Stain

Gregory and his wife acquire a special school. Pius, Gregory's twin, on hearing the news is riven with jealousy and seeks revenge. He blackmails Gregory. Gregory's mental health deteriorates. Gregory reluctantly agrees with his wife to move off site struggling to cope with conflicting demands of family life and running the school. Gregory makes a fateful decision leading to catastrophe. By stirring and paralysing twists 'Stain' is a search for the unreachable which unravels the intricacies of polarised relationships between identical twins wherein the condition of their souls cannot be concealed devastating those close to them.

Reared by parents engendering a toxic mix of religious zealotry and domestic violence; from 13yrs old Gabriel studied for the priesthood subsequently leaving to embrace the world becoming a teacher and getting married. Within nine years he became a headteacher and father of three girls. He left the profession due to a mental breakdown, becoming financially destitute. In more recent years Gabriel became full-time carer of his disabled wife. The novel was conceived in 1998 and Gabriel wrote the first draft in 2003 revising it in 2010. Gabriel enjoys the theatre, gardening, dog walking and being a granddad.