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.

2023 YEAR IN FOCUS

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Twelve months of non-stop work from beginning to end is the only way I can describe the last year if I am being honest with myself. Going into January, research for my new book ‘Walls Have Ears’ – The Story of Craig y Nos Castle began in earnest. That is behind me now, with over forty actual interviews conducted in partnership with folk who are related in some way to the history of the castle, from family connections with Captain Rice Powell Davies, and Morgan Morgan, to relatives of those who worked for them and/or Adelina Patti, in some capacity. The interviews are full of facts and stories all to be incorporated in the book. I hit on the idea of channeling and recording the stories of the actual ghosts and spirits still haunting Craig y Nos which led to twelve months of weekly psychic research sessions. Now with over one hundred and fifty video recordings, the stories can be included in the book. Writing the story in the first person as a chunk of rock mined from the Cribarth and sunk in the foundations enables me to say all within the title, ‘Walls Have Ears’.

The book is well underway and should be completed early in 2024. I decided to create two volumes, 1840-1919 and 1920-1980, so Books One and Two. There are many people to thank for information and stories and they will be credited in the book. In the meantime, I would like to thank most sincerely, Debbie Eve, who filtered people to me for information and interviews, Martin Gover, for permission to conduct my psychic research and spend time in places within Craig y Nos, not usually frequented by the public, Paul Brandon, as genealogist, and Jeremy Marsh (Castle Historian) without whom my weekly sessions would have been impossible. I am singularly grateful to Jeremy who painstakingly recorded every session in writing to aid clarity and accompany the video tapes. The cream on the cake for this fascinatingly interesting project came in November, when John Rolls of Showboat Television, approached us with a request to create a television series of our work. Filming has begun and we look forward to next year when it will be screened.

January also saw me severing links with my American publisher, Words Matter Publishing. Like many authors who have grievances with their publishers, there were decisions to make. I will be forever grateful to Tammy Koelling of WMP for selecting the first volume of my Crach Ffinnant series as the grand winner in the writing competition in 2018, and for publishing the following volumes, Rise of the Dragon and Ravens and Dragons. However, being restricted to one book per year held me back and slowed down my creative flow. So in February, I revised my contracts and began a solo journey. In March I launched ‘Swift Arrow Books Limited’ and created the site and online shop at https://www.swiftarrowbooksltd.co.uk. All of my books were transferred to my own publishing company and the fourth volume of Crach Ffinnant, ‘Justice Prevails’ was published and launched.

I have continued to facilitate a weekly creative writing group at Ystradgynlais Library and it was with great delight I published their first anthology of collected stories ‘500 WORDS’, in May under my own imprint, ‘Swift Arrow Books’. The group has grown from strength to strength participating in numerous community events, and it is with particular pride I see the partnership in joint work with the Josef Herman Foundation developing. The group has been invited to present a paper at a conference at Cardiff University on the topic of Storytelling and Mental Health. Though the conference is cancelled for this year, it has been rescheduled for June 2024. My greatest delight is seeing the membership/group develop into a formal community group with chairperson, Jo Paine and appropriate officers. Community research has been achieved in terms of assessing the need for creative writing and a writing competition has produced two winners in the adult and children’s categories. 2024 welcomes the group’s application for lottery funding and further developments including the publication of the second anthology of collected works – 500 WORDS.

Perhaps I may have developed hypergraphia, although the creativity is not to be snubbed. In May, I began working with a new illustrator, Gill Brooks. To say we have been productive is an understatement. Gill like me is clearly a workaholic, we enjoy our craft and there is nothing worse than being slowed down by others. This is not the case at all and our partnership has produced the following titles since May.

Hermit and the Dog Wolf; On the Road with Uncle Laz – Short Stories for Long Journeys; Around the Fire with Uncle Laz – Short Stories for Long Nights; Under the Leaves with Uncle Laz – Short Stories for Autumn Nights; Kingdom of the Trees; Sparkle the Unicorn and Grublebelly the Ogre; The Adventures of Beckett, Books 1,2 and 3; The Wizard Who Chased Time; The Devotees; Haunting Dreams – Nine Ghost Stories for Insomniacs; The Dragons Who Saved the World; The Unyielding Flame – Parable of a Collier; and Dark Tales from the Outback. 

Thus a somewhat prolific partnership with sixteen titles between us, I am certain cannot be denied. Some of the publications are available in hardback as limited editions as well as paperback. I look forward to whatever Gill and I are destined to achieve together creatively next year.

My weekly radio programme, Book at Bedtime – Tales from Wales is now enjoying its third year with Oystermouth Radio. This year saw Crach Ffinnant – Ravens and Dragons coming to an end and volume four, Crach Ffinnant – Justice Prevails beginning. The fourth series is now a longer programme and includes a guest author each week in addition to my storytelling. It is proving popular with listeners, and we began with members of the Ystradgynlais Creative Writing Group sharing their stories enabling them to both experience narrating and appearing on a live radio show. So in reality these new writers have seen their stories come into print and be heard on radio. Various authors of acclaim have appeared on the programme with many more to come next year. This has been a challenge to me and improved my editing and interview skills (I hope). But I do get a lot of fun from writing and presenting this series and love working with Grant Eden, my producer.

