Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an engineer for a major international shipping company. I write math textbooks as a “hobby” having realized that many textbooks fall short of needs to actually teach the material. I have written two textbooks, Concise Geometry and Concise Algebra 1.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Concise Algebra 1 is the latest textbook. In total I will write 12 textbooks between now and December 2018. Focusing on the most difficult technical subjects. I see there is a huge need for textbooks to clearly explain the subject matter so it can be understood by almost anyone.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am told my tone and pace is very specific and the words flow, even for technical subject matter. Supposedly people enjoy reading my textbooks despite the somewhat difficult subject matter.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Surprisingly I enjoy reading fiction and politics. Believe it or not, my favorite writing style that I think I mimic somewhat is from Politico, the political news website based on Washington DC and also Axios. Axios is inspiring in that they convey very complex concepts in a very small number of words. I love it!
What are you working on now?
Write now I am primarily working on book promotions, something I need to understand better. Beginning in two months I will start writing Concise Algebra 2.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still researching that, will get back to you!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Book promotion takes as much or more time than writing the book itself. Don’t spend too much time on your own twitter account, instead work with book promotion sites such as this one. These are the people that the readers really trust.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just take it one day at a time.
What are you reading now?
I am not reading anything at the moment because of all the time it takes to promote my books! However, the “unread” books sitting on my desk include Kingdom of Fear by Hunter S. Thompson. I will get to it one of these days!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Algebra 2 and Calculus AB. I will finish these two books before the end of 2017.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Goldfinch, The Last of the Mohicans, Moby Dick, War and Peace (all long books to pass the time!)
Author Websites and Profiles
Josiah Coates Website
Josiah Coates Amazon Profile
Josiah Coates’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account