1.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 17:09:36
And that he broke the hearts of the Irish fans. Haha, I’m not bitter at all. We were so sure we had our future center mid right there for years to come. Honestly, and perhaps I’m wrong, I don’t think he’ll ever become a big England star but I do think he is capable of it. I wish him all the best but I see another wasted talent getting lost among a deep pool of amazing talent. Kinda like Jack grealish. I know it’s about what the heart wants so fair dues to him.

2.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 18:23:33
I agree aoe, I see him a bit like jenas or Parker. Good player and there or there abouts but never a big star for England as there are too many players in his way. Irish fans must be gutted though and I don't blame them. Grealish and rice, with the Burnley lads as well and Ireland would've had a really good little midfield.
I can understand his reasons though. England have really improved in many areas, not just on the pitch and the future looks bright.

Started crimson hunters last night. Had just finished the second book in another trilogy so only read a little as it was getting late. Just going to carry on with it in a bit. Seems good though. Funny and intriguing. Thanks man. It feels really cool reading a great book written by someone I kind of know. How many books in the series? Have you finished the dellerin books yet? I'm more than a little fed up waiting for Patrick rothfuss's third book and the next g. o. t. Book. (no pressure! )

3.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 18:54:12
Ah delighted to hear. Spark is my monster. (Particularly in America) I’m half way through the sequel- 100,000 words and counting so far. The lock in will give me the motivation to get it done that little bit quicker. As for dellerin, there’s a little on my blog about that series which would bore people way too much, but I think it could become bigger than spark. It’s getting it’s own darker audience which is really cool. There are quite a numbers of books (hopefully) going to be written. I’ve to be honest, I probably like the crimson books over everything else. They are just a blast to write.

4.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 18:56:33
Ps, I get a lot of disgruntled rothfuss fans demanding I not follow his lead. I’m as big a fan as they are. I’m sitting waiting too. Got is never getting written.

5.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 21:02:53
Do you think that's true aoe? That got isn't getting finished? I couldn't believe it when "fire and blood" came out (I've got it BTW) a massive book that must've taken ages. While he has fans waiting for ice and fire series to be completed. Honestly, if they weren't so good I wouldn't bother, but I guess they are and that's why we're waiting. And there is a book about Duncan the tall.
I'll check the spark books out too man. Crimson hunters is great! How did you first get published and how long did it take? How many books were written that didn't make it and do you have an English degree? Sorry for the interrogation but I'm genuinely interested. I've got about 10 first chapters laying about.

6.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 21:35:18
Look at me pushing my business like a dodgy fiend. BUY MY BOOKS! Poor old Declan rice is getting some traffic today. Sorry Tristan, it’s a great article. Long story short, I was getting screwed around with small publishing houses after a few submissions (at least 500) where they were offering average deals for my lifetime rights. (be really careful of these smaller houses, they’ll offer you nothing and demand you do everything) meanwhile, the bigger houses were laughing in my face and telling me to try harder next time. I could easily have given up but instead, I decided to set up my own independent publishing house. Random and foolish and the scariest and greatest decision I’ve ever done. I released spark and it tanked like a Michael Owen stand up at anfield. Went on did the dellerin tales and a comedy book (which went number one in sone American charts, no idea how, I’d say corruption) . Spent my last few pennies promoting and suddenly a year after I’d given up on spark city, people started buying. I’m no millionaire yet but I’m making a living and books are eternal. Well done on writing 10 chapters on anything. Seriously, I love talking to anyone digging in and going for it. Most brilliant people I know can’t get by the first paragraph. If you want, pop onto my website and email us your details across mate. I genuinely don’t want to piss off ed2 too much by taking over the chatwaves. If anyone else is interested, I am happy to offer any advice to any budding authors.

{Ed001's Note - don't be sorry mate, nice to read about someone having some success for a change! Maybe inspire others to try their hand at it.}

7.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 21:42:21
The last time we nearly had a player it was Armstrong and he was adamant that he was going to play for England but they had so many good strikers to hand that he never got picked. Hopefully this won't happen to rice but you never know.

