Woman In Black author Susan Hill says 'I'm broke' - despite her book selling millions and being turned into a film
Cash-strapped: Author Susan Hill, who says she'll have to wait a year for her royalties
Her book has sold millions and has been transformed into a sell-out play, while the film adaptation is the most successful British horror in 20 years.
But Woman in Black author Susan Hill has revealed that she is ‘broke’ despite her novel being a huge hit.
The writer said she had received very little for the film, which stars Daniel Radcliffe as protagonist Arthur Kipps, despite it grossing more than £100million worldwide.
‘The Woman in Black just cracked £20million at the UK box office. Hurrah. But I wish some of it were coming my way. I am broke,’ she wrote on her Twitter page.
‘It’s over £100million worldwide now and I am still broke.’
The makers claim those figures make the movie the UK’s highest grossing British horror film since records began 20 years ago.
It was adapted for the big screen from the 1983 book by Jonathan Ross’s wife Jane Goldman.
Chilling: Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps in the blockbuster adaptation of The Woman In Black
But as the original writer, Miss Hill says she received only a small sum for the use of her work and is unlikely to receive further royalties from the film.
She added: ‘Films always make everyone else rich save the author. Got a bit ages ago but [it is] peanuts against [takings of] £100million.’
Miss Hill conceded that the success of the film had led to an increase in sales of her book, but said she would have to wait to see any money from that.
She added: ‘I will get royalties but not for about a year. I am broke NOW!’