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What is it like to write for Packt? – Interview with Peter Rising

Peter Rising is the author of the book Microsoft 365 Security Administration: MS-500 Exam Guide, we sat down with him to get to know what his experience of writing was like and what it was like to write for Packt.

Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey…

Peter: I was approached by Packt via LinkedIn shortly after passing the MS-500 exam myself. The exam was fairly new at the time and not many people had completed it so I was in the fortunate position that I could write about the experience.

Q: How long did it take you to write the book?

Peter: I started writing the book in September 2019 and completed the final chapter in April 2020. There were many editorial and technical reviews which took place after the book was completed however before it was published in June 2020.

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

Peter: To be honest, very little. This is because the guidance that Packt provided was so comprehensive that I had everything I needed to get started.

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

Peter: Discipline is the hardest challenge when writing a book. There is a schedule to aim for and if your head is not in the right space to write, it can be difficult. I was very organised though and made certain that I had time to write the chapters and submit them on time.

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

Peter: If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. I am not a natural learner, but over the past couple of years I have got the bug for learning. You may think that a particular subject is beyond your skills, but you can find a way that works for you.

Q. How do you keep up-to-date on your tech?

Peter: A number of different ways. I’m lucky that I work as a busy consultant on the subject of my book so I have to be up to date. I find that social media is a good way to find out about the latest innovations as well.

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

Peter: I would not hesitate to recommend that you do this. I was initially unsure I could take on the challenge. It is a lot of hard work for sure, but ultimately it is so rewarding and there is nothing to beat the feeling of holding your finished published book in your own hands. Also, if you have any doubts, then Packt help you every step of the way with their amazing team.

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

Peter: You can find my blog here: https://www.peterrising.co.uk

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

Peter: https://www.practical365.com

You can find Peter Rising’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here