One of our Mavens, Michael Miller, recently had the opportunity to write a book on iPhone and iPad app development and publish it through our friends over at HyperInk. Michael learned about the opportunity through an invitation he received from Maven, and earlier this this week The Best Book on Designing iPad and iPhone Apps was published.
I had a chance to catch up with Michael today to learn more about his experience.
Wyatt Nordstrom: Hi Michael. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us. Before we get started, how did you first hear about Maven?
Michael Miller: My good friend and security expert Ian Gorrie invited me to join back in 2010. When I began researching the site, it seemed like a great way to get connected to organizations that need help from someone with my expertise.
WN: Describe your experience with Maven prior to being approached to write a book.
MM:Â My first Maven consultation was in 2010. A venture capitalist was interested in learning more about open source NAS solutions, which happens to be a topic I take great interest in. I helped the customer weigh the pros and cons of various offerings in this space.
WN: How did you hear about the opportunity to write a book through HyperInk?
MM: I received an invitation from Maven to share my knowledge of iOS development. After expressing interest in the project, I was introduced to Hyperink and had a few conversations with them. They clearly explained their publishing and authoring process. As someone that has never written a book, I found the process easy and enjoyable.
WN: Were you surprised to receive this kind of opportunity from Maven?
MM: Yes. In the past, Maven had provided me with opportunities for Telephone Consultations, but never anything like this. To receive the opportunity to write a book was definitely an unexpected pleasure. After completing the process I can see that Maven is a great way for a publisher to find potential authors.
WN: Tell us a bit about your book.
MM: My book is called The Best Book On Designing iPhone & iPad Apps. It gives advice to new developers looking to break into the world of iOS app development. The reader is walked through the processes of creating a successful app. Topics covered include locating your target audience, proper use of screen real estate, approaches that other popular apps have taken, and general advice for all developers.
WN: How long did the writing and publishing take?
MM: The entire process from my first conversations with Hyperink, to the release of the book to the public was about 10 weeks. About 3 weeks were spent writing, doing interviews with the Hyperink journalist, and going over drafts.
WN: How did it work? What was your favorite part of the process?
MM: The process was easy to follow, and seemed perfectly suited for those new to authoring. My favorite part of the process was working with Hyperink’s journalist, Bri James. Bri did an amazing job collecting information, and turning my knowledge into text that will be easy and pleasurable to read for all readers.
WN: Do you have any advice for other Mavens?
MM: Because Maven seemed like a great opportunity to get extra work for myself, while at the same time helping organizations achieve their goals, I wanted to make sure I was presenting myself in an attractive way. So, I spent a lot of time making sure my profile was complete, accurate, and honest.
WN: What’s your next book going to be about?
MM: Thanks to Hyperink’s easy process, I’m hoping to create a number of books over the coming years on various topics. Potential topics are all over the place, from broadcast news technology, to dog rescue.
WN: Thanks, Michael! We look forward to seeing your future work.
Interested in learning more about iOS app development? You can consult with Michael on this topic and others through Maven. Click here to get started.
