Book follows journey of Sleaford writer

Dr Richard Shaw, 73, a member of the Sleaford Writers Group, penned a 500-page autobiography of his journey to Eastern countries from the age of 21 in the 1960s and 1970s.

Richard’s travels would take him to Cambodia, Afghanistan and India, with the book documenting his experiences along the way.

The back of All Roads Lead East reads: ‘This is the story of a journey to the East by a young Englishman in the 60s and 70s, a journey that was perhaps typical of that time, of striving for escape from a materialistic way of life in search for the meaning of life’.

His travels would see Richard go through Laos during the Vietnam War, and reach India on a ship full of pilgrims after two failed attempts.

After having several articles published, this is the first time Richard has had a whole book published.

The four-year long writing process saw Richard visit San Juan, an island off the coast of Washington, the Great Slave Lake in the Canadian Arctic.

He edited it in Madeira and Kos, and finished it back in Sleaford.

Richard self-published the book through Papaya Books and printed it through Ingram Spark.

It was released ahead of Christmas, and Richard told The Standard ‘it was a happy serendipity’ as it was published on his mother’s birthday.

All Roads Lead East is £25.99, available to buy from Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwells, Foyles and Book Depository.

It has 191 illustrations, including 90 black and white, 90 colour and one sketch.