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Interview with Author Michele Burlew
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Authorline catches up with Michele Burlew as she eagerly awaits the publication of her new book
SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition.
- Authorline (AL): What was your motivation for writing this book?
- Michele Burlew (MB):: As was the case when I wrote the original book, my work includes a lot of SAS macro programming. With this edition, I wanted
to convey the additional information and experience I had learned since writing the first edition. Also, I wanted to update the text with SAS 9 features and
add some new material.
- (AL): Who are you targeting with your book?
- (MB): I wrote the book for SAS users who need to include macro programming in their work. This includes programmers just starting out as well as
experienced programmers interested in adding to their SAS skills.
- (AL): What features of the book are you especially pleased with?
- (MB): I like the last chapter where I show how to develop macro programs in steps. With this method, you start with code that does not contain
any macro features. Then, in steps, you add macro features to this code. The process starts with adding macro variables in open code and ends with macro
programs that provide flexibility and reusability. Also, I am pleased that this edition includes more examples.
- (AL): How will your book benefit SAS users?
- (MB): This book provides SAS users with a way to learn how to use the SAS macro facility. Sometimes it's difficult to understand that the macro
language is a tool that generates SAS programs. I stress this concept in the book because I feel that when you understand it, you make better choices in
when and how to include macro programming, and you become more productive and efficient in your work. Macro programming is often a requirement for SAS
programming jobs and macro programming concepts are tested on SAS certification exams. I hope this book helps readers learn new material as well as
brush up on previously learned concepts so that they can succeed in their macro programming tasks and pass SAS exams on the first try.
- (AL): Did you learn anything while writing this book that would be important for other authors to know?
- (MB): I find that writing books is hard work and very rewarding. Words and examples don't just appear at my fingertips when I sit down at the computer
to write. I think writing is a lot like developing a SAS application. It would be pretty impressive if you could build a SAS application simply by sitting
down at the computer and typing away. In reality, developing an application involves planning, understanding your users' requirements, testing code, and
incorporating the code into the application. If you know how to put a SAS application together, you can follow similar steps to write a book.
- (AL): How did you decide to publish with SAS?
- (MB): I've published with SAS before and really enjoy working with SAS Press. When you publish with them, you have access to SAS developers and technical
support as well as an experienced team of publishing professionals.
- (AL): Your book will be going to the printer in just a few weeks. How does it feel to be in the home stretch of such a long project?
- (MB): It's a relief!
- (AL): How were you able to balance your time between your career and writing this book?
- (MB): My workload varies because my business does SAS consulting. When my workload is light, I am able to write more. Also, Minnesota winters are ideal
for getting a lot of writing done.
- (AL): When you aren't writing, how do you like to spend your free time?
- (MB): I love to read, garden, cook, and hike.
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Michele M. Burlew, president of Episystems, Inc., designs and programs SAS applications for data management, data analysis,
report writing, and graphics for academic and corporate clients. A SAS user since 1980, she has expertise in many SAS products and operating
systems. Michele is the author of three other SAS Press books: Debugging SAS Programs: A Handbook of Tools and Techniques,
Reading External Data Files Using SAS: Examples Handbook, and SAS Guide to Report Writing: Examples, Second Edition.
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