING CRACH ‘O’ MAGIC’
GWYL LYFRAU BOOK FESTIVAL
Debbie Eve (Illustrator of Crach Ffinnant) and I, will be signing copies of ‘Crach Ffinnant – The Prophecy’ and ‘Ballad of Penygraig’, also sharing Crach’o’Magic memorabilia at our display. Drop by and say hello! I am looking forward to my ‘reading slot’ and hoping to bring a little Crach’o’Magic to the lovely folk of Aberaeron.
SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB – ABERCRAVE & DISTRICT MINERS WELFARE
Tuesday 6 November 2pm
‘Crach Ffinnant’, appeals to folk of all ages for a number of reasons. Firstly, he is a wise and charismatic dwarf with magical powers. Secondly, ‘Crach’ really did live and is a forgotten Welsh hero. Thirdly, although his life maybe fictional in my stories, as we know little about him, other than he was a prophet and seer; the history of Wales during these turbulent times is reborn with a rather more mythical stance. Finally, like many tales of Wales, it is a magical story and even the dragons return.
I am looking forward to ‘reading’ on this day and entertaining local folk.
https://www.debbieeveillustrator.com
SHIELD OF CRACH FFINNANT
A shield was essential for close combat during the middle ages. Crach Ffinnant of course, being a dwarf, had great difficulty in using normal sized shields. Yes, he was strong as his time in the Travelling Circus demonstrated but he was very short, thus dwarfed by the enormity of a similar shield carried by Glyndwr and others. It was just too impractical. A smaller shield was the answer. Crach always tried to avoid physical conflict but, self-protection, a must in such difficult times when anything could happen at the most unexpected of times!
Yesterday, the shield of Crach Ffinnant was rediscovered. Sara Howdle, Landlady of the Tafarn Bach has had it in her possession for many years and treasured the presence, ambience and beauty it reflects. We are so grateful and humbled by her kind gifting of this treasured piece of history and it will join Crach Ffinnant in all future adventures at Book Fares and the like! Of course it is not the real shield but, similar to what he may have used.
Kindly gifted by Sara Howdle https://www.facebook.com/TafarnBach/
SO EXCITED – CRACH FFINNANT – RISE OF THE DRAGON – COMING SOON – FROM WORDS MATTER PUBLISHING
Winning the 2017/18 Holiday Book Competition back in the Spring of this year, WMP released the first of my series, ‘Crach Ffinnant – The Prophecy’, across all social media platforms and on-line retailers. A roller-coaster of events, book fayre’s, signings, readings, television and radio interviews adding to my performance schedule resulted in a rather busy summer. However, not too busy as to finish the second volume in the series, ‘Crach Ffinnant – Rise of the Dragon’. WMP have been so supportive to me as an author and to now know, volume two will be out soon is just so full of ‘Crach’o’Magic as I am sure all will agree. What an incredible year … so what is it all about?
Twenty five years have passed since I, Crach Ffinnant, dwarf, prophet and seer began my life’s journey to serve The Prophecy. For the last fifteen years I have ridden at Owain Glyndwr’s side and every new moon, predictions given to the ancients at Bala Lake many years ago, lost in the mists of time, unfurl with alarming accuracy. The Great Council of Blue Stone gather energies from this world and other kingdoms, enabling storm clouds of change on the horizon to be understood and used to manage the path of the ancient Prophecy. My old friends Fwynedd the Shepherd, Crow the clumsy dwarf and my old teachers Llwyd ap Crachan Llwyd along with others aid me along the perilous road now opening up in front of me. Carron the raven must soar to heights never seen and new friends step into my life as decreed by the Prophecy.
Meanwhile in England, Henry Bollingbroke usurps Richard II, imprisoning him and rises to the throne. With a hatred for Glyndwr he refuses to honour a debt and seeks revenge. My arch-enemy Edmund, now a Lord and in the service of King Henry tries to implement royal commands to seize all the lands and riches belonging to Owain Glyndwr and his family. Tan-y-Mynedd the dragon searches endlessly in the deep caverns for the lost dragon eggs with hope in his heart that they exist and the species will be saved. Unrest in Wales is reaching fever pitch, common folk and Lords alike gather under the flag of the red dragon.
Will I Crach Ffinnant, dwarf, prophet and seer, survive juggling so much responsibility, still maintaining dignity and my sense of humour.
Will King Henry IV succeed in his mission to destroy Owain Glyndwr and Wales?
Will Tan-y-Mynedd succeed in finding the dragons eggs and secure the future of this ancient species?
Will Owain Glyndwr ever become Prince of Wales?
The Prophecy continues to unfurl as I, Crach Ffinnant, dwarf, prophet and seer continue my tale in Rise of the Dragon.
Illustration Courtesy of Debbie Eve 2018
http://debbieeveillustrator.wordpress.com/
COMING SOON
FROM
WORDS MATTER PUBLISHING
VOLUME TWO
CRACH FFINNANT
RISE OF THE DRAGON
Lazarus Carpenter
Illustrated by Debbie Eve
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 