Archives: Books


  • 🇸🇪 Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019

    🇸🇪 Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019

    Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019 lär dig hur du jobbar med världens mest använda publiceringssystem, WordPress. Vi tar dig från installationen, till inställningarna, valet av tema, smarta tillägg, samt förstås det viktigaste av allt: hur du jobbar med innehållet.

    Du får lära dig:

    • Hur du installerar WordPress
    • Vilka inställningar som är viktiga, och varför
    • Att skriva inlägg med den nya innehållsredigeraren, Gutenberg
    • Skapa kategorier och strukturera med taggar
    • Jobba med sidor och innehållsstruktur
    • Hantera kommentarer
    • Vad du bör tänka på när du väljer tema
    • Tillägg och vad de är bra för
    • Och mycket mer!

    Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019 släpps som e-bok (PDF och epub) för gratis nedladdning, tack vare våra snälla sponsorer (i alfabetisk ordning): Angry Creative, Divide & Conquer, Glesys, IIS, KrokedilMalmö Yrkeshögskola, Oderland, Servebolt. Läs mer om vad de gör på bokens webbplats.

    Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019 finns ute nu. Köp den här!

    Vill du veta mer?

    Besök webbplatsen för Webbpublicering med WordPress 2019 och skriv upp dig på nyhetsbrevet, det är garanterat spamfritt. Du kan även se fram emot uppdateringar om boken och WordPress.

    🚀 Besök wpmwp.se

    Omslaget


  • Haunted Futures

    Haunted Futures

    It’s a treacherous region, the future

    You can’t see far, and the footing is uncertain at best. Ghosts and phantoms stalk the haze around you, and their chittering will lead you astray. There are no maps to this territory, but sometimes a brave soul strides out ahead into the haunted shadows. Those who return to the campfire of the now often bear tales of the visions seared into their minds while they were out there, in the mists.

    We have scoured the earth for these most daring of travelers – the ones who have ventured out into the future and returned wraith-laden. Fifteen of them agreed to share their stories. Their enthralling accounts will seize you, and you might find it difficult to fight free of them afterwards, but any risks are overshadowed by the dazzling wonders that await. So muster your courage, and dive into the pages. Haunted Futures of all kinds await you, with open arms and suspiciously toothy smiles.

    Haunted Futures – an anthology

    Haunted Futures is an anthology about the future. It was crowdfunded by Ghostwoods Books and is now finally available for pre-order. Haunted Futures features authors like Warren Ellis, Jeff Noon, Tricia Sullivan, SL Huang, Greg Stolze, as well as Thord D. Hedengren (that would be yours truly), among others.

    My story in Haunted Futures is called Futures Past and is a dark little thing. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

    Haunted Futures was released on May 2nd, 2017.


  • Ashen Sky

    Ashen Sky

    Ashen Sky is a novella (that’s a long short story, or a short novel, whichever you please – this one’s about a third of a novel) in three parts, set in a post-apocalyptic world. Ashen Sky was released on November 11th, 2015, as an ebook release.

    There’s also an audio book available, read by Leeman Kessler. It’s currently available via the Amazon links above, and via Audible of course. There’s a five minute preview further down the page.

    From the digital jacket

    The gray sky looms over the broken remains of our world. Life is hard for Dirk, who’s stumbling through the wasteland. Demon grass is cutting him, and acid rain is burning his skin. Out here, far from his family, Dirk makes acquaintances that lead him upon a path he didn’t know he yearned for.

    Ashen Sky is a novella in three parts, set in a post-apocalyptic world where the low-ceilinged gray sky blocks out the sun and the stars.

    Five minute audio book preview

    Curious about the Ashen Sky audio book? Here’s a five minute preview to get you started:

    The Ashen Sky audio book is read by Leeman Kessler.

    The covers

    Ashen Sky
    Ashen Sky

    The audio book was released January 20, 2017, and features a similar cover.

    Ashen Sky, the audio book

  • Cthulhu Lies Dreaming

    Cthulhu Lies Dreaming

    I’m featured in the anthology Cthulhu Lies Dreaming, published by Ghostwoods Books. My story is called “Puddles”, and I sincerely hope you’ll check it out.

    From the promotional copy:

    The amazing tales lovingly collected in Cthulhu Lies Dreaming are fragments of that truth. Treat them with the caution that they deserve. Each will offer you glimpses behind the skin of the world, leading you closer and closer to the edge of the abyss. Knowledge may bring wisdom, but it also offers far darker gifts to the curious.

    The truth is indeed out there – and it hungers.

    Cthulhu Lies Dreaming


  • Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 4th Edition

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 4th Edition

    Out of print!
    If you’re lucky, you can find it on Amazon, or your favorite seller of books. Want to get notified if/when there’s a new version? Sign up for the irregular newsletter.

    Looking for the code package?
    Scroll to the bottom, or just download the ZIP.


    Friends, Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 4th Edition is done, printed, and within reach for all the hungry minds out there. This is the fourth iteration of my Beyond the Blog series, vastly updated to today’s WordPress standards. Written for WordPress version 3.8, but surely useful for years to come, I hope you’ll embrace this book and the ideas it brings.

