Injured dentist from Netherbury pulls finger out for novel (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Injured dentist from Netherbury pulls finger out for novel

10:26am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News By James Tourgout

FORMER dentist Stephen Davis spent a year typing his debut novel with one finger after a life threatening brain injury.

The 57-year-old from Netherbury was in a coma for five weeks after falling from his horse in a polo match three years ago.

He has had to learn to walk and talk again after suffering paralysis, multiple skull fractures and a broken arm and shoulder.

Now he has just published his first novel The Merlin Legacy after typing the 82,000-word book out on his word processor.

Mr Davis, a former chairman of the Meplash Show, said: “It took a year.

“I typed it all using one finger on my right hand. Word processors are a great thing.”

Mr Davis, who didn’t have the use of his left hand, added: “It was part of my fightback against the brain injury.

“My story telling is quicker than my writing. I enjoyed telling the story. It just came to me.

“I just thought I would do a book.

“People like the book and it has been very well received.

“It has been selling well and has been very encouraging.

“It is on 20 websites worldwide, including India and America.

“It is quite flattering.”

The fantasy novel tells of a young man chosen to fulfil a magical destiny in a world where dragons battle forces of evil.

It is set in West Dorset around Beaminster and Netherbury and features local people.

Father of three Mr Davis, who is married to nurse Philomena, unveiled the book to his family as a surprise on Christmas Day – complete with ‘thank yous’ on the acknowledgements page.

Mr Davis, who used to run Minister Dental Care in Beaminster and was setting up the Black Swan Dental practice, was hurt in an accident playing polo at South Petherton.

He broke his skull in seven places and was airlifted to hospital.

He credits his life to umpires who put him in the recovery position as well as staff at the various hospitals at which he was treated.

He is also grateful to the friends and patients who flooded his home with more than 1,000 cards.

Mr Davis, who has previously written magazine articles, has regained the use of his leg and his speech, and sight is slowly returning to his right eye although his doctor tells him it will be three years before he recovers as far as he can.

He has starting riding horses again – although not playing polo – and is concentrating on farming as he cannot return to dentistry.

Mr Davis said: “You can fight back. It is not the end of the world.

“I was in a wheelchair. You have to fight all of the time.

“I can talk and walk now and my right eye is working a bit again.”

Now Mr Davis is looking ahead to his next book: “I’ve already written 20,000 words of the sequel, part II.”

Visit amazon.co.uk or Memoirspublishing.com for more information and sample of the opening chapters.