Only One Foot to the East follows a vibrant young woman who, after a motorcycle crash, is left severely injured, ultimately losing a leg and living with a colostomy, and her refusal to let this disability define her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

As outlined in the introduction, there were three elements I wanted to explore:

Firstly, the physical and psychological impact of a life-changing injury on a young and otherwise healthy and attractive woman and her subsequent journey of healing, acceptance, and growing as a person through the challenges this imposed;

Secondly, the phenomenon of fascination with and attraction to amputees, particularly by men towards amputee women, encompassing both positive and negative aspects of this – for both the amputees who are the recipients of this attraction and for those who, for whatever reasons, have this fascination or attraction (often unbidden, and frequently unfulfilled except through fantasy); and

Thirdly an exploration of the hippy era, which, although it had earlier roots, kicked off with the “Summer of Love” in Haight Ashbury in San Francisco in 1967 and emerged as a counter-culture by many in the baby boom generation, rejecting the values and attitudes of older generations, embracing psychedelic drugs (especially cannabis and LSD, but also including mescalin, magic mushrooms, and – to a lesser extent – “harder” drugs such as heroin, cocaine, etc., leading on in later times to ecstasy, and the plethora of drugs now available, the fashions of the time – flairs, kaftans, beads, Afghan goatskin coats, long hair for both sexes, an era of pop music – principally rock and roll – and of an interest in Hindu and Buddhist religion and philosophy. All of this, of course, resulted in the “Hippy Trail” in which many young people travelled overland from Britain and Western Europe to India, Nepal, and – in some cases – subsequently to East Asia and even Australia.

My interest in these three aspects derives from (a) the fact that I am married to an amputee, (b) I have known other people who have gone through life-changing illnesses and injuries resulting in disabilities, and (c) in my younger days I knew and was friends with several hippies, and although not participating myself in any drugs scene I was aware of it, knew several people who were part of it, heard many stories including those of people who had gone to India and took an active interest in the philosophies and practices of those it inspired.

By the way, please note that, in the book, Lucy’s colostomy is only temporary. I know there are many people who live with permanent colostomies or ileostomies, but these are usually the result of disease of the intestinal tract (colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or very severe IBS), much less frequently from trauma.

I found Lucy to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil through the story?

Lucy is based on aspects of many people, no one of whom encompasses all of her. Influences have included my wife, other people I have known, the online blogs, YouTube videos, Instagram and Facebook accounts of many, characters in other books, and a lot of research!

What is the next book that you are writing, and when will that be published?

I have written a few short stories, and plan on writing more – and maybe at some point another novel. However, as yet I don’t have any plans for publishing anything.

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