HUNTINGTON BEACH — Charming Santa Catalina Island is, for many, a home away from home — a place where boaters can hook onto a mooring and spend the day sunbathing on deck or take a dinghy to shore and peruse the many small-town shops. However, fiction writer Jeffrey West’s deep connection to the island drove him to focus on the other aspects of the island — including some that may have never considered in print, until now.

In his newly published novel, “Avalon,” West tells a story of how the serene, resort-oriented island might be quickly transformed if Catalina were to be hit with a foreign attack. Descriptions of military tactics, the island and political aspects play out throughout the novel, which tells the story of how residents and visitors struggle to cope with this difficult situation.

“It’s a pretty intriguing story, as a whole,” said West, who worked on the book for more than a year before its publication in August.

The Orange County resident and avid boater has an intimate connection with the island, which has served as his personal getaway retreat on several occasions. His mind turned to the vulnerability of the island community — and, from there, he began to ponder what-if situations involving a surprise attack.

“It is very close to civilization, but very remote at the same time,” West said of Catalina. “The fact of the matter is that it is a very vulnerable piece of American soil that is vulnerable to attack because it is surrounded by water and virtually unprotected.”

West decided to push forward with the storyline after taking an interim retirement one year ago. For the next eight months, the former retail executive, and law enforcement firearms specialist and motion picture weapons specialist conducted extensive research on the island, and on military tactics and intelligence.

For the next year, he dove into creating a working plot for his first novel. West spent a few nights a week on his Capri 26-foot sailboat in Dana Point Harbor and wrote for several hours at a time, breaking only to head out for a sail. West’s passion for sailing is evident in the novel, as is his fondness for and familiarity with the island.

Complete reviews and information on purchasing the book can be found at www.avalonthebook.com.