Inform us a bit about your second e-book and the way you got here up with the concept?
Foul and Honest is a thriller set on the planet of youngsters’ grassroots soccer: an beneath 12s coach will get right into a feud with one other supervisor, and the rivalry escalates right into a succession of soiled tips – Roy of the Rovers meets Home of Playing cards was the vibe I used to be going for.
I managed a children’ group for seven years, and in addition to seeing loads of volunteers who had been giving up hours and hours of time for the sake of the youngsters, I additionally noticed too many coaches who wished to make all of it about themselves, performing as if it was the Premier League.
The e-book is about when these two views collide, about discovering the road between doing the appropriate factor and getting the appropriate consequence. Though it’s about children’ soccer, it’s not a kids’s e-book – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at occasions).
Was it more durable or simpler to jot down this e-book than the primary one?
In a single sense, a lot more durable; it definitely took longer. I truly wrote this one earlier than Useless Man Singing, however I knew that I hadn’t obtained it proper but. Whereas Useless Man Singing was within the strategy of being printed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Honest.
Figuring out what was improper with the unique model was comparatively simple; understanding the best way to put it proper took lots longer. I had a number of false begins and lifeless ends, however as soon as I come across including a second character, Hayley, to share the main target of the e-book with James the soccer coach, every part began to fall into place.
She’s a single mum and a police officer, and the best way her story step by step intertwines with James’ makes all of the distinction. I’m actually happy with the place I’ve ended up with this one, even when it was quite a lot of work to get there.
The story is about an U12s coach, however how a lot of the storyline is drawn out of your experiences at MAN v FAT Bournemouth?
Not a lot, to be trustworthy! The unique model of the story was written earlier than I began with MAN v FAT, though the Hayley revisions got here since. The membership has left a few marks on the e-book although.
Considered one of our gamers is a police officer, and he was an enormous assist for me in making Hayley’s work experiences ring true. There’s additionally a minor character within the e-book who is known as after one other of our gamers. For a wide range of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the appropriate title for that character, and I instantly realised that it was proper there on the membership web site all alongside.
I requested him if he minded me utilizing it and, fortunately, he agreed. If any of the lads from Bournemouth wish to know which of their friends has made it into print, they’ll simply have to purchase the e-book and skim it – I feel they’ll recognise him within the character too, though it wasn’t initially based mostly on him.
Though there’s nothing in Foul and Honest to do with weight-loss, there’s a lot in there concerning the worth of soccer for wellbeing, notably for kids. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that can attraction to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with reminiscences of youngsters’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a guardian, will discover a lot within the e-book that resonates with their expertise.
I think that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into at the least a kind of classes, so I’m hoping that numerous folks in our group will actually benefit from the e-book.
What has the preliminary suggestions been to the e-book?
It’s very early days but, however up to now so good! Evaluate copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the e-book to a few folks within the soccer world: Martin Dighton, previously with Dorset FA and now Senior Coach Developer at Teaching UK, and Richard Dobson, who was Gareth Ainsworth’s assistant supervisor at QPR and Wycombe.
They’ve each given glowing endorsements, praising the e-book for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing children first, and for being an important, enjoyable learn.
You’ll be able to see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Useless Man Singing obtained some implausible reader opinions as soon as it was out on the planet, so I’m hoping that Foul and Honest will observe in its footsteps.
You’re coming to the nationwide event – how a lot are you trying ahead to assembly extra of the group? And the way a lot will the e-book value them to purchase?
I’m actually trying ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll be capable of watch a few of the soccer and to speak with MAN v FAT gamers from throughout the nation. I’ve been concerned with MAN v FAT for 2 and a half years now and I really like the heat and the sense of assist that everybody has for each other.
It’s genuinely probably the greatest issues I’ve ever been concerned with and I’m very proud to have a small half in one thing that modifications so many lives for the higher.
The books retail at £9.99 every, and I’ll be doing a particular supply for the event: if somebody buys Foul and Honest and Useless Man Singing collectively, I can do the pair at £16. However whether or not somebody needs to purchase books or not, I’d love for folks to come back and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do hunt down Steve on the event, we’re certain he’d be glad to speak to you!
