A BLACKPOOL man has proved he has the "write" stuff to make it in the book world after his first full-length novel topped the bestsellers list.

And not only that, Stephen Booth's debut novel Black Dog has also attracted interest from TV companies and even Hollywood film producers.

Stephen, 48, pictured, was born in Burnley but his family moved to Blackpool when he was two years old. He grew up in the resort and attended Hawes Side Primary School and Arnold School. Although Stephen now lives in Nottingham, Black Dog -- his first attempt at crime fiction -- follows a 25-year career in journalism which began with editing his school magazine, The Arnoldian.

But Stephen said he always had aspirations to become a novelist.

"It was what I always wanted to do," he explained. "My first attempt was a science fiction book when I was 10." But he admits he was shocked at the success he experienced. "The last 12 months or so have been pretty amazing for me. A year ago I was an aspiring novelist like thousands of others and now everything has suddenly taken off and my life has changed completely."

Stephen said the novel is the first in a series set in the Peak District featuring two young detectives, Ben Cooper and Diane Fry, investigating a murder case. He said the inspiration came from a real life news story he heard about a body that was discovered in woods, not by the police but by a man walking his dog -- hence the title.

The second instalment is due out next year but Black Dog hit the bestseller list soon after its release and the first print run sold out in only five weeks.

It has now been snapped up by Scribner, publishers of horror writer Stephen King, and will be out in America in October. It has already been published in Canada and Australia and translation rights are secured for Germany, Holland, Italy and Japan.

Stephen said: "The most exciting thing was when the inquiries started coming for television rights, and when my agent took the first calls from Hollywood it was unbelievable -- it's like living a dream."