In summary, I am most grateful to those readers who enjoy my storytelling, Oystermouth Radio and Grant Eden, the Ystradgynlais Library Management team, and Powys County Council, Gill Brooks – Illustrator, Debbie Eve my partner and co-conspirator, and my many friends and colleagues across social media for your support and love. In the words of one of my guides, Dr. Robert, I will end with

CHANGE IS EVER CONSTANT

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

AN ESSAY: COMPASSION

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Image Courtesy of Gill Brooks http://www.gillsplace.com

Compassion in the first instance demands the need for a non-judgemental stance in thought and action. Christ and all teachers taught the need for compassion as one of the components required towards bringing alive the God within each of us. In society today and throughout history, the current social norm of likes, dislikes, trends and fears condition people to react in ways that reject certain behaviours, and ways of existence; that seem to fall out of the circle of what is considered acceptable. Acceptability appears to be defined by the trends of the time and the tolerances that may or may not exist as defined by the behaviours that are known to exist. It is true that throughout history humans have grown nearer to a clearer understanding of compassion and although it is seen to be practised more now in this new millennium, than ever before, many questions should be addressed.

But is humankind as a species anywhere near reaching the level of compassion required? We think not, how can those who champion injustice in wars and by other means, always at the expense of the weaker, continue to be allowed to take such liberty with the masses, who continue to suffer at the hands of those who hold the power on the planet.

We would like to think we are compassionate after all we may donate money and resources to those who suffer from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tidal conditions. But we then ignore the person who lives next door because they are a little strange or we cross the road to avoid walking past someone who we do not like the look of.

We give to charities that exist to help with specific problems such as Alzheimer’s, Cancer and so on. Yet all these conditions are a part of the human condition and thus set apart because resources are inadequate to meet needs. But how can this be so when billions of dollars are easily found to fight needless wars. So the word selective seems to be the one that informs how and what may be seen as the priority of the day. There is no doubt that the priority of the day is to continue waging needless conflict and raping the planet for its resources. We are not the only species living here and yet we pay lip service to conservation whilst driving millions of species on the land, in the air and in the sea to extinction.

We rationalize by saying we have the technology to preserve DNA and recreate it when we feel the circumstances are right but that sounds rather arrogant in the extreme. We are told throughout the ages that man was created to be like God but we seem to have taken this literally as we arbitrarily decide what and who will live or die.

Man, in my opinion, does not mean the species it means the individual, the ‘I Am’. In that, each of us individually is and has chosen to be created in the likeness of God. Religion lost sight of this fact aeons ago and along with it, true compassion!

Before one can have compassion for others one must first have it for one’s self. Before one can practise compassion outside of the self one must practise it within the self. Forgiveness of the self by the self for all indiscretions follows an understanding of the self as to why faults may exist and self-growth can thus take place. We are being compassionate to the self when we accept our failings as part of ourselves. This is just as important if not more so than the good things we may be and do individually.

The self is the seat of compassion. From the self, thought becomes action or not, but the fact it was thought of within the self related to an examination of the self, is an act of compassion by and for the self.

But how many of us are truly compassionate to ourselves? Is depression in our species more an inability to be compassionate to the self? It certainly must play a very important role when we consider that guilt and failure, feelings of self-doubt and self-worth are all the things that would fade into obscurity, if we were to be compassionate and forgive ourselves in the first instance, others in the second and thirdly to accept one’s lot. It is only by taking this step can the move be made to climb out of the morass of self-pity that so many of us exist in.

However, how can this be easy at all when the injustice and lack of balance across the planet is as it is? Those in power are blinded by values that do not inform the quality of life they confuse and alienate compassion through actions that promote death and destruction at the wave of a shaky hand. We are certainly so far away from the centre and right off the track as far as individual and global compassion is concerned.

What a life we live as we acknowledge lemmings leaping into darkness and certain death and yet ignore the blatant fact that we as a species are doing the same thing. It is just that there are billions of us and the edge of our cliff is the planet we live on. Maybe we are as lemmings and the extinction of our species is a sure thing. It certainly is the way that things are going there are no doubts about that.

So again I say that compassion does not exist in its strictest sense. It is overshadowed by greed and avarice. It is suppressed into the subconscious only to be subliminally charged when those in power wish to press the emotional buttons to raise funds to address needs that your taxes should already meet or to go to war.

Have things gone too far? Many think this is so and therefore will say why bother to do anything when there is no point. Others call it evolution. Clearly, this is an act of abject selfishness if not stupidity and arrogance. There is every need to bother, every need to preserve life for those who are to come after us. The Western ideal of luxury is sought after by so many countries and this is destroying cultures, countries and moreover the planet. So as well as the difficulty for individuals in practising and breathing compassion it seems that for the world as a whole, it is an impossibility.

