Extreme Programming

clarke ching | 27 Apr 2012 15:28

Rolling Rocks Downhill - Live!

I have a wee announcement.  Seven-and-a-half years ago I started writing my business novel Rolling Rocks
Downhill - think Goldratt's "The Goal" but set in software development.

Today I'm launching the e-BETA version of the book for public consumption. Yipee!!!!!

It's a combination of TOC, Lean and Agile but, really, it attempts to answer these 2 questions:

1. What if your software development team's job was to make your business more money?
2. And, what if, by doing so, they started truly enjoying their work once again?

If you pop over to www.rollingRocksDownhill.com you'll find links to either buy the BETA on Kindle for a few
dollars OR read the first 8 chapters free then receive a chapter a week by email, FREE.

This is a BETA: it contains spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and editorial comments. Plus, it
currently ends on cliff-hanger (which the FINAL version won't).

I'm a bit nervous here. It's common to sell a good quality software BETA because people get value from it.
It's not common (or recommended) to launch novels in BETA form. So, I'm conducting an experiment,
crossing my fingers I don't make a fool out of myself ... 

You can buythe book (or grab the FREE chapters) at: www.RollingRocksDownhill.com.

headers

Kay A Pentecost | 27 Apr 2012 22:43

RE: Rolling Rocks Downhill - Live!

Hi, Clarke, 

I think this is a neat idea to sell a book... I grabbed the first 8 chapters
and signed up for more.

What kind of feedback are you looking for?

It's my understanding that "Thinking in C" was first published free on line
and then sold in hard copy... and that did pretty well.  Does anybody know
more about that book, or others marketed like that?

I don't think this is off-topic for this list, first, because many of the
first XP/Agile books were first "published" on-line for feedback, and
second, anyway we can tell people more about XP and Agile is a good thing.
<grin>

Oh, and third, I always want to know when new XP/Agile information is coming
out....

Just my thoughts...

Kay

> -----Original Message-----
> From: extremeprogramming <at> yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:extremeprogramming <at> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of clarke ching
> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:29 AM
> To: extremeprogramming <at> yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [XP] Rolling Rocks Downhill - Live!
>

(Continue reading)

headers

clarke ching | 30 Apr 2012 11:39

Re: Rolling Rocks Downhill - Live!

Thanks Kay.  

> What kind of feedback are you looking for?

Just general thoughts about "was it readable" & "was it useful", really.  I don't need proofing - my copy
editor will do that.  I've written the story so that it focuses on "ideas" and "principles" rather than
their "how" the characters implement them.  The hardest part, for me, has been making the story readable
and interesting.  

I hope you find it useful ... my goal is to spread Agile Thinking, more than Agile Practice, into the wider
corporate software development world.  Things that people like you and I take for granted ... they don't.

You're very kind to reply.
Clarke

--- In extremeprogramming <at> yahoogroups.com, "Kay A Pentecost" <tranzpupy <at> ...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Clarke, 
> 
> I think this is a neat idea to sell a book... I grabbed the first 8 chapters
> and signed up for more.
> 
> What kind of feedback are you looking for?
> 
> It's my understanding that "Thinking in C" was first published free on line
> and then sold in hard copy... and that did pretty well.  Does anybody know
> more about that book, or others marketed like that?
> 
> I don't think this is off-topic for this list, first, because many of the
> first XP/Agile books were first "published" on-line for feedback, and

(Continue reading)