Monks

Three men from Coatbridge set out for Italy to find a monk reputed to possess healing powers in order to help psychiatrically disturbed Jimmy Brogan. However, when they arrive on the mountain, they find that healing isn't that easy to come by. This is a funny, provocative story of redemption. As the characters learn that the monastery cannot provide sanctuary from Jimmy's past, they are all challenged to face their own lives. "Monks" was originally published by Hodder as "The Big Q".

Des Dillon Des Dillon was born and brought up in Coatbridge. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist and dramatist writing for radio, stage, television and film. He was writer in residence at Castlemilk from 1998 to 2000, and has worked as a teacher of English, a creative writing tutor, and a TV scriptwriter. His novels have been translated into Russian and Italian. His novel, Me and Ma Gal, first published in 1995, was selected as one of The List/Scottish Book Trust's 100 Best Scottish Books of all time. His acclaimed play Singin' I'm no a Billy, He's a Tim is probably the most performed play in Scotland in the last five years - in 2011 it will be touring in England with the prestigious Guy Masterton Productions. He now lives in Galloway, and also currently performs stan` up comedy.