Take a Bite Out of Apple’s iTunes Store

Today I’m delighted insanely ecstatic to announce the release of my ebook Inside Secrets to an iPhone App: The essential non-developers guide to creating an iPhone app. It’s a detailed account of how I successfully created an iPhone app without learning a bit of programming and was written to help other ‚Äúaverage‚Äù people take a bite out of Apple‚Äôs lucrative App Store.

My new book is available for download at iphoneappsecrets.com for $13.99, along with two free bonus books: Interviews with the Best, which shares conversations with the makers of iSteam, Classics, Weightbot, and the best-selling app of all time, Koi Pond; and, How to Successfully Promote Your App, which is full of tips and tricks on how to market an app on a shoestring budget.

The books offer page after page of practical advice … via my own personal journey.

After creating my app, Gratitude Journal (iTunes link), I received a flood of emails asking me how I did it. I spent hours answering every question with as much details as I could. Eventually the emails, phone calls, and meetings started piling up and I knew there had to be a better way to share everything I learned.

As fate has it, a lovely woman named Jill Harrington contacted me to simply let me know she loved my app. Her website, lupusrecoverydiet.com, caught my eye. So I wrote back telling her writing a book on day interests me. Like an angel sent straight from the karma gods, she latched on my dream and talked me into taking my first steps. She unconditionally offered amazing insight and advice.

The bad thing is that I actually thought I could pull this off in a week or two. I now have a new found respect to all writers everywhere. The writing, fact finding, permission seeking, proof reading and website building took me months instead of days. I’m pretty sure I have the iPhone app making process figured out by now!

My 5am routine went from making apps to pouring everything I knew into a book before rushing off to work each morning . But I couldn’t just do one book. I had to do three just to make it really exciting tough.

Just when I needed it most, help surfaced from the best places. People still continued to contact me asking for advice. Their brilliant questions became the basis of my book. Friends offered to proof-read, I found an amazing PR company to help with with a press release, and complete strangers gave me insight into places I’ve never tread before.

My heart and soul went into these books. I truly hope they help others take the first steps to create those great app ideas they’ve been pondering.

Creating an iPhone app has been a truly amazing experience that has opened doors and introduced me to wonderful people all over the world. I created my app with the purpose of helping others find happiness. I created this book with the exact same purpose.

Special thanks to:

Hetty Myric-Hughes & John Oats from Scroll Publishing. These guys know how to write!
Jenny Rainbird – Eagle eyes and such an amazing attention to detail.
Jill Harrington – Your advice got me started on a journey I had no idea where it would lead. Thank you!
GB Veerman – The best advice I ever got for the price of a couple beers.
Alanna Web – Thanks for all your questions. I can’t wait to see your app!
Robert Andrescik – You write the absolute best press releases. View a copy of the press release he did for my books. Wow!
John Casasanta, Tap Tap Tap – Not only do you have a cool last name, you have a big heart. This guy continued to offer me support while managing the release of MacHeist.
Andy Skirvin, Koi Pond – The best selling app of all time made time for me. Thank you.
Vassilis Samolis, iSteam – You are the most efficient person I worked with.
Mark Jardine, Tapbots – Your work is amazing and inspiring. Thanks for raising the bar.
Colin White – Are you ever going to tire of feed and watering me while I burn the sunrise oil?

To everyone who sent me your questions. You motivated me the most.
Most of all, thanks to everyone who got my app and now my ebooks! I love you guys!

– Related Links –

Visit Gratitude Journal website.
The Making of an iPhone app — Gratitude Journal | December 12, 2008