I'm not so keen on traditional publishing paths.

One of my very first tech writing was as co-author with mostly men.

I was recruited to write my chapter because of the Neuromusclular-Junction simulation on which I collaborated with a Neuroscientist.

Amazon, when the book came out, decided to drop my name (and one other's) because they said '"tech books with women's names don't sell as well"

So, Amazon just erased me. Completely. At a time when it really mattered, in my career.

Ugh.

My chapter? I was speaking at a tech conference about creating science visualizations for students and the general public.

I gave my talk and stepped out from behind the podium....I'm short...and they all saw my very pregnant body and gasped! As if they had never seen a pregnant woman before. Ever.

Certainly not a pregnant woman giving a talk they listened to.

Some time during that conference, I was invited to a speakers' dinner...

We were introducing ourselves to each other. And I mentioned my name.

One guy said "you're Kristin Henry? I've been hoping to meet you! You're work on the NMJ simulation is fantastic!"

This other guy was planning to sit next to this person....and I was "hey, you can talk to him next time, I'm going to talk to him this time"

And so I sat down with this guy who was recruiting/editing authors for a new book.

...

After it became clear that he really was interested in my work, especially the science background, I started paying more attention.

At the end of the dinner, I had negotiated terms I could agree too.

First of all, I was concerned about deadlines and being able to meet them.

I was also concerned that I could die in childbirth, and making sure my family wouldn't have any obligation if I did.

But low level stress...if I finished my first draft, I was in the book.

...