    Who should buy Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 4th Edition? I think the perfect reader is knowledgeable in HTML, CSS and PHP, as well as not afraid to think outside the box. This is as much theory as it is a book written to help you turn your ideas to reality, using WordPress.

    Table Of Contents

    These are the parts and chapters in Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 4th Edition, along with some pointers as to what they contain.

    Part I: Getting Started With WordPress

    1. The Anatomy of a WordPress Install
      The basic install, moving WordPress, hacking the database, backing up, switching hosts, making WordPress secure
    2. The WordPress Syntax
      WordPress and PHP, the Codex, the Core, themes and template files, using template files, using conditional tags
    3. The Loop
      Understanding the WordPress loop, using the loop, alternatives to the loop, multiple loops

    Part II: Designing And Developing WordPress Themes

    1. WordPress Theme Essentials
      Theme basics, creating the template files, features with functions.php, understanding template files, using functions.php, understanding widgets, making comments look good, adding custom fields, developing a starter theme, releasing a theme
    2. The Child Theme Concept
      The brilliance of child themes, child themes and internationalization, flip side of inheritance, common issues, managing several sites using child themes, theme frameworks
    3. Advanced Theme Usage
      Outlining the theme, individual styling techniques, using custom fields, fancy custom features, the theme customizer and theme options, managing action hooks, using taxonomies, the power of custom post types, multiple language support, working with RSS feeds, basic SEO implementations, trimming WordPress themes

    Part III: Using Plugins With WordPress

    1. Making the Most of WordPress Plugins
      Plugins are great, different types of plugins, getting the most of the plugin ecosystem, developing plugins for networks, plugin basics, methods for incorporating plugins, custom taxonomies and custom post types, must-have functionality, building the AddAff plugin, adding widget support to plugins, plugins and the database, backward compatibility for plugins, hosting your plugins on WordPress.org
    2. Plugins or functions.php?
      When to use a plugin, when to use functions.php, the shortcode dilemma, solve it with child themes, functionality plugins, the importance of portability

    Part IV: Additional Features And Functionality

    1. Using WordPress as a CMS
      Is WordPress the right choice, CMS checklist, trimming WordPress to the essentials, the perfect setup for a simple static site, doing more than the basics, managing menus, integrating non-WordPress content, don’t forget the manual
    2. Integration with the Social Web
      Integrating Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest and LinkedIn, cross-publishing, using hosted comment solutions, using unified logins, plugins and overhead
    3. Design Trickery
      Adding more control over your posts, improving the menu, placing ads within the loop, creating 404s that help the visitor, using JavaScript libraries with WordPress, making WordPress your own, making your theme responsive
    4. Fun with Media
      Working with image galleries, styling the gallery, the media post format, embedding media content, randomizing image elements, making the most of image-sharing services
    5. Extra Functionality
      Tabbed boxes, displaying RSS feeds, custom shortcodes, sending e-mail with WordPress, personalizing the login form, print that blog
    6. Uncommon WordPress Usage
      Working with user-submitted content, using WordPress as a FAQ-like knowledge base, WordPress and eCommerce, building a product directory, using WordPress for recipes, building a links site, other uses for WordPress

    From the sales copy:

    The ultimate guide to using WordPress to make your life easier

    This newest edition from the world’s most popular resource for web designers and developers presents you with nothing less than the latest and greatest on everything that WordPress has to offer. As one of the hottest tools on the web today for creating a blog, WordPress has evolved to be much more than just a blogging platform and has been pushed beyond its original purpose. With this new edition of a perennially popular WordPress resource, Smashing WordPress offers you the information you need so you can maximize the potential and power of WordPress.

    • Takes you through the anatomy of a WordPress installation and shows you how WordPress actually works behind the scenes
    • Walks you through custom post types and details how they work, what they can be used for, and how you can make them appear in your regular content flow
    • Explains how to build beautiful and unique WordPress themes and creating amazing navigation
    • Guides you through building plugins, integrating theme options, creating custom login forms and admin themes, and using the Loop to control content
    • Zeroes in on building a WordPress project for SEO and highlights integrating WordPress with the social web

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, Fourth Edition shows you how to take WordPress further than just an ordinary blog.

    Code package

    So it seems as if Wiley has updated their website, breaking the link to the code package for this book. You can grab the ZIP file here (111 kB), but please know that there might be differences – this is what I could find in my backups. The final code package was done by my editor.


  • The Writer’s iPad

    The Writer’s iPad

    The Writer’s iPad is currently unavailable.

    The Writer’s iPad is an ebook for writers who want to get the most out of their iPads. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing novels, articles, games, technical literature, screenplays, or even blog posts, this one’s for you!

    Features:

    • The best apps for writing – these are mentioned
    • Tips on writing accessories
    • Advice on which iPad to get and how to set it up
    • Other tools that can be helpful to the writer
    • And more!

    The Writer’s iPad is out now!

    Want to get notified? Sign up for The Writer’s iPad Newsletter here, it is free and spam free!


