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.

The Balance

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Once upon a time, two siblings, Elara and Alden, lived in a kingdom nestled amidst towering mountains and lush forests. Elara was known far and wide for her physical strength; she could lift boulders and outmatch any warrior in combat. On the other hand, Alden possessed a different kind of strength – he was incredibly intelligent and possessed a keen wit that could unravel the most complex puzzles. Despite their differences, Elara and Alden were inseparable and complemented each other perfectly. Where Elara’s strength failed, Alden’s intellect would prevail, and Elara’s might would triumph where Alden’s mind faltered.

One day, a great evil descended upon the kingdom in the form of a fierce dragon that terrorized the land, laying waste to villages and crops. The king called upon his bravest knights to slay the beast, but all efforts were in vain. It seemed that no one could match the dragon’s power and ferocity. Elara and Alden knew they had to do something to save their kingdom. Drawing upon their respective strengths, they devised a plan. Elara would challenge the dragon to a physical duel, distracting it with her incredible strength, while Alden snuck behind the beast to find its weakness. Elara fought with all her might as the battle raged, deflecting the dragon’s fiery breath and powerful attacks. Meanwhile, Alden searched for a way to defeat the beast. Finally, he discovered a small gap where its scales were weakest in the dragon’s armour.

With a swift and calculated strike, Alden plunged his sword into the dragon’s vulnerable spot, causing the beast to roar in pain and collapse. Elara seized the opportunity and delivered the final blow, vanquishing the dragon once and for all. The kingdom rejoiced at the victory of the siblings, celebrating their bravery and ingenuity. Elara and Alden have shown that true strength comes not just from physical might or intellectual prowess alone but from the unity of both. Together, they overcame the greatest challenges and emerged victorious, proving that strength and weakness are but two sides of the same coin, each complementing the other in perfect harmony.
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Grumble the Grumpy Goblin

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Once upon a time, a goblin named Grumble lived in the mystical land of Doria. Grumble was unlike any other goblin in the land. While goblins were known for their mischievous nature and love for causing trouble, Grumble was always unhappy. His face was constantly twisted into a frown, and his eyes were always filled with sadness. Grumble lived in a small cave at the edge of a Dark Forest, far away from the other goblins in the village. He spent his days wandering through the forest, grumbling to himself about how unfair life was. While the other goblins spent their days playing pranks and laughing, Grumble preferred to be alone, lost in his thoughts.

One day, as Grumble wandered through the forest, he stumbled upon a group of fairies dancing in a sunlit clearing. The fairies were laughing and singing, their wings shimmering in the sunlight. Grumble watched them from a distance, his heart heavy with envy. Why couldn’t he be as happy as they were? Why was he constantly so miserable?
As Grumble watched the fairies, a tiny fairy named Luna noticed Grumble and flew over to him.

“Why do you look so sad, little goblin?” she asked, her voice filled with kindness.

Grumble was taken aback. No one had ever shown him such kindness before.

“I am Grumble, the unhappy goblin,” he replied. “I have always been this way and fear I will never know true happiness.”

Luna smiled gently at Grumble.

“Happiness is not something that can be given to you, Grumble. It is something that comes from within. You must learn to see the beauty in the world and find joy in the small things.”

Grumble listened to Luna’s words, and for the first time in a long time, he felt a glimmer of hope in his heart. He followed Luna’s advice and began looking for beauty in the world around him. He watched the sun rise over the mountains, listened to the gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind, and marvelled at the colours of the flowers in the meadow. As days turned into weeks, Grumble’s frown began to soften, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He found himself laughing and singing along with the birds, his heart filled with a newfound joy.

Word of the transformed goblin spread throughout Doria, and soon, goblins, fairies, and creatures from all corners of the land came to see the once unhappy Grumble now filled with happiness. Grumble had finally found his place in the world, surrounded by friends who loved him for who he was. And so, Grumble, the once unhappy goblin, learned that true happiness comes from within and that even the darkest of hearts can find light and joy in the world. From that day on, Grumble’s frown was replaced with a smile, and he lived happily ever after in the mystical land of Doria.

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Gabriel García Márquez

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Gabriel García Márquez, full name Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez, was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist. He was born on March 6, 1927, in Aracataca, Colombia, and passed away on April 17, 2014, in Mexico City, Mexico. Márquez is best known for his novels, particularly his masterpiece “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (1967), considered one of the greatest achievements in literature in the 20th century. He was a significant proponent of magical realism, a literary style in which magical elements are woven into a realistic narrative.

Throughout his career, García Márquez received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982 for his novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a richly composed world of imagination, reflecting a continent’s life and conflicts. His other notable works include “Love in the Time of Cholera,” “Chronicle of a Death Foretold,” and “The Autumn of the Patriarch,” among others. Gabriel García Márquez’s works have had a profound impact on literature and have influenced countless writers around the world. 

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T. S. Eliot

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T. S. Eliot, full name Thomas Stearns Eliot, was a renowned American-born British poet, essayist, playwright, and literary critic. He was born on September 26, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passed away on January 4, 1965, in London, England. Eliot is best known for his modernist poetry, including works such as “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” “The Waste Land,” “Ash Wednesday,” and “Four Quartets.” His poetry often explored themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for spiritual meaning in a fragmented world.

In addition to his poetry, T. S. Eliot was a prominent literary critic and essayist. He was a major figure in the literary and intellectual circles of his time, and his work played a significant influence on 20th-century literature. He received numerous awards and honours, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. His contributions to literature continue to be studied and celebrated today. 

The Tear Drop

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Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between rolling hills and lush forests, there was a peculiar teardrop that would not dry. This teardrop was no ordinary water droplet; it was a magical tear shed by a fairy named Lyra, known for her kindness and compassion. Lyra’s tear fell from her delicate eye one starry night when she witnessed an act of great injustice in the village. The tear shimmered in the moonlight as it touched the ground, and instead of evaporating like tears usually do, it stayed intact, glistening with an otherworldly radiance. The villagers were astounded by this mysterious tear drop that refused to dry. They tried to wipe it away, but it reformed in the same spot. Some believed it was a sign from the fairy realm, while others thought it was a curse cast upon the village. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but the teardrop remained, a constant reminder of the sorrow that had befallen the village. The people started to avoid where the tear lay, fearing its strange power. As time passed, the villagers noticed something remarkable. The teardrop grew slowly but steadily, forming a small pool of shimmering liquid. Flowers bloomed around the pool, their petals vibrant and colourful, as if nourished by the magical tear.


One day, a young girl named Elara, who had always been drawn to the teardrop, approached it with a heart full of curiosity and empathy. She sat beside the pool and gazed into its depths, feeling a deep connection to the sorrow and beauty that it held.
As she sat there, a wondrous thing happened. The teardrop began to rise from the pool, swirling and shimmering in the air before transforming into a radiant butterfly, its wings glittering with all the colours of the rainbow. The butterfly fluttered around Elara, filling her with peace and understanding.

The villagers watched in awe as the butterfly danced through the village, spreading hope and healing wherever it went. And as it flew away into the sunset, the teardrop finally dried, leaving a sense of wonder and magic that would forever linger in the villagers’ hearts. From that day on, the village was known far and wide as a place where tears turned into beauty, sorrow gave birth to joy, and the magic of compassion and empathy could transform even the most stubborn teardrop into a symbol of hope and renewal.

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