I’ve been involved in computers, stand-up comedy, teaching, writing, and game designing for most of my life. In the computer industry, I’ve written over 50 computer books. Initially I focused primarily on Microsoft products such as Visual Basic and Microsoft Office. Dan Gookin, the author of the original “DOS For Dummies” book, helped me get started in the computer book industry when he introduced me to the “For Dummies” publisher so if you like my books, you can thank Dan Gookin for his help. If you don’t like my books, now you know who to blame.
Recently as I’ve seen the trend of computing shift from the PC/Microsoft dominated world to the mobile/Apple-influenced world, I’ve switched my focus solely on Apple’s products including the Macintosh, the iPhone, and iPad. I’ve also shifted my programming focus from Delphi/Pascal and Visual Basic to Objective-C, which is the “native” programming language for creating Macintosh and iPhone/iPad apps.
In the stand-up comedy world, I’ve been performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years, having appeared on A&E’s “Evening at the Improv” and SiTV’s “Latino Laugh Festival” along with appearing at the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Currently I’m focusing my comedic writing skills towards occasional comedy performances but mostly towards screenwriting. You can read my screenwriting blog at The 15 Minute Movie Method.
In 1992, I got my first cat and after reading a basic cat care book found that none of the advice offered had any basis in reality for dealing with the quirks and whims of a real cat. Based on that experience, I wrote a parody of a cat care book called “How to Live with a Cat (When You Really Don’t Want To).” This book is now available on SmashWords, a site that allows electronic book distribution over the Internet.
In the teaching world, I’ve taught at community colleges around San Diego as well as teaching at the University of Zimbabwe in Africa. Currently I teach an online Microsoft Word course through a company called Ed2Go.
In the writing world, I’ve written for several magazines including Computer Power User (CPU), Boardwatch Magazine, and Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. I also write a weekly Macintosh column in an online computer magazine called ComputorEdge. In addition, I’ve ghost written several books for real estate experts, stock day trading specialists, and network marketing millionaires. In 2008, I also helped San Diego State University’s film department win their first student Emmy when they filmed my sitcom pilot, “Three of a Kind.”
In the game designing world, I’ve created and published a game in 1983 called “Orbit War,” which was published by Steve Jackson Games (the game is now out of print). The game simulated low orbital combat between satellites. I’m currently designing educational card games for teaching various college level topics such as organic chemistry, calculus, and geometry.
I’m interested in always learning something new and combining my various skills and experience to stay ahead of changing technology. I’ve found that my insight on technology has proven useful and informative to others, so that’s why I started this site to help others navigate today’s complex world so they can apply their knowledge to their advantage.
With the rising popularity of e-books and the decline of book stores and printed books, the future for authors is clear. Traditional book publishing and distribution is dead. The future is self-publishing by taking advantage of the latest technology involving e-book file formats, e-readers, e-reading software and devices like the Kindle and iPad, and most importantly, e-book marketing for the self-publisher.
This is my blog as I share my tips and news about my own exploration into the world of electronic self-publishing. The goal is to learn the both the physical aspects of self-publishing an e-book, but also the marketing aspects so you can actually make money with your e-books as well.