Finding the Diamond

William Trost Richards

South of the grey waters, lay the outcast bastard village of Trent on Shore. On paper, its land had no borders, for not a King or surveyor saw value in its proprietary; and, as there was no farmland or commerce to be had, the mayor had long vacated, leaving it to the wayward to inhabit the huts that leant against its sea-wracked cliffs.

The name of this place was better known to some as: Dearth and Dingle.

It was there that Tindle had found a diamond. Embedded in the crumbling cliff, and once covered completely with crusty sand, he had caught the wink of its glitter as he foraged for seaweed grapes in the hairy pools of the sponge-like rocks.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER -: Finding Self - Second Guesses

Azlander: Finding Self, Second Guesses by Gabriel Brunsdon

Out now: the third book in the Azlander Series by Gabriel Brunsdon. 

Highly recommended for readers who are searching for a magical book of substance and teaching. Jam packed with tales of dark and goodly souls, cosmic travels, generous wisdoms, high philosophy, complex tales that travel through many realms and lifetimes past and present.

With both humour and heaviness at times, the characters are striving to find their spiritual homes. Although this is book three of the series, it is a stand-alone work, that can be enjoyed without having read the other two first.

There are many different beings, and mortals in the mix as well - famous and unknowns, yet all noteworthy.

A jolly good read, with passages that can be reread over and over again, because it is that good.
Go to your country's Amazon.

Resurrection, Continuum & Renewal

Steven Carlson

“You see the spirit draws us on - always a little ahead of us, always a little farther from us … into the lands of our destiny.

“There is never is an end to such a great story, for this is the supreme law of second chances: resurrection, continuum, renewal: that life goes on.”

And with that being said, Francis could feel his own future before him; he sensed the pull of his own heart, of his spirit calling to him with adventures and vistas to come.

He realized that at no point would anything ever be truly finished, or for that matter gone - for everything and every one transformed - and this was a good thing, a great thing - to go on.

He drew his blanket around his shoulders, and as with any good vision, it had made him so content he fell asleep returning into the land of wondering.

The great lion sat quietly beside the tired traveller.

“Bless you Francesco” he said most quietly, and then gently disappeared from sight.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Great Story

“Well that is not at all what I would call a very good story,” objected Francis, who genuinely thought he had heard better.

“It is not a good story, but a great story.”

“But the end is insufficient.”

“That is what makes it a great story,” said the Lion.

“No, I mean to say … it was wanting.”

“Yes.”

“But did he die in the end?”

“He was dead all the time.”

“Oh” said Francis.

“He just did not know it” said the Lion.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Tragic Climber

The lion began:

“A man stood on the top of a high precipice, on a rock that crowned a snow topped mountain. Its slippery coldness betrayed his foothold and his nails ripped in resisting the fall; and his skin was torn, grazed and sliced in the skid on the way back down.

"Yet his heart had been plucked and taken to an eagle hen’s lay - strident, nesting, resting on a bed of feathers and poop.”

“I believe I have heard this one before” Francis interjected.

The Lion continued, ignoring what he had said.

“Although his arms were seized with pain, and his legs ached beyond belief; this tragic climber struggled back to the summit in search of his heart that had been stolen from him. It was, as it were, that the very moment he ascended the final step to reach into the feathery nest, his lean betrayed him and he fell once again to the bottom.”

“Poor soul”, muttered Francis.

“Yes yes,” agreed the Lion, who then continued:

“Once again the heart called to the man below: and its magnetism drew him up, coaxing him every time he stopped.

"Just a little farther, just a little farther … and after what felt like many years, the heartless man once more came to the eagle’s nest - this time to find that his heart was gone. A silhouette of a bird could be seen in the distant sky, and the climber could feel his own heart moving fast away from him.

He looked down at the town beneath - the buildings and roads all in miniature - the streams and the rivers like silver ribbons glittering as they wrapped their way around the landscape beneath.

“What now?” asked Francis.

“What now indeed?” said the Lion agreeably. He stopped as though that were a suitable ending as any.

“Go on,” prompted Francis.

“There is no more to be said,” said the Lion.


Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Beast Shimmered

The lion sat back on his haunches and closed his eyes. Francis did the same.

As the sun stealthily rose Francis could see wings, large wings, drawn back behind this wonderful creature. He was not of stone, hewn not from any rock, nor was he with fur and fibre.

“You are no earthly creature” he blurted, “What do you want from me?”

The massive beast shimmered tossing his mane this way and that, as though he were shaking raindrops off his coat.

He opened his eyes and growled. “I want to tell you a story my son.”

Francis smiled ever so lightly; with a nod, he drew his blanket close.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Huge Golden-maned Lion

Francis had a way with animals - everybody knew that.

He enjoyed making a point of this amongst the mortals, believing it might encourage them to a higher compassion and comprehension.

He could do the unexpected, and frequently did.

But this morning he was not so sure of himself - he found his legs trembling, and his heart fast paced and thumping - so much so, it was difficult to catch a breath.

In his mind he was not frightened of the huge golden-maned lion before him. No, he said to himself - it was not that.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances