Veteran journalist Dale le Vack has just published his second book in 12 months and may soon be venturing into screenplay writing - if his first book is turned into a movie.

Dale, who spent more than 30 years in broadcasting, including working for BBC and ITV, is news editor of the Stratford Herald.

His first book, God's Golden Acre, is the biography of the South African humanist Heather Reynolds, who has saved the lives of thousands of AIDS orphans in South Africa.

She has been described by Nelson Mandela as one of the historic figures of the new South Africa.

The book has already sold thousands of copies in Europe and the UK and was launched this month in the USA.

This month Dale publishes his second book, Mr Action Replay (Sports Masters International) in which is his account of a year working with the TV mogul Bryan Cowgill, writing an account of his legendary career.

Bryan was the BBC's first head of sport, then controller of BBC1, and finally the managing director of Thames TV.

The book has attracted testimonials from Lord Melvyn Bragg, Sir John Mortimer, Alasdair Milne, David Coleman, Jimmy Hill, and Esther Rantzen.

The title is derived from the fact that Cowgill introduced action replay to British television audiences during the 1966 World Cup, coverage of which he masterminded for the BBC, and for which he won a BAFTA.

The next challenge for its author may be the job of penning a screenplay for the film of the life of Heather Reynolds. Several film companies have expressed an interest in the option of making a move of Reynolds' extraordinary and heroic life.

Dale said: "At 59 I may be getting long in the tooth but I'm always looking out for new challenges. Going back into film and TV may be just the tonic I need.

"Meanwhile I've pledged to myself that I must write five books by the time I retire. Perhaps the whole of life is a deadline - rather than a stage."