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.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

lazaruscarpenterauthor

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer best known for his detective fiction featuring the character Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was one of ten children. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was an artist, and his mother, Mary Foley, was Irish. Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, where he met Dr. Joseph Bell, who would later serve as a model for the character Sherlock Holmes. He graduated in 1881.

After completing his studies, Doyle worked as a ship’s surgeon on a whaling voyage to the Arctic. He later set up a medical practice in Southsea, England. However, he struggled to establish a successful medical career and began writing to supplement his income. Doyle’s first significant work was “A Study in Scarlet,” published in 1887, introducing the character of Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion, Dr. John Watson. The success of this novel led to a series of Sherlock Holmes stories and books, which made Doyle a household name. His popularity as a writer grew, but he grew increasingly frustrated with being overshadowed by his own creation, Sherlock Holmes. In an attempt to focus on other writing, he even killed off Holmes in “The Final Problem” in 1893. However, he later brought the character back to life due to popular demand.

In addition to his Sherlock Holmes stories, Doyle wrote historical novels, science fiction, plays, poetry, and non-fiction. He was also a fervent believer in spiritualism and wrote several books. Doyle married Louisa Hawkins in 1885, and the couple had two children. After Louisa died in 1906, Doyle remarried to Jean Leckie in 1907. He was knighted in 1902 for his services as a volunteer doctor in the Boer War. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle continued writing and lecturing until his death. At seventy-one, he passed away on July 7, 1930, in Crowborough, Sussex, England.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legacy endures through his timeless Sherlock Holmes stories, which have been adapted into numerous films, TV series, and other media. The detective is one of the most famous and enduring characters in literature. 

The Vanishing Envelope

lazaruscarpenterauthor

In the quaint town of Willow Creek, where the streets were strewed with colourful autumn leaves and the air was crisp with the promise of winter, there lived a young woman named Eliza. Eliza was known for her meticulous nature and love for everything organized. She worked as a librarian at the local library, where she spent her days surrounded by books and the comforting scent of old paper. One chilly morning, as Eliza was sorting through a stack of mail at her desk, she noticed a peculiar envelope among the usual bills and advertisements. It was a small, cream-coloured envelope with elegant calligraphy that read: “For Eliza, with love.” Intrigued, she carefully opened the envelope to find a handwritten letter inside.

The letter was from her long-lost aunt, Olivia, whom she hadn’t heard from in years. Olivia wrote about how much she missed Eliza and hoped to reconnect with her niece. Tucked inside the letter was a faded photograph of them, smiling together in the sun-drenched garden of Eliza’s childhood home. Overwhelmed with emotion, Eliza wrote a heartfelt reply to her aunt. She carefully sealed the letter, the envelope, and the treasured photograph and placed it in her bag to mail it that evening. However, as she reached for the envelope later that day, it was nowhere to be found. Panic set in as Eliza searched frantically through her desk, bag, and every corner of the library. The envelope had simply vanished without a trace. She retraced her steps, hoping to find some clue to its whereabouts, but it was as if the envelope had been swallowed by the shadows.

Days turned into weeks, and the envelope remained missing. As she mourned the lost connection with her aunt, Eliza’s days were filled with worry and regret. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the envelope held more than just a letter and a photograph, a chance to mend a broken bond and rediscover a piece of her past. One chilly evening, as Eliza was closing the library, she noticed a glint of light beneath a bookshelf. Crouching down, she reached beneath the dusty wooden shelves, her fingers brushing against something smooth. With disbelief, Eliza pulled out the missing envelope, miraculously unharmed and intact. Tears of relief streamed down her face as she reread the letter, feeling the warmth of her aunt’s words enveloping her like a long-lost hug. With renewed hope and determination, Eliza penned a reply to Olivia, promising to never let their connection fade again. And so, in the quiet town of Willow Creek, a missing envelope brought together two hearts separated by time and distance, proving that sometimes, the things we cherish most are never truly lost. They just need a little help finding their way back home. 

Image by http://www.gillsplace.com

F. Scott Fitzgerald

lazaruscarpenterauthor

F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose full name was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, was an American novelist and short story writer. He was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and died in Hollywood, California on December 21, 1940. Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel “The Great Gatsby,” considered a classic of American literature. The story explores decadence, idealism, resistance to change, and the American Dream in the 1920s. His writing often reflected the Jazz Age, a term he coined to describe the 1920s in America, a post-World War One time of economic prosperity, new social freedoms, and changing moral values.

