TOP Hollywood movie directors are being targeted by the publishers of an Otley policeman's first book.

Aspiring author Colin Campbell has his first novel Darkwater Towers published next month - and his publishers, who are already hailing him as the next Stephen King, are planning to target Hollywood's biggest names for the film rights to the book.

Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks, Clint Eastwood at Warner Brothers and Britain's own Guy Ritchie of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame will all be sent copies of the horror/fantasy novel, which the policeman has written in his spare time.

Mr Campbell said copies of the novel will also be sent to movie legends Anthony Hopkins and Sean Connery in a bid to attract them to a part in any potential movie.

The imminent launch of the novel on Hallowe'en is a

welcome change from dozens of rejection letters he has received from various publishers over the last six years.

"There were times when I thought 'is it worth it'," he told the Wharfedale Observer.

"I must have a pile of three dozen rejection letters at home, but some of them made nice comments about my writing style or that they liked my work but weren't interested at that time.

"That's what has made me stick with it. I've been writing for about six years and now it really seems to have paid off.

"The book's out shortly and we're hopeful that we'll be able to sell the film rights. My publisher has already asked me for a sequel or prequel to Darkwater Towers and my next novel, Blackwood Falls, is mooted for some time next year.

"To start talking about movies already is incredible. It's very exciting."

Mr Campbell said he had always been interested in horror and fantasy and was an avid fan of the Tales From The Crypt comics and black and white horror movies as a youngster. He earmarks horror writer Stephen King as his current hero.

He added that he did find it difficult to fit in his burgeoning career with his day job as a policeman with 25 years service. He is currently based at Eccleshill.

"It's a matter of having discipline to sit down and do at least half an hour a day, you have to be ruthless with your spare time."

The inspiration for Darkwater Towers is drawn from his experiences in the police.

"I attended an burglary in the house of an old man whose wife had died. He had a picture of her with a note saying 'you will not die unless you are forgotten', which got me thinking about the scenario of a

pensioners' complex where everyone is forgotten."

The story follows the adventures of a terminally ill cancer sufferer and his personal quest as a possessed caretaker kills his fellow tower block residents in the run-up to Christmas.

Managing Editor at Blackie and Co Publishers in Fleet Street, London, Bettina Croft, said: "It is an

excellent and most unusual novel, an accomplished and chilling tale which has already had great reviews - we have got great hopes for it.

"It is in the Stephen King style and it is obvious that Colin is influenced by him. We hope he will become the new Stephen King! He is a prolific writer and very talented and he seems to have a big future ahead of him."

Mr Campbell will be signing copies of his novel at Borders Bookshop in York on October 31, and at Waterstones in Sheffield on November 2, Leeds on November 4 and Scarborough, November 11. (37-29-AH)

l Top author Martyn Bedford has used Wharfedale as the location for his latest novel. On page 15 he writes exclusively for us about the book.