Mike Van Niekerk is the author of VBA Automation Cookbook, we got the chance to sit down with him and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.
Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey.
Mike: Call it a lucky break, if you will. It all started with a colleague whom PACKT had asked whether she knew someone with VBA knowledge. The next thing I knew, I received an email, answered a couple of questions, presented an outline, and the rest is history.
Q: How long did it take you to write the book?
Mike: The short answer is 8 months. A more philosophical response would be 25 years, because that’s how long I’ve been working with Excel and VBA
Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?
Mike: My research was disguised as lecturing. Dealing with students, you come to a deep understanding of the challenges newcomers to VBA are confronted with.
Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?
Mike: My biggest challenge was to find enough time to write, and to stay focused amidst the normal pressures of life. I learned that motivation is a myth, and that routine produces much better results. I’m one of those who operate according to the first law of hydraulics; no pressure, no flow.
Q: What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?
Mike: Humans learn by repetition, and that’s a fact of life. A very small percentage of us can assimilate knew concepts by hearing it only once. The secret to success in acquiring a new skill is in spaced repetition.
Q. How do you keep up-to-date on your tech?
Mike: Reading, lecturing, and consulting. Clients keep you on your toes, believe me!
Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?
Mike: What a friendly, helpful team of people! That’s how I think of Packt. From proposal to outline, and with every chapter, they’ve been extremely supportive. When I fell behind schedule, they encouraged me and helped me get back on track. I would enjoy working with them any day again. New authors will seldom find a more supportive publisher.
You can find Mike’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here