Throughout his life, Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and financial difficulties. He was married to Zelda Sayre, who was an influential figure in his life and an aspiring writer herself. Their tumultuous relationship and Zelda’s struggles with mental health issues influenced much of Fitzgerald’s work. Some of his other notable works include “This Side of Paradise,” “Tender Is the Night,” and “The Beautiful and Damned.” Despite facing personal challenges and critical mixed reception during his lifetime, Fitzgerald’s work has endured. It continues to be celebrated for its lyrical prose, keen social observation, and exploration of the American experience.

Image by AI

Aurelius, the Ancient One

lazaruscarpenterauthor

In the heart of a vast mountain range, where the sun kissed the peaks every morning, and the wind whispered ancient secrets through the valleys, there lived an eagle unlike any other. This majestic bird was known far and wide as Aurelius, the Ancient One. With wings that spanned the sky and eyes that held the wisdom of centuries, Aurelius soared high above the world, watching over all who dwelled below. For countless generations, Aurelius witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, the shifting of continents, and the changing of the stars. He saw the beauty of the earth blossom like a flower in spring and watched in sorrow as mankind’s greed and ignorance scarred the land and poisoned the air.

One fateful day, as the sun dipped low on the horizon and the world held its breath in anticipation of twilight, Aurelius descended from his lofty perch and alighted upon a great stone in the heart of a lush forest. His eyes blazed with a fierce light as he spoke, his voice a rumble like distant thunder.

“Children of Earth,” he began, his words echoing through the trees like the song of the wind, “I have seen the shadows that gather on the horizon, the tremors that ripple through the very bones of this world. A great upheaval approaches, a cataclysm that will shake the very foundations of your existence.”

The gathered forest animals and humans listened in wide-eyed silence, their hearts heavy with foreboding. Aurelius continued, his voice filled with a solemn urgency.

“You have ravaged the earth, plundered her riches, and desecrated her sanctuaries. You have forgotten the sacred bond that connects all living things, and in your blindness, you have sown the seeds of your own destruction. Unless you mend your ways, heed the cries of the earth and mend the wounds you have inflicted, a great disaster awaits you. The earth will rise in fury, and you will be cast aside like dust in a storm.”

The animals shivered at his words, feeling the weight of his warning pressing down upon them like a heavy stone. But even as fear gripped their hearts, a glimmer of hope sparked in their eyes.

“Is there no salvation?” they cried, their voices rising in desperation.

Aurelius fixed them with a piercing gaze, his eyes alight with ancient fire.

“There is always hope,” he said, his voice softening like the gentle caress of a breeze. “If you listen to the wisdom of the earth, if you cherish her gifts and honour her spirit, you may yet avert the disaster that looms on the horizon. The choice is yours, children of Earth. Choose wisely, for the fate of all rests in your hands.”

With those words, Aurelius spread his wings and soared back into the sky, leaving the humans and animals alike to ponder his warning in the fading light of evening. And as the stars blinked into being overhead, a new resolve took root in their hearts, a determination to protect the earth and all her creatures from the looming threat. And so, under the watchful gaze of the ancient eagle, the animals and people of the forest vowed to stand as guardians of the earth, to cherish her beauty and safeguard her treasures for generations yet unborn. And though the shadow of disaster still hung over the world like a dark cloud, a glimmer of hope shone in the eyes of all who heard Aurelius’

Image by AI

Ernest Hemingway

lazaruscarpenterauthor

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois. He grew up in a family intensely interested in outdoor activities and literature. Hemingway developed a passion for writing at a young age and worked for his high school newspaper. After graduating high school, Hemingway was a reporter for The Kansas City Star. He later volunteered as an ambulance driver during World War I and was seriously wounded in Italy. This experience greatly influenced his writing style and themes. His writing is known for its straightforward prose, understated dialogue, and themes of masculinity, war, and nature. Some of his most famous works include “The Old Man and the Sea,” “A Farewell to Arms,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “The Sun Also Rises.”


Hemingway led a tumultuous personal life characterized by multiple marriages, struggles with mental health issues, and a reputation for hard living. He lived in various places worldwide, including Paris, Key West, Cuba, and Idaho. In 1954, Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his mastery of narrative art. He is considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century and has had a lasting impact on literature and how writers approach storytelling. Tragically, Hemingway struggled with depression and physical ailments in his later years. On July 2, 1961, he died by suicide at his home in Ketchum, Idaho. Ernest Hemingway’s legacy continues to endure through his works, which are studied and celebrated by readers and scholars worldwide. 

Image by AI