Well, it took a few days longer than I’d have liked, but the Author Review (AR) for Windows Phone Secrets is complete. I still have to finish up the front matter/introduction, and then review final page PDFs. I’ll describe those items soon, but given the tightness of the schedule, it’s probably best that I actually do them first.
As noted previously, AR is a tough slog. And while the worst is now behind me, the real nail-biting stuff comes next, since Microsoft can (and no doubt will, given my past experiences) surprise me with last-second silliness that will make parts of the book somewhat obsolete. Which, when you think about it, is the really aggravating part of paper-based publishing.
I’ve had a few questions about the schedule. The plan for some time now has been to get Windows Phone Secrets in book stores in time for the Windows Phone 7 launch in October. So unless something has changed, the book should be out in early October. I’ll update you if/when I find out something more specific, including info around Kindle/eBook versions.
The current page count is somewhere in the 450-470 page range, depending on where the front matter/intro falls. This is less than half the size of Windows 7 Secrets which, you may recall, was always my plan. I can write a lot, too much, arguably, but I don’t like the notion of a book that could kill you if you fell asleep reading it, let alone a book about a phone that is 16 times the size and weight of the actual phone. :) So I tried to keep this one reasonable.
Will it be available in an electronic format readable on the phone itself?
I doubt it, that would make way too much sense.
But I’ll see what I can do.
I’ve suggested this before, but I think that a companion Windows Phone app would be great. Even if it’s just an electronic version with easy navigation, search, and the ability to see bigger images, or even animations that would really would be worth while.
I think so too.
And if this were self-published, you’d be reading it now. :)
It has gotta be available on the WP7 Kindle App.
No, I’ve not seen it mentioned yet, but it must be coming.
Yep. The other ones were.
Do you have some sort of info that the phones are launching in October or are you just going off the endless rumors that have been floating around the interwebs?
Oh come on, really? :)
Does Microsoft still have any good surprises there hiding before the launch of WP7?
Yep.
Congrats Paul.
Paul, are you aware Amazon is listing WP Secrets as being available Nov. 16, 2010? This is a few weeks later than the “early October” that you mention above. Also, FWIW, they show it as list price $39.99, their price $26.39.
And, yes, congratulations on achieving this milestone.
No, but my understanding is that nothing has changed with the release date.
Perhaps it takes that long for the publisher->Amazon handoff. I know nothing about the publishing or book retailing industry but I can imagine it takes some time to get the inventory in place.
Anyway, we wait breathlessly for Amazon to get the thing in stock so we can all see what you’ve been up to for the last few months. (Have you calculated how long it’s been since you started writing? Have you clocked the number of hours so you can determine your hourly rate? ;-) )
I think all the Windows Phone book release dates on Amazon are just placeholders.