I have written quite a few programming books in the last 30 years, so it is perhaps not surprising that every so often someone contacts me seeking advice about writing a book. I always ask for a sample chapter. In most cases, I hear nothing further, and I don’t feel bad about that. Obviously, if someone can’t produce a chapter, no book will materialize, and there is nothing to discuss.
In January 2018, I got an email from Marco Faella, a professor from the University of Naples, whom I had previously met when he worked at the University of California in Santa Cruz. He asked for advice about a book project. And he had already finished several chapters! I liked what I saw and replied with encouragement and a few suggestions. I didn’t hear anything further. I wasn’t surprised. One of my editors once told me that he knew a great number of people who started a book . . . but only a few who finished one.
In April 2019, I got another email. The book was going to be published by Manning. And it looked really good. In August, Marco asked me to write the foreword, which I am delighted to do.