“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Move Along, Please, Nothing To See Here …


Apologies to all three regular readers, but Crime Always Pays is going off-line for the foreseeable future. The main reason is time, or the lack thereof, and the fact that yours truly, aka Some Chancer, Esq., has to choose between blogging and writing, and that’s a foregone conclusion. If any Irish writer wants to avail of the space here, and is prepared to upload their own news, reviews, updates etc., then he or she is more than welcome to do so – log-in passwords et al available on request. In the meantime, thanks a million to everyone who made the last couple of years such an enjoyable experience – you all know who you are.

UPDATE (Slight Return): Many thanks for all the kind words, folks, whether delivered by comment or privately – really, you’re being far too generous. I have a few regrets about parking the blog, not least of which is that it was a decent spot to let people know about new Irish crime writers – myself included, of course. On that score, the various blogs on the left-hand side, a goodly chunk of which are recent additions by new Irish writers, will continue to update. There’s also, although it hardly needs to be said, Gerard Brennan’s excellent Crime Scene Northern Ireland.
  I’ll miss it for myself too, and not just for self-promotion, which was always a vital component of the quid pro quo. Blogging has become like a stroll through the neighbourhood. Some days you’ll stop and chat with the neighbours, other days you’ll nod and go by. Either way, it’s always nice to know you have good neighbours.
  There have been some ideas put forward in the last day or so about how to keep the blog running with a minimum input from me, some of which have been interesting. And I repeat – if anyone fancies updating the blog themselves, with news and views, etc., then they’re more than welcome. Although, as I say, updating your own blog means that the news will pop up on the left-hand side of Crime Always Pays anyway.
  Now, the essence of successful blogging is regular and interesting content. Despite that, and given that I know I’ll miss it (or, more precisely, the people it puts me in contact with), and as a result of being prodded with a big stick by my good lady wife, I’m very tempted to blog on a reduced basis – perhaps, as Donna Moore suggested, once a week. That would allow me to post links to writers’ latest news and releases, etc., while also indulging in a little self-promotion, and also have some fun with whatever rant happens to be occupying me at the time. Business as usual, in other words, albeit on a weekly rather than daily basis. So long as it doesn’t impact on my new writing schedule, that would be ideal.
  I don’t kid myself that it would be blogging per se, but it would, crucially, allow me to stay in touch with people, and give people a reason to stay in touch with me. Given the loneliness of the long-distance writer, that’s not to be underestimated.
  Lastly, thanks again for all the big-ups. I guess there’s a few more than three regular readers after all …
  Cheers, Dec

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

But we also know who you are, and there are no other Declan Burkes.

Sob.

Gerard Brennan said...

Noooooooooo!

Actually, fair play to you, mate. I'm sure it wasn't an easy choice to make. Writing has to come first. Hope you find the time to return to it, though.

gb

Ray Banks said...

Well that was ... sudden. I can only assume that you've been forced to write that. I have dispatched a crack team of misfits to aid your escape.

Claire Coughlan said...

Tough decision to make. As one of the three regular readers of CAP, I'll sure miss the updates and the elves' antics. But hope the writing's going well.
Claire

Peter Rozovsky said...

Writing, raising a wee daugher, blogging. Maybe -- just maybe -- you have your priorities straight. Good luck with the writing.
=================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Ellen Clair Lamb said...

Ah, that's a blow. Dismayed, but it's true: this is a huge chunk of work you've been giving away for a long time. It's been a great work of generosity. Thanks for the run, and I look forward to paying for whatever you do next!

Clair

Ali Karim said...

Well first off as someone who knows how much time blogging takes, I do understand and wish you well.

The otherside ofmy nature is upset as I look at CAP each bloody day! I will miss your comments and insight

Keep in touch Declan

Ali

Alan Griffiths said...

That’s a shame Dec but understandable. CAP is always the first blog I click on and you will be missed. Any thoughts on a separate site dedicated to your own writing and update us periodically on your writing projects? Good luck with all your stuff.

marco said...

Sorry to hear that. Wish you good writing (and parenting) days.

John McFetridge said...

I'll miss the blog, for sure, but I'm looking forward to more writing from you.

Good choice, man.

Stuart Neville said...

I'll miss my daily visits here, Dec, but I understand - I haven't been blogging myself recently.

There'll be an upcoming event I could maybe use your help in promoting in the near future, so I'll drop you a line.

Steve Weddle said...

You'll be missed here. Good luck with the fiction.

Uriah Robinson said...

I will really miss CAP but understand that writing and family life take precedence over providing daily reading material for us pensioners.
Best wishes for the future and hopefully you will find time for some blogging in the future.

Alan Glynn said...

