Bonny P McClain is the author of Geospatial Analysis with SQL, we got the chance to sit down and find out more about her experience of writing with Packt.
Q: What are your specialist tech areas?
bonny: Geospatial storyteller, QGIS, open-source data solutions, Python
Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?
bonny: I had reviewed a book for Packt and it was followed up with a request to collaborate on a book.
Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?
bonny: I have been a geospatial analyst for a while and recently authored a book on Python and Geospatial. I am always reading about open-source tools so research is ongoing and always bubbling beneath the surface.
Q: Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?
bonny: My domain expertise is within public health and social inequities. I came to geospatial theory and analysis later. I think of it as “move 37” –the famous move of AlphaGO (AI) vs. Lee Sedol (human)–AI only knows what is possible, not the limitations of accessible knowledge. Not knowing the rules of looking where others weren’t seeing allowed me to bring new questions to data exploration.
Q: What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away with from the book?
bonny: The book is a guide. Not a fail-safe recipe but an introduction to being curious. I want readers to learn how to learn. How to solve problems. Most importantly, how to ask better questions.
Q: Do you have a blog that readers can follow?
bonny: https://bonnypmcclain.substack.com, Open-Source Solutions for Geospatial Analysis
Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?
bonny: Be patient. Make mistakes. Don’t immediately try to stack overflow or google your way out. Learn to read documentation.
Q: Do you belong to any tech community groups?
bonny: #geospatialconnections, Twitter Spaces
Q: What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?
bonny: I am an ultra-runner so most of my tech is absorbed by audio. I listen to podcasts.
Q: How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?
bonny: I was a professional medical writer for decades and writing is integrated into my daily life. I always start my morning by writing–create a habit that is non-negotiable and you might be surprised about how productive you can be.
Q. What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?
bonny: Write about what interests you! The most critical piece of being creative is thinking outside of the box.
Q. Would you like to share your social handles? If so, please share.
bonny: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnypmcclain/, Twitter: @datamongerbonny
You can find bonny’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here
Geospatial Analysis with SQL is available on Amazon.com
