Medic's debut novel destined for Hollywood

Hollywood beckons for a Black Country medic who wrote his debut novel between hospital shifts.

A psychological thriller by Steve Watson, aged 39, of Stourbridge, is being made into a film.

Stars Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett have all been tipped to take the lead role.

It will be produced by Sir Ridley Scott, who was behind a string of classics including Alien, Gladiator and Blade Runner.

Before I Go To Sleep was written by Mr Watson, of Amblecote, while he was at St Thomas's Hospital in London.

The audiology specialist - who is a former student at Birmingham University - has now taken a two-year break from his job to work on a second book. He said: "It's quite difficult for me to get my head round all this. Any writer dreams of being published. I had this fantasy that someone would make a film, but never dreamed it would come true."

The novel tells the story of a woman who wakes up to find she does not recognise her life any more and she is married to a complete stranger.

When she went to bed she was young free and single, but her body has now aged and her appearance has changed.

The tale is inspired by amnesia cases he encountered during his career.

Rights to the novel, which went on sale two months ago, have been acquired by 32 publishers in countries across the world. His agent was then approached by Scott Free UK — the British arm of Ridley Scott's Company based in Los Angeles.

The movie is already in the planning stages and could be in cinemas next year.

Liza Marshall, the film's producer for Scott Free UK, says it is a "brilliant" thriller and "a meditation on love, loss and what it means to be alive".

Mr Watson added: "For me, success will be the day when I'm out and about on the Tube and see someone reading my book.

"It feels weird — suddenly my book is being talked about and described by other people."

After studying physics at Birmingham University, Mr Watson became a clinical scientist in audiology.

He originally went part-time at the hospital to write the book.

But he is now hoping the success of this book could lead to a career in writing.