Its the late 1970s and 20-something Christopher Fowler is a film freak, obsessively watching lousy films in run-down fleapit cinemas. He longs to be a famous screenwriter and put his dreams on the big screen. And so he heads for Wardour Street, Britains equivalent of Hollywood. But hes made a spectacular mistake, arriving just as the nations filmmakers are falling to their knees, brought low by the arrival of video and the destruction of the old movie palaces. The only films being made are smutty low budget farces and TV spinoffs and instead of being asked to write another 'Bullitt, he's churning out short films advertising boilers and nylon sheets. Somehow, against the odds, he finds success although in a very different guise to the one he expected.

From the sticky Axminster of the local cinema to the red carpet at Cannes,Film Freakis a grimly hilarious and acutely observed trawl through the arse-end of the British film industry that turns into an ultimately affecting search for friendship and happiness.

Christopher Fowleris the author of more than forty novels (fifteen of which feature the detectives Bryant and May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit) and short story collections. The recipient of many awards, including the coveted CWA Dagger in the Library, Chris has also written screenplays, video games, graphic novels, audio plays and two critically acclaimed memoirs,PaperboyandFilm Freak. His most recent book isThe Book of Forgotten Authors, drawn from his Invisible Ink columns in theIndependent on Sunday.Chris divides his time between London's Kings Cross and Barcelona. You can find out more by visiting his website and following him on Twitter.

Much-loved and admired novelist Christopher Fowler follows up his acclaimed memoir, Paperboy, with a second beautifully told, funny and affecting autobiographical volume, recounting his years in Britain's movie business.