Hornby's golden pen

Nick Hornby has sold the rights of his latest novel to Hollywood before it has been published.

Warner Brothers has bought A Long Way Down - a story of four people about to commit suicide by jumping off a tower block - in a deal said to be worth several million.

Three of Hornby's novels - High Fidelity, About A Boy and Fever Pitch - have been made into films which did well in the US.

Johnny Depp is working as a producer on the new film.

The book is published next week.