Keeping my focus on WordPress

Back in mid-May, I made an announcement here about a new book that I was contracted to write for Wiley Publishing, TypePad For Dummies.    I’m still very active in my WordPress For Dummies project, as a matter of fact, I just updated the book recently for a reprint and a 3rd edition of WordPress For Dummies is scheduled to start this year.  Since I did not have any other books on my schedule for 2009, I took the opportunity offered by Wiley to write the TypePad book.  That has now changed, however;  a lot can  happen in 2-3 weeks – – keeping up with technology in print is a really big undertaking and I’ve been really impressed with the way Wiley has approached that challenge  – as an author, we just roll with it and move along at a frantic pace to keep up and ahead of the game.

What’s changed for me is that I am no longer the scheduled author for TypePad For Dummies, even though I had signed the contract and had already written the TOC (Table of Contents) and was well on my way to getting the first 25% of content delivered.  I had my summer scheduled around the writing of that book, understanding that it needed to be done so I could begin the work on the 3rd edition of WordPress For Dummies.

Last week, right before I left for WordCamp Chicago, I had a long heart to heart with my editor at Wiley (Amy, I love you!) – we talked long about the exciting developments coming out of the WordPress dev. community, and from Automattic, as well.  We discussed the excitement surrounding applications like BuddyPress and WordPress MU and I shared information on things that I know of regarding future plans for further development and innovation – – I think I made her head spin just a little (heh.  welcome to the club!).

During our phone call, it was decided that it made more sense for me to stay focused on WordPress related projects that Wiley is currently involved with, considering my work on the WordPress For Dummies project and within the WP community, as a whole – –  Wiley has a lot of  WordPress related resource and reference material planned over the coming year.  I have to say that Wiley Publishing has become true believers in the WordPress product and have caught the bug that so many of us feel within the community.

While I was excited to do the TypePad book – mostly because I do know that platform very well and I do love the opportunity to share that knowledge to help users learn and grow with their own content publishing efforts, no matter their platform of choice – and I am a bit sad to let that contract go.  TypePad is going through some exciting times right now with their new platform roll out soon – users will be so much happier with the development that the TypePad team has been working so hard on.    I do know that Wiley has an exciting author lined up to take my place as I return my focus back into the WordPress arena.

Also wanted to give a shout out to the TypePad folks who were so helpful and encouraging during the early phases of getting the TypePad For Dummies book project up and rolling – Claire Alcock, Andy Wibbles and Anil Dash – thanks for your support and encouragement.  The new author of TypePad For Dummies is one lucky person to have such an energetic crew around to help and support them towards a successful release.

I’ll have an announcement soon with more specifics – I do have a new WordPress title in the works, and trust that it’s an exciting one!

It seems WordPress and I were destined 🙂