A man known as Flat Cap Fred lived in the quaint village of Willowbrook, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery. Fred was a jovial soul with a penchant for adventure and a heart as big as the countryside surrounding his humble abode. One of Fred’s most beloved companions was a mischievous ferret, Finn, with a sleek silver coat and eyes that sparkled like dewdrops in the morning sun. Fred and Finn were inseparable, their bond forged through countless escapades and shared moments of laughter. The villagers often marvelled at the sight of Fred with his trusty flat cap perched jauntily on his head and Finn peeking out from the pocket of his worn tweed jacket, always ready for their next adventure.
One crisp autumn morning, as the leaves danced in a riot of colours and the air was filled with the sweet scent of harvest, Fred and Finn set out for the woods on the outskirts of the village. Their destination was a secluded glade where the old oak tree stood sentinel, its gnarled branches reaching for the sky like ancient arms frozen in time. As they wandered through the golden carpet of fallen leaves, Fred regaled Finn with tales of legendary creatures and forgotten realms, his voice carrying the magic of bygone days. Finn chattered in response, his excitement palpable as they ventured deeper into the heart of the woods. Suddenly, a flash of silver caught Fred’s eye, and he saw Finn darting towards a burrow hidden beneath a tangle of roots. Curiosity piqued, Fred followed his furry friend, his heart pounding with anticipation. What secrets lay hidden in this forgotten corner of the woods? As Fred peered into the burrow, he saw a pair of gleaming eyes staring back at him, filled with fear and curiosity.
It was a young fox cub, its russet coat shimmering in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. The cub whimpered softly, caught between instinctual caution and a yearning for companionship. With a gentle smile, Fred extended a hand towards the fox cub, his eyes filled with warmth and understanding. Slowly, the cub emerged from its hiding place, drawn to the kindness radiating from this unlikely duo of man and ferret. Finn chittered softly, inviting the cub to join their merry band. And so, under the watchful gaze of the old oak tree and the approving rustle of the leaves, Flat Cap Fred, the mischievous ferret Finn, and the curious fox cub embarked on a new adventure together.
Bound by friendship and shared love for the wonders of the natural world, they roamed the woods of Willowbrook, their laughter echoing through the trees like a song of joy and unity. Ultimately, it was not the size of the adventure that mattered but the depth of the connections forged along the way. Flat Cap Fred and his unlikely companions taught the villagers of Willowbrook that true magic lies in opening one’s heart to the beauty surrounding us and embracing the bonds that transcend species and time. And so, the tale of Flat Cap Fred and the mischievous ferret Finn became a legend in Willowbrook, a reminder of the power of friendship and the enduring magic of the natural world.
Once upon a time, in the mystical land of Draconia, lived a wise woman named Gabrielle who had a unique gift, she could speak the ancient language of dragons. Not just any dragons, but baby dragons, the most adorable and mischievous creatures in all of Draconia. These baby dragons were known for their insatiable curiosity and boundless energy, and Gabrielle was their favourite storyteller. Every evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Gabrielle would make her way to the clearing in the heart of Dragon Forest.
There, nestled among the ancient trees and shimmering fireflies, the baby dragons would gather around her, their eyes wide with anticipation. Gabrielle would begin her stories with a soft, melodic voice that seemed to weave a spell around her audience. She would tell them tales of great dragon heroes who once roamed the land, epic battles fought and won, and ancient prophecies that foretold the coming of a new age. The baby dragons would listen enraptured, their tiny wings fluttering with excitement, tails wagging back and forth in delight. They would gasp at the thrilling parts, laugh at the funny moments, and sigh dreamily at the romantic scenes. To them, Gabrielle’s stories were like magic, transporting them to far-off lands and filling their hearts with wonder.
As the night wore on and the moon rose high in the sky, the baby dragons would yawn and snuggle closer to Gabrielle, their eyelids drooping heavy with sleep. Smiling softly, Gabrielle would tuck them in with her soft cloak, whispering a lullaby that echoed through the forest like a gentle breeze. And so, Gabrielle would bid her young audience goodnight each night, knowing that she had filled their dreams with adventure and joy. As she made her way back home through the moonlit forest, a contented smile on her face, she knew that she had found her true calling, to be the storyteller of baby dragons, bringing magic and wonder to their young lives. In return, the baby dragons would always be her loyal friends, their tiny hearts forever filled with the stories of Gabrielle, the keeper of dragon dreams.
Once upon a time, in a small town nestled among rolling hills, there stood an ancient clock tower. The townspeople whispered tales about the ghost of a woman who haunted the tower, her tragic story passed down through generations. Legend had it that the woman was once a beautiful maiden named Evelyn, who lived in the town centuries ago. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was known for her kind heart and gentle nature. Evelyn was deeply in love with a humble young artist named William. This was much to the dismay of her father, who desired a more prestigious match for his daughter.
Despite her father’s objections, Evelyn and William continued to meet in secret, their love blossoming against all odds. However, tragedy struck when a terrible illness swept through the town, claiming the lives of many, including William. Heartbroken and desolate, Evelyn sank into a deep despair, unable to bear the loss of her beloved. One fateful night, driven by grief and longing, Evelyn climbed the winding stairs of the clock tower, her mind consumed by sorrow. As the clock struck midnight, the townspeople claimed to have heard her piercing screams echoing through the night, but when they rushed to the tower, they found it empty.
From that night on, strange occurrences plagued the clock tower. Locals reported hearing haunting melodies drifting from the tower, and some claimed to have seen a ghostly figure of a woman peering mournfully from the high windows. The clock itself seemed to take on a life of its own, chiming at odd hours and sometimes stopping altogether, only to mysteriously resume ticking days later. As time passed, the legend of Evelyn’s ghost became deeply ingrained in the town’s folklore. Some believed she was trapped in the tower, unable to find peace due to the anguish that had consumed her in life. Others thought she was bound to the clock, her spirit forever intertwined with its mechanisms.
Despite many eerie tales, the townspeople grew accustomed to the presence of a ghostly woman in the clock tower. Some even claimed to have felt a sense of comfort in her ethereal presence, believing that Evelyn’s spirit watched over the town, protecting it from harm. To this day, the clock tower stands as a silent sentinel, its ancient face bearing witness to the passage of time. And on quiet nights, when the moon hangs low in the sky, locals still whisper about the ghost of Evelyn, the woman in the clock tower, who continues to be an enigmatic figure in the town’s rich tapestry of legends and lore.
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
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 