A Blog Not Limited

to web design, standards & semantics

Back in the Book Business

Dec 29, 2010

Published in

After I finished writing the book, I swore I'd never write another book again.

A few months ago, I toyed with the idea of writing another, but decided that I'm not up for the task. Today, I feel no differently. Writing a book was, for me, amazingly stressful. With the new freelance business, I've got enough stress. Not to mention, I don't have the time for that level of responsibility right now.

Oh, but I do enjoy writing. And I love sharing information and knowledge. So when Christopher Schmitt contacted me about contributing to a new book on HTML5, I decided that was a perfect scenario for me right now.

I could write, teach some things, learn some things and not have any of the overall responsibility. Plus, I've been really into HTML5 these days, so the topic was immediately appealing.

HTML5 Cookbook from O'Reilly

The book is another of O'Reilly's Cookbook series, this time focusing on HTML5. If you are familiar with the Cookbook style, you know these are extremely practical resources. The focus is less on theory and more on takeaways that you can use everyday in your course of designing and developing.

In addition to having a practical focus, HTML5 Cookbook will explore the entire HTML5 specification, not just the markup elements and front-end differences.

Web designers like me will get information about the stuff we go ga-ga over, like the new semantic elements, outline algorithm and wrapping links around block-level content. And developers will also get all the information relevant to their work … JavaScript APIs, local storage and web forms (oh my!).

The Talent

I don't have the full list of all contributors for HTML5 Cookbook, but who's already onboard is impressive:

My Contribution

As for myself, I'll be lending three chapters to the book: basic web page syntax, audio and video. And I'm quite excited to tackle all three … and then leave the completion of the book to someone else.

Personal Thanks

Seriously, though, I'm so thrilled about this opportunity. I've been biting my tongue for weeks, because I wanted to make sure all the contracts were signed and I had the go-ahead to mention this publicly.

Now that it's official, I really must thank Christopher for asking me to be involved. I've always admired his work, and I'm just honored that he's been pleased enough with my work to trust me with a project he cares so much about.

Stay Tuned!

Since this book isn't my responsibility (yay!), I'm not going to be doing the same thing I did last time around and blog about the whole thing. And aside from my chapters, I won't know much else about the book.

That said, I will keep you posted on A Blog Not Limited when HTML5 Cookbook is ready for sale (maybe mid-2011), as well as when the rough cuts version is ready for your preview.

HTML5 Cookbook

Interested in HTML5?
Get the Cookbook!

I was a contributing author for HTML5 Cookbook, available for sale on Amazon! Get yours now! (I hear chapters 1, 4 and 5 are particularly good.)

P.S. Don't forget my book Microformats Made Simple is still for sale!

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Virginia's Gravatar

Virginia opines:

12/29/2010

woohoo

Christopher Schmitt's Gravatar

Christopher Schmitt opines:

12/29/2010

Glad to have you on the project!

Prajapati KV's Gravatar

Prajapati KV opines:

12/29/2010

Great News! Have a good time.

Bruce Floyd's Gravatar

Bruce Floyd opines:

01/03/2011

Really glad you’ve changed your mind about writing. :)

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The Coolest Person I Know

Emily Lewis

Yeah, that would be me: .

I'm a freelance web designer of the standardista variety, which means I get excited about things like valid POSH, microformats and accessibility. I ply my trade from my one-person design studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 USA.

A Blog Not Limited is my personal blog where I pontificate about web design, web standards, semantics and whatever else strikes my fancy. Head on over to Emily Lewis Design if you'd like to see my work or, even better, hire me.

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