The way forward seems to be an enlightenment of compassion.. a renaissance and perhaps this will only happen through some major global upheaval clearly it will have to be something so huge as to unite the planet .. extraterrestrial or interplanetary, but whatever it takes .. it will have to shake everybody to their very roots. Love cannot exist without compassion and the Law of Attraction functions best on this vibration. Dishonesty breeds greed thus fuelling jealousy and unpredictable behaviours leading to violence and wars .. this is the Law of Attraction in reverse thus enabling the spiral of descent into darkness.

May we all walk our talk, honour each other and praise every day that Mother Earth continues to let us live here. Dance in Beauty.

Lazarus Carpenter

The Absinthe Ball – A Love Story

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Image by Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com

Once upon a time in a mystical land, there was a kingdom ruled by a wise and benevolent king. The kingdom was known for its enchanting beauty and vibrant culture. One of the most anticipated events of the year was the annual Absinthe Ball, a grand celebration where everyone would gather to dance, sing, and revel in the magic of the night. In this kingdom, there lived a young frog princess named Seraphina. Seraphina was not like other frogs. She possessed a unique beauty and a mesmerizing voice that captivated anyone who heard her sing. However, she was cursed by a wicked sorcerer and transformed into a frog. Despite her predicament, Seraphina remained hopeful that one day a true love’s kiss would break the curse and restore her to her human form.

Meanwhile, in a smoky jazz club on the outskirts of the kingdom, there lived a talented frog blues singer named Felix. With his soulful voice and his skillful guitar playing, Felix could make the whole room sway with emotion. He had a reputation for singing songs that touched the depths of people’s hearts, and his music carried a hint of melancholy, reflecting the struggles he faced as a frog in a human-dominated world. As fate would have it, Seraphina and Felix’s paths crossed one moonlit night at the Absinthe Ball.

Seraphina, disguised as a common frog, hopped into the ballroom, drawn by the melodies that filled the air. She watched as Felix took the stage, his voice echoing through the hall, casting a spell over the entire audience. Captivated by Felix’s performance, Seraphina couldn’t resist joining in with her own melodious croak. The crowd was astonished by the harmony of their voices blending together, creating a magical duet that seemed to transcend the boundaries of their frog forms. The enchantment in the air was palpable as their voices intertwined, filling the ballroom with a sense of longing and hope. As the song came to an end, the room erupted in applause. Seraphina and Felix locked eyes, and at that moment, they knew that they had found something special. They spent the rest of the night talking and laughing, completely unaware of the world around them. It felt as if time stood still, and they were the only two beings in existence.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Seraphina and Felix’s bond grew stronger with each passing day. Together, they faced the challenges of being frogs in a human world, supporting and encouraging one another through their struggles. They never lost hope that one day they would find a way to break their curses and live a life of freedom and love. Their dedication and unwavering belief in each other’s talents caught the attention of the kingdom’s wise king. Intrigued by their story, he summoned Seraphina and Felix to the royal palace. The king, moved by their love and talent, used his powers to break the curses that held them captive.

As the curses lifted, Seraphina and Felix were transformed into their true selves. Seraphina stood before the king as a beautiful princess, and Felix regained his human form, his blues singer persona shining through. The king blessed their union and declared a grand celebration in their honor. And so, the Absinthe Ball took on a whole new meaning. It became a symbol of love, hope, and the power of music to transcend boundaries. Seraphina and Felix, now free from their curses, stood hand in hand at the center of the ballroom, surrounded by joyful revelers. The room was adorned with twinkling lights, and the air was filled with laughter and music. Seraphina’s voice soared through the hall, and Felix’s guitar strummed with passion, their music intertwining in perfect harmony.

As the night unfolded, their love story became an inspiration to all who witnessed it. The kingdom celebrated their union, and their tale of overcoming adversity spread far and wide, touching the hearts of people from distant lands. Seraphina and Felix continued to perform together, their music echoing through the kingdom, bringing joy and healing to all who listened. But amidst their newfound happiness, Seraphina and Felix never forgot the lessons they had learned. They remained humble and kind, using their talents to uplift others and spread love wherever they went. Their love story became a legend, whispered by storytellers and passed down through generations, reminding people of the transformative power of love and the magic that lies within us all. And so, the Absinthe Ball became an annual celebration of love, music, and the triumph of the human spirit. Each year, the kingdom would come alive with the enchanting melodies of Seraphina and Felix, their voices echoing through the night, reminding everyone that true love knows no boundaries and that dreams have the power to come true. And so, the frog princess and the frog blues singer lived happily ever after, their love story forever etched in the hearts and minds of the kingdom’s people. Their legacy was one of love, music, and the belief in the extraordinary things that can happen when two souls, against all odds, find each other in a world full of enchantment and possibility.

Written by Lazarus Carpenter

Image by Gill Brooks