A bizarre reaction to pain medication results in a man moving swiftly to the western United States in the backseat of a limousine next to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

This is the plot of Lou Stant’s newest book, “An Extended Morphine Holiday,” available now.

Stant describes his newest book as a “humorous romp” that follows a man who is recovering from a major surgery when he has the reaction.

“The novel alternates between the protagonist recovering in the hospital and time-traveling back to the late 19th century American frontier for reasons that are mysterious to him,” Stant said.

“Historical personages such as Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok and Judge Roy Bean make appearances as he struggles to ascertain why he has been catapulted into this unlikely odyssey.”

Stant has written six other novels and is currently working on his eighth, tentatively titled, “Yukon.” His book, “Of Moose and Men,” was the first of seven to be published. It’s available for purchase on his website, loustant.com.

Until 2011, Stant was solely a songwriter, and then he began writing “Of Moose and Men.” Stant has recorded six CDs of mostly original music, the most recent titled, “Pilgrimage.” Anyone wishing to purchase his CDs can contact him at [email protected].

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: It started off as a joke. I wrote the first two chapters in a fit of whimsy, not intending to continue, but it took on a life of its own and wound up a full-blown novel.

Q: What’s your day job?

A: I am soon to fully retire from the human services profession where I toiled in various professional capacities for 32 years. I currently work part-time for Developmental Services Incorporated (DSI) as a direct support professional. I’ve been a professional musician since 1981. I serve locally as a deacon at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Nashville.

Q: What are your connections to Brown County?

A: My family bought property here originally in the late 1950s when I was a young child. I lived in Brown County on and off until 1996, when I moved here permanently with my wife and children.

Q: What’s your writing ritual? In what environment do you work best?

A: I’ve never had the luxury to work solely as a musician or writer due to the necessity of other activities, such as holding down a job, child-rearing, etc. When I carve out time to write, it can be at any time of the day or night — I’m an insomniac. Once I get started, the text generally just “spills out of me” over a period of hours, not usually more than four to five hours. I have generally worked on my computer at the dining room table and work best in a relatively quiet environment.

Q: What’s the last book you read? Do you have a favorite?

A: I read both fiction and nonfiction. I am currently reading {span}Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.” The last work of fiction I read was Chandler Klang Smith’s “Goldenland Past Dark.” In terms of nonfiction, I am currently reading several books, including Ian Wilson’s “The Shroud of Turin.” Fyodor Dostoevsky is my favorite author and I would have to say that my favorite novel of all time is “The Brothers Karamazov.”

Q: Where can people buy the books, and for how much?

A: E-books will eventually be available on Amazon directly or through a link on my website, loustant.com. I also have a limited amount of hard copy books, which I sell at music performances and out of my home. I am hoping to eventually sell hard copy books at Fallen Leaf Books in Nashville. If anyone wishes to purchase a book from me directly, they can contact me at my email address, [email protected]. The price is $10.