A family man suspects he has inherited his mother’s schizophrenia and decides to try to control it himself instead of getting on medication.

Add in some supernatural escapades and you have the plot of local author Lou Stant’s newest book “The Madcap Chronicle of Elton Brunicol.”

The novel follows Elton’s attempts to control his condition “amid one wacky supernatural escapade after another,” Stant said.

One of Stant’s inspirations for writing this book was his career in human services employment where he worked for more than 30 years with people who had various disabilities.

Until 2011, Stant was solely a songwriter, and then he began writing “Of Moose and Men,” his first published novel. He has recorded six CDs of mostly original music.

In 2020, Stant published “An Extended Morphine Holiday,” which was about a bizarre reaction to pain medication that resulted in a man moving to the western United States in the backseat of a limousine next to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Stant also has written five other novels that have not been published yet.

“I think readers will find my novels entertaining and thought-provoking,” he said.

Q: What inspired you to write it?

A: “The Madcap Chronicle” was my second book. The first novel involved characters that were rather nomadic, so I wanted to change gears and write about someone who has “set down his roots,” so to speak. A secondary motivation involved my career in human services employment. I had worked over 30 years with folks having various disabilities, and wanted to write a story about a family in which each family member had a disability. In this novel the lead character may have schizophrenia, his wife is a recovered alcoholic and their son has autism.

Q: What’s your day job?

A: I am delighted to report that I am retired from human services employment and am free to devote my time to creative pursuits, such as writing fiction and writing/recording/performing music.

Q: What are your connections to Brown County?

A: My parents first bought property here in 1959 and I lived on and off in Brown County from then until 1995. I moved here permanently with my family in 1996.

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

A: I work best in a relatively quiet environment, generally during the afternoon for three to four hours at home. Periodically, if the home environment is unsuitable, I’ll write at the Brown County library.

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

A: The last novel I read was Patricia Cornwell’s “Dust.” My favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoevsky, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut and John Grisham. My all-time favorite work of fiction is Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov.”

Q: Where can people buy this book, and for how much?

A: “The Madcap Chronicle of Elton Brunicol” is available on Amazon in paperback for $15.99 and eBook for $3.99. The paperback and eBook can also be purchased at Penitpublications.com for the same prices. As well, the novels can be purchased by me directly at my music performances. For info on future performances, contact me via email at [email protected].

Q: Do you have any book signings or related events planned?

A: I am in the process of making such arrangements.