HomeAuthor InterviewsInterview with Scott Cosentino

Interview with Scott Cosentino

Scott Cosentino and  Thomas Pettit are the authors of The MySQL Workshop, we got the chance to sit down with Scott and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.

Q: What is/are your specialist tech area(s)?

Scott: Database Administration, Computer Security, Low Level and Assembly Programming

Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?

Scott : I have been writing and developing courses to help students learn technical skills for a number of years. I was approached by Packt with an opportunity to help create this book on MySQL. I was excited to be able to participate in a full book teaching readers about SQL and database technology. In my experience working as a DBA, I understand the importance of having a solid database and query skills. I wanted to be able to share these skills with anyone interested in learning to provide them with a solid foundation in the area of database development.

Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?

Scott : I spent a number of months looking into resources for MySQL and SQL development. I wanted to find the most relevant and valuable skills in the field to ensure I was sharing valuable content with the readers. In my research, I was able to find many important skills for well rounded developers to have in the area of MySQL.

Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?

Scott : This was my first time writing the content of a book, so it was challenging at first to adapt to writing full-length chapters. The supportive editing and project team at Packt were essential in providing me with the skills and resources to push through and create content I could be proud of.

Q: What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?

Scott : MySQL and relational databases are some of the core skills required in software development. Many applications use relational databases, as they provide a well-structured method of querying and working with data. Understanding how to work with relational databases provides you with skills that can be applied to many different areas of work, ranging from developer to data scientist. Relational databases will continue to develop and be prevalent in the industry. Other database technologies such as non-relational databases are also becoming increasingly relevant, and relational databases serve as a good foundation for transitioning into these areas.

Q. Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?

Scott : Our book takes a fully practical approach to developing and maintaining a MySQL database. You will not only learn about SQL development but also how to use SQL with modern applications such as Excel, Access, and Node.js.

Q. What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away from the book with?

Scott : By the end of this book, I want the reader to be confident with the concepts of MySQL and SQL in general. The reader will feel comfortable using and applying SQL to various applications, and generally working to maintain databases.

Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?

Scott : Always try to apply the skills immediately to a project of some kind. When you apply skills, you solidify them further. Tech is not a spectator sport, so make sure to take an active approach to your learning!

Q. Do you have a blog that readers can follow?

Scott : https://medium.com/@scottc130

Q. Can you share any blogs, websites and forums to help readers gain a holistic view of the tech they are learning?

Scott : For web application developers, https://www.w3schools.com/ is a great starting point. There are various blogs for topics of interest, I particularly like security blogs like https://www.schneier.com/ which focuses on current events in tech and cyber security

Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?

Scott : Packt is one of the main reasons I have gotten into technical writing. The teams at Packt are always supportive and dedicated to delivering a great product. I would recommend Packt for any aspiring authors looking to start writing in tech

Q. Do you belong to any tech community groups?

Scott : No

Q. What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?

Scott : I don’t generally read tech journals, but I often read books in new and upcoming topics in the field of computer science.

Q. How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?

Scott : For managing my pending deliverables I find that Kanban boards work best for me. For tasks I have in progress, I tend to use the Pomodoro method to keep myself focused on tasks. These two management skills have helped me stay on top of book writing and any other projects I have to complete.

Q. What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?

Scott : Start writing about what you love and post it online for others to enjoy. You will only get better by continuing to write, and posting it online will encourage you to continue writing. You may even find a great audience that enjoys your work, which is always a fulfilling experience.

Q. Would you like to share your social handles? If so, please share

Scott : Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7KBXRtv-EkiOFsRtpBxIbg,

Medium: https://medium.com/@scottc130

Linkedin: Scott Cosentino | LinkedIn

You can find the book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here

The MySQL Workshop – Available on Amazon.com