J. Ashley Lambert is the author of Becoming a PMP® Certified Professional, we got the chance to sit down with her and find out more about her experience of writing with Packt.
Q: What is/are your specialist tech area(s)?
Ashley: Project Management
Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?
Ashley: I wrote another book for Packt based on the CompTIA Project + exam, this was a natural progression to write the PMP book which is my major area of expertise.
Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?
Ashley: I’ve been teaching project management and certification prep internationally for over fifteen years. The content was well known to me.
Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?
Ashley: It is always a challenge to work full-time and find time to write. I’m best in the morning so I would wake up early and write before I taught my classes.
Q: What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?
Ashley: Agile is the wave of the project management future as evidenced by the changes to the 2021 exam. While Predictive project management is still necessary for large projects, technology is changing the way we manage our projects and not having a one-size-fits-all mentality is crucial for project success.
Q: Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?
Ashley: Well…the content is not a “beach read” by any stretch, so I do my best to inject my personality in my writing to make it more enjoyable to read and use simple explanations to explain difficult concepts. Learning should be fun!
Q. What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away from the book with?
Ashley: Better understanding of best practices and a brand new shiny certification to hang on their wall. Bragging rights!
Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?
Ashley: Take your time. This is a marathon, not a sprint. The exam is the number one most difficult non-technical certification in the world. You cannot cram your way through it.
Q. Do you have a blog that readers can follow?
Ashley: I have Vlogs on YouTube on the Stormwind Studios channel.
Q. Can you share any blogs, websites and forums to help readers gain a holistic view of the tech they are learning?
Ashley: Totally! Come take my classes for your contact hours or Professional development units (PDUs) at StormWind Studios https://stormwindstudios.com/
Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?
Ashley: Everyone is very professional and willing to help with the process. It is a seamless experience. Yes, I would recommend Packt to aspiring authors.
Q. Do you belong to any tech community groups?
Ashley: I am a member of The Project Management Institute www.pmi.org
Q. What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?
Ashley: Since I teach project management, I stay on top of the trends and gain certifications that reflect where the industry is going. To date I have nine certifications in the field of project management.
Q. How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?
Ashley: I outline everything first and then fill the gaps with content. It’s not a conscious process. I do have a Kanban board that I use post-it notes on to keep my life organized and writing content, courses, and books is part of my day-to-day business.
Q. What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?
Ashley: Have fun with it! Writing shouldn’t be boring. Also, do not write to make money, write because you want to write. It is about the experience and providing life-long learners with an ability to connect with you on a professional level and learn something new.
You can find Ashley’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here
