BEST-SELLING Black Country author Miranda Dickinson is hoping her latest book might be the one that film-makers turn into the next big romance movie.

The Day We Meet Again, which hits book stores today (Thursday September 5), is the popular romantic fiction author's tenth novel and it tells the story of Phoebe and Sam who meet by chance at St Pancras station in London and make a pact to reunite 12 months later - if destiny permits.

Described as "an engrossing love story, beautifully written" by bestselling author Sarah Morgan - the book is a story of what-ifs and maybes and follows the pair as they head in opposite directions, separately seeking out their own adventures, wondering if they were meant to be...and if indeed one day they will.

Miranda, who lives in Sedgley, describes it as 'Brief Encounter meets One Day' and she said: "I'd love it if it was a movie or if Netflix picked it up."

The idea for the story - about how one decision can change your life forever - had been brewing for a few years, she told the News, after she almost stumbled into the statue of the late writer and poet Sir John Betjeman, while visiting the ornate Victorian station of St Pancras that he helped to save.

Seeing the statue triggered a light bulb moment that conjured up the characters of Phoebe and Sam and their love at first sight encounter and Miranda said: "It's a story I've wanted to tell for a long time. I wanted to write something that was hugely romantic and this idea wouldn't go away - even when I was having other ideas."

As well as praise from Sarah Morgan, the book has already won applause from a host of other top authors including Cathy Bramley and Josie Silver - and Miranda said: "I've been blown away. To have authors I adore say such things means such a lot - particularly when I've been writing for ten years as it's hard to keep going in this business."

Miranda, who grew up in Kingswinford and always dreamed of being a published author, however, has no shortage of ideas for stories and is already working on book number 11 which will be set in Birmingham. She even dabbles with crime writing in her spare time.

The 46-year-old mum-of-one, whose last release was Cornish love story Somewhere Beyond the Sea, said: "I've always got projects on the go."

Fans of Miranda, who is now signed to HQ - an imprint of HarperCollins, can catch her at the Chase BookFest at the Museum of Cannock Chase on Saturday September 21.

The Day We Meet Again is available to buy online on Amazon and in Tesco and Asda stores as well as Waterstones outlets at intu Merry Hill, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.