This was a fun book to write, what with all of the images, steps, callouts, and red pointy lines! Of course, all I had to do was write the words, take the shots, and detail what I wanted to show; many other people contributed and were responsible for the final product you hold in your hands now. And although I don’t know all of them and can’t thank them personally, there are a few I know by name.
Kenyon Brown served as my acquisitions and developmental editor, and brought me on to this project. He held my hand while I learned the ropes and was pretty patient with me; there was a lot to learn, having never written a Plain & Simple book before. Kristen Brown was my production editor, and she was in charge of making sure everything was placed correctly on the page, that the various people working on the book were available when needed, and was responsible for ironing out any differences that came up between the participants (although I can’t recall any, now that I’m thinking about it). Ultimately, Kristen was responsible for the book going to press. Thanks to Simon May for his excellent technical editing and Richard Carey for the excellent copyediting, too. There are always mistakes to be corrected, no matter how careful one is.
I’d also like to mention that while all of this was going on, I was still in charge of my 93-year old father, his two dogs, and my two cats and their two hamsters, among the other myriad tasks associated with daily living. I teach at Brookhaven Community College (part of the Dallas County Community College District) and serve as the Microsoft IT Academy Coordinator there, too. I have a pretty popular YouTube channel to keep up with as well.
If you can imagine it, I was writing another Windows 8.1 book for Microsoft Press at the same time I was writing this one. Looking back, I’m not sure how I did it, to be honest! Luckily I have help with the daily chores; Cosmo and I are celebrating 20 years together, my daughter is very patient with my busy schedule and works around it so I can see my new granddaughter, and they are all okay with me going to bed at eight-thirty or nine p.m. and rising early to write quietly. Thanks, everyone!