The departure of CAP will leave a black hole in the Irish crime fiction scene. It was a great blog and I’ll certainly miss it. Thanks Dec, and good luck with the work.

Cavalieresq said...

Dude - this blows. Now I have one less site to check three times a day during work.

But if the time saved blogging means we'll be getting more books from you, I guess its a fair trade.

In the meantime, I DEMAND that you upload CRIME ALWAYS PAYS to Kindle immediately, so as to lessen the pain.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear it Declan, your terrific site has become part of my daily reading, coffee in hand. But I fully understand time constraints and wish you all the best.
Arlene

Dana King said...

This is a substantial loss to the blogosphere, but, as has been mentioned above, if it means more books, it will have been worth it for all of us.

Hugs to Aileen and Lily.

Declan Burke said...

You're not helping the decision here, folks. Talk about the kindness of strangers ...

Listen, it's written in the stars - I'll write this book, no one will want it, and I'll be back blogging before you know it. Everyone's a winner ...

Cheers, Dec

crimeficreader said...

Good luck with the writing, Dec.

One of my daily reads gone, but hopefully not for good in the longer term.

All my best to you and your family.

Donna said...

Aw Dec - half of me is gutted - I've loved coming to your blog every day. You are a great blogger - passionate, interesting and funny. You've given me book recommendations, things to mull over and things to laugh about.

The other half of me says that this will be a good thing because it means more books. I will console myself with that lovely thought, but, damn - I WILL MISS YOU!

Thanks for all the fun blogs.

Can't you just...I don't know... pop in once a week and say hi? :o)

Will Lily still be blogging?

Mack said...

We'll miss you Dec but if means more books from you then we'll have to do the stiff upper lip, soldier on thing.

Corey Wilde said...

Oh, man, my favorite blog...

The days have just turned a bit darker for me; hopefully brighter for you.

Best of luck with the writing & publishing. Hope Lily will still drop by with a boopy-doop once in a while.

J. Kingston Pierce said...

I'm so sorry to see you discontinue your involvement at Crime Always Pays. You've done lots of good work there, my friend. I hope you will archive the contents of this blog, so that interested readers can continue to enjoy what you've written (both through links and by going directly to Crime Always Pays). And I hope you will continue to post occasionally in The Rap Sheet, when the inspiration strikes.

Meanwhile, I fully understand how hard it is to write books and try simultaneously to keep up an interesting blog. The mind suffers from undertaking so many thoughtful responsibilities.

Cheers,
Jeff

seana graham said...

It seems too bad, but you've been trying to figure this all out for awhile now, haven't you? I do think it's going to be a loss for the crime-writing and reading community, but that's not to make you feel bad. I think your own writing must come first. I hope you'll log in on one of the other blogs we all love and let us now know how it's all going.

And don't hesitate to start it all up again if you find yourself missing it. It could happen.

Declan Burke said...

Again, folks, I really appreciate the kind words, both here and from those who got in touch privately. Hey, the dramrama of it all ...!

Cheers, Dec

Neil Mount said...

Hey Dec, I missed the dramrama altogether, just catching up! Glad you are thinking of a weekly blogup, that is not a bad idea at all.
Hope you are able to find the time, has been a great and fun blog here!

Fiona said...

Real life, earning widgets and raising Princess Liliput vs keeping us net folk up to date and amused? xx

You'll be sadly missed, Mr B.

seana graham said...

The once a week idea sounds good. Hope it works out. if nothing else, the blog continues to be a good place to put up an image,etc. of the Lulu book.

ssas said...

Aw, and I just got here. Oh well. Have fun writing. :)

Unknown said...

I´ll miss your blog if you stop blogging but I understand it if you have to let it go. I like the idea of a weekly blogging but that´s just me being selfish.
Do what you got to do. Be happy and well.
Best wishes, Helga

Unknown said...

Sorry to see the blog go, but I can understand why. As Bob Hope used to say, thanks for the memories.

Corey Wilde said...

So, if this is how it has to be, I just want to say goodbye to yez properly:
Going Out of Business

But you'll come and visit, I hope. I finally got my copy of Eight Ball Boogie, and you know that means a review is in your future...

Anonymous said...

Declan,
I have been reading your blog for quite awhile now and I will miss having your daily updates. However, I've also read both of your books and loved them both. I'm hoping that we'll see a lot more of you in book form. Best wishes and success.
Bill

eimear said...

Sorry to hear it, but I can imagine it is time-consuming. Best of luck with the writing - finally got around to reading The Big O recently and really enjoyed it.

Patricia said...

Amazing how you've managed it already - I've rarely time to get on and see what you're up to and I love your blog! All the best!