Halesowen author wins Hollwood movie deal and linking up with Guillermo Del Toro

Feb 8 2009 Lorne Jackson, Sunday Mercury

across the country suddenly and lethally attack each other, for apparently no reason.

It is also set to be released in paperback this month by Gollancz, one of the UK’s major publishers.

Meanwhile, David has been given £60, 000 from the movie makers, with more to follow when the film shifts gear into production.

Which will come in handy, since he now has three step-daughters and two of his own.

The cash will help him concentrate on writing, with no pressure to continue with full-time work.

There is only one frustration he has encountered so far.

“The annoying thing I’m learning really quickly is that when your book gets made into a film you have very little involvement.

“Someone told me a story that an author and a film-maker meet in the middle of nowhere. The writer chucks his book over; the film-maker chucks back some money. Then you don’t see each other ever again.

“It’s kind of like that.

“It’s weird to know it’s happening, yet infuriating that I’m not right in the middle of it. I do know that it’s going to have filmed interiors in Spain, with exteriors in America.

“That’s a bit of a shame, really, because it’s a very British book. In my head, all the scenes were set in Birmingham.

“But you have to make some sacrifices, don’t you?”

Hater (Gollancz: £9.99 )is released by Gollancz on February 26.