8.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 21:53:55
This is a terrible time in the world but I’m hoping some great books and art, and dare I say hilarious memes emerge to keep us all sane. Out of necessity, I started this writing lark. We never know what we’re capable of until we try it. I will say, I’ve failed with almost every grand endeavor I’ve ever attempted in my life. Only need to get it right once though.

9.) 18 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 22:01:50
Deisered, are you talking about Chris Armstrong? If you are that is an amazing blast from the past.

10.) 19 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 22:32:09
The very one aoe he was adamant he was the man for england but the had Fowler, Shearer, sutton, Cole, sheringham there was a few more but he thought he was better. Go figure.

11.) 19 Mar 2020
18 Mar 2020 23:26:08
Thank you so much for the encouragement aoe. I will visit your website. I've written this novella, it's more of a writing exercise. It follows a coin as it passes from hand to hand in a fictional land at war. From 2nd generation soldier to bully, to con man to warrior monk. Its really rough but some parts of it read okay and I surprised myself a bit. I got to thinking a large part of writing is confidence.

It's amazing that you've done it. I regret ever disagreeing with any comment you've ever made here! (my new hero) I'm going to pick one of my characters, the lovable con man maybe, and keep writing.

Do people still send their work in paper form to publishers? Or is it all done by email? Thanks again for the book, I've got a long way to go to get anywhere near your level. But somehow, just by knowing you from here, makes me feel that it is possible. Legend. Was crimson hunters inspired in anyway by our own red army? Lorgen/ Jurgen?

12.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 08:25:37
Don’t worry, ed1 idolizes me and still puts me in my place regularly. In fairness, some of the crap I talk needs to be shut down. That’s why I love this site. Keeps reminding me what an idiot I am. As for advice, work mate, just plenty of hard work. Keep writing, keep improving and keep your head up. Cracking idea for the novella, if you think it’s ready for the world, get a brutal editor in to tear it apart. (It will cost you, but it’s important) Have them go through every single line and just brutalize it. It’ll suck, it’ll make you want to quit. But a week after the shock has run off, re edit the novella once more. Then send it to another editor and get it destroyed again. Ugh, thinking of what I went through has brought back trauma. It made me better though. Edit one last time, get a proof read done. And then come back to me and I’ll be able to suggest a few routes to take.

{Ed001's Note - some?? Just some??}

13.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 09:16:26
Okay, with salah involved I talk a healthy amount of crap. I’ll own it.

{Ed001's Note - I am not sure it can be considered healthy mate.}

14.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 10:00:33
AOE if you don't mind me asking how did you get in to it? I'd love to give it a whirl and do something different but I'd struggle with time and knowing where to begin.

Downloaded Crimson Hunters too- it's next on my list after the Tattooist of Auschwitz.

15.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 11:34:07
Necessity. Kind of like what we are all going through now. My dad got very sick and part of his symptoms were lunatic events at night. He’d wake up and go for little raving wanders around the house. My mom couldn’t handle him so I stayed up most nights when he was bad. I played a lot of Xbox but after a while I needed to do something more. I started making up a story set in a fantasy realm and worked on it in my head. Just writing notes here and there until I knew the world. It started with a paragraph mate. I must have edited and re edited that paragraph ten times over. Then I wrote an entire page and thought myself great. Then it became a chapter and I said screw it, I’m going for it. If you can give yourself an hour a day of writing, you’ll be absolutely flying. I should add that everything I did at the beginning was absolute crap. Most first drafts are absolute crap. Doesn’t matter, just get it down, even if you spout a load of French half way through. That’s what the rewrites are for. And they are many. But that’s where you find your style and your discipline. My technique is a little different these days but if you get a page done, you are a writer, just keep going.

16.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 12:30:30
Top man thanks for the answer and good luck to you brother.

17.) 19 Mar 2020
19 Mar 2020 12:38:46
Wow. Thanks aoe. That's what I'm going to do. Yes I can imagine being edited hurts. I used to write songs and would find it really hard to change a weak verse, even though I knew I had rushed it and it could be better. But I can also see that it would improve my writing, having someone point me in the right direction. I love the freedom of a blank page, the only downside to writing (apart from sore wrist) is no time to read!
Thanks a lot man. And good luck on your sequel!