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About Sean McManus

Photo of Sean's face lost in a hall of mirrors

My virtual webcamMy name is Sean McManus and I'm a writer based in the UK, specializing in technology and business-to-business. I began my career as a technology journalist, specialising in transport. Today, I work as a freelance copywriter, freelance journalist and book author, covering a wide range of technologies. I've written for BBC News Online, Dorling Kindersley, For Dummies and many more leading publishers.

I contribute tutorials to The MagPi magazine, including ArtEvolver, Raspberry Radio and Bedtime Stories, for which I also developed the concept and Python code.

I've written a number of books to inspire people to start programming, including children, using technologies such as Scratch, Raspberry Pi, and Python. Titles include Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps and Raspberry Pi For Dummies (with Mike Cook). My book How to Code was shortlisted for the ALCS Educational Writers' Award. My other books include Web Design in Easy Steps and 100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel. Help yourself to some free sample book chapter PDFs and find links to buy my books here.

My electronic music album Artificial explores what happens beyond artificial intelligence, when the machines have emotions. I wrote a novel called Earworm, about AI in the music industry, and I enjoy photography.

That's me working on the virtual webcam.

Here's an overview of some of my creative projects and career milestones:

1990
1993
  • The Basic Idea, my first book, was a programming tutorial for the Amstrad CPC computer range.
1996
  • Journalism. I worked on staff and freelance as a technology journalist between 1996 and 2004, covering primarily transport technology, the internet, and music technology.
1997
1999
  • .com Together. I wrote a regular column for Making Music magazine about online promotion.
2000
  • Web design journalism. Between 2000 and 2004, I wrote regularly for Internet Magazine and other titles on web design, with a particular interest in accessibility.
2001
2004
  • Tech and B2B copywriting. I began my career in copywriting working with a boutique tech PR agency. Today, I'm freelance.
2007
  • Earworm, my novel about AI and the music industry, was first published under the name University of Death in this year.
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
  • Super Skills: How to Code in 10 Easy Lessons, shows readers how to code in Scratch, including building a platform game.
  • Earworm, my novel about AI and the music industry, was remastered and released for the Kindle for the first time.
  • Atomic Bomb Band. I performed in the choir at David Byrne's tribute to William Onyeabor at the Royal Festival Hall.
  • You Me Bum Bum Train. I was a volunteer performer in the immersive theatre show.
2016
2017
2018
  • Mission Python, a book that shows you how to build a 3D space adventure game using Python.
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Credits

© Sean McManus. All rights reserved.

Visit www.sean.co.uk for free chapters from Sean's coding books (including Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps and Coder Academy) and more!

Discover my latest books

Coding Compendium

Coding Compendium

A free 100-page ebook collecting my projects and tutorials for Raspberry Pi, micro:bit, Scratch and Python. Simply join my newsletter to download it.

Web Design in Easy Steps

Web Design IES

Web Design in Easy Steps, now in its 7th Edition, shows you how to make effective websites that work on any device.

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

Power up your Microsoft Excel skills with this powerful pocket-sized book of tips that will save you time and help you learn more from your spreadsheets.

Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

Scratch Programming IES

This book, now fully updated for Scratch 3, will take you from the basics of the Scratch language into the depths of its more advanced features. A great way to start programming.

Mission Python book

Mission Python

Code a space adventure game in this Python programming book published by No Starch Press.

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps book

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps

Discover how to make 3D games, create mazes, build a drum machine, make a game with cartoon animals and more!

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