Your Books

Ahmad: You’ve got a couple of .NET books on the market now. Tell me a little more about them.

Karl: Well, when I first started using .NET, I had ideas for two really great programming books. The first was a witty computer programming book that taught everything you need to know in the easiest possible manner. I did that in “Karl Moore’s Visual Basic .NET: The Tutorials” (ISBN 159059021X).

My second idea was for a cutting-edge, real-world code library, a collection of programming secrets all those jealous developers try to keep hidden away. I’ve spent three years creating and testing some amazing ready-to-run routines that developers can put straight into their applications. And they’re all in my new booKarl: “The Ultimate VB .NET and ASP.NET Code Book” (ISBN 1590591062).

Ahmad: Ahh, I see. And are they both suited to anyone at any level of experience? I mean, could a beginner get started with your books?

Karl: Oh, absolutely. That’s precisely what I wrote the Tutorials book for: to allow those new to programming to get started, fast.

My latest book is more advanced, however can still be picked up by a developer at any level. In addition, each chapter includes an “Essentials” portion, which briefly covers all the main points you should know – useful for those new to the language, or serving as an excellent .NET “refresher” for hardcore developers.

Incidentally, none of my books nor tutorials include excess “filler” garbage typically found in computer titles. I do not show you how to double-click or open the help file. I do share real information that will help in the real world, stuff that’ll ensure you create better solutions, quicker.

Ahmad: Yes, quicker. I read on the Apress site about your Tutorials booKarl: “Moore promises to turn even newbie programmers into VB.NET wizards, quicker than anyone else”. Do you think you’ve achieved that?

Karl: I hope so. I spent ages working on the format of the tutorials to ensure the material could be absorbed in the quickest amount of time. I hope I’ve helped flatten the learning curve.

People have told me since that when reading the tutorials, it’s almost as though I’m “in the room talking” to them. I guess that makes sense: my writing style is friendly and informal, and I often write as I’m discovering something for the first time. So, I learn with the reader – rather than simply telling them what they need to know.

I sprinkle my work with humor (debatable!) where possible too, plus constantly ask questions to help stimulate the mind. And I don’t always give the answers... just enough information for the reader to be able to figure it out themselves with a little thinking.

I’ve heard that some people apparently treat the tutorials book a little like they’d treat a novel. You don’t even need a computer to learn, just a few hours and a comfy chair!

Ahmad: Watch out Stephen King?

Karl: With some .NET books, maybe. Not with mine. They aren’t scary enough. I think I should’ve used longer words.

Ahmad: So tell me more about this new booKarl: “The Ultimate VB .NET and ASP.NET Code Book”.

Karl: Well, I don’t know what programming language you use, Ahmad. But I’m sure you know hundreds of little secrets, those neat tricks and techniques that took you years to figure out. Perhaps you’ve even built up your own solid code library that you can use to instantly drop functionality straight into your applications.

What if your programming language was suddenly upgraded – and all that knowledge lost? That’s what has happened to VB5/6 developers with the .NET revolution. This book rectifies the situation, presenting hundreds of ready-to-run code chunks and real “secrets” that other developers simply wont’ tell you. It’s the book I wish I had when I first started out.

It also presents the cheat’s guide to C#, plus unveils the hidden .NET language! But you’ve got to read it to find out more!  ;)

Ahmad: Well, you said you had a “dream” of two programming books like this. And with the release of this book, you’ve done it. Do you plan to write any more?

Karl: Writing is a true passion of mine. I enjoy it terribly and am sure I’ll never stop.

But I’ve reached my goal on the .NET book scene right now, so I think I’ll probably apply the brakes at this point. Until I have another one of those “dreams”...  ;)

Ahmad: Oh!!