  • 🇸🇪 Webbpublicering med WordPress

    🇸🇪 Webbpublicering med WordPress

    Webbpublicering med WordPress är en guide till världens största publiceringsplattform, WordPress. Här förklaras det hur man skriver poster, skapar sidor, lägger till användare, installerar tillägg och teman, samt allt det där andra som behöver göras i WordPress på mer vardaglig basis – bortom koden så att säga.

    Just det, Webbpublicering med WordPress är gratis att ladda hem (PDF), tack vare mina vänliga sponsorer.

    Sponsorerna

    Webbpublicering med WordPress finansierades av följande generösa sponsorer:


  • Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 3rd Edition

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 3rd Edition

    Out of print!

    The third edition of my popular book, Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, is available now all across the US, Europe, and more!

    I’m pleased with this third edition of Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog. It is updated to modern WordPress code standards, it features brand new examples as well as updated old ones, and have gotten an overhaul all over. If you skipped the second edition, then this is a must buy in my opinion. Then again I might be a bit biased…

    Buy it from your favorite retailer, or from my store page if you want to send me some petty coffee cash with your purchase by using my affiliate links.

    From the back cover

    As one of the hottest tools on the web today for creating a blog, WordPress has evolved to be much more that just a blogging platform and has been pushed beyond its original purpose. With this new edition of a perennially popular WordPress resource, Smashing Magazine offers you the information you need so you can maximize the potential and power of WordPress. WordPress expert Thord Daniel Hedengren takes you beyond the basic blog to show you how to leverage the capabilities of WordPress to power advanced websites.

    • Addresses new theming options, custom post types, custom headers, menus, background, and more
    • Explains how to build beautiful and unique WordPress themes and creating amazing navigation
    • Walks you through building plugins, integrating theme options, creating custom login forms and admin themes, and using the Loop to control content
    • Zeroes in on building a WordPress project for SEO
    • Highlights integrating WordPress with the social web

    Smashing WordPress, Third Edition teaches you how to make WordPress look any way you like—from a corporate site to a photography gallery and much, much more!


  • Tackling Tumblr

    Tackling Tumblr

    Out of print! You might find this book with your favorite seller of books though. Want to know if/when there’s a new version? Sign up for the irregular newsletter.

    Tumblr is one of the most exciting hosted publishing platforms out there. It not only is a great way to blog, you can also use it to syndicate your online personas, to publish simpler websites and promotional campaigns, and of course to network with other users. Tackling Tumblr not only gets you started with Tumblr, the book also helps you expand your Tumblr sites, find the themes you need, and even modify them to fit you even better.

    Published in late July (US) and August (UK and mainland Europe), 2011!

    From the book’s back cover

    A comprehensive guide to the popular web publishing site Tumblr

    The popularity of Tumblr is growing by leaps and bounds, as it continues to make a name for itself as a reliable, accessible blogging platform. Yet, there is very little documentation on Tumblr, leaving newcomers confused as to where to start. That’s where this helpful book comes in. Written by well-respected author Thord Hedengren, this step-by-step guide is an ideal starting point for Tumblr newcomers as well as web designers who want to take their Tumblblogs to the next level.

    You’ll learn how to maximize the full potential of this amazing blogging and lifestreaming platform as you create your first post, make your Tumblr blog unique, create your own custom themes, and more.

    • Introduces you to the exciting world of Tumblr, the popular web publishing platform
    • Walks you through posting quotes, links, photos, audio, and more
    • Addresses finding and installing themes, using a comment system on your Tumblr site, and integrating third-party content
    • Demonstrates how to create your own custom theme, network in the Tumblr community, and modify your Tumblr themes with HTML and CSS
    • Explains ways to integrate Tumblr with other services, including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr
    • There’s no need to grumble about learning Tumblr—this book is all you need!

    The mammoth cover image

    And, in closing…

    Finally, don’t miss my Tumblr, it’s full of nonsense, which is always fun. There is alos a Tumblr for the book, and the theme I’m building together with you, dear readers: http://tackling.tumblr.com


  • Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition

    Critically acclaimed Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog is now available in a second edition! All the goodness of the first book is here, updated for WordPress version 3.1 and up, as well as a lot of new stuff to make this one worth a purchase even for people owning the first edition.

    You’ll learn how to (from the book’s back cover):

    • Build beautiful WordPress themes, including child themes
    • Create custom login forms and admin themes
    • Use the loop to control content
    • Build plugins, including widget functionality
    • Use custom post types and custom taxonomies
    • Use post formats
    • Integrate WordPress with the social web
    • Use conditional control elements
    • Integrate theme options
    • Build your WordPress projects for SEO

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog not only teaches you what you can do with WordPress, but also aims to open your mind to the possibilities of the platform. With this book you’ll be able to create the sites you want, way beyond the blog.

    Opinions on the first edition

    “an indispensable partner”Linux User & Developer magazine (July 2010)

    “chock–full of useful advice”.net magazine (August 2010)

    Featured in the Webkit segment on how to “furnish your studio with gadgets and gizmos” in Web Designer magazine (March 2010).

    And some Amazon.co.uk reviews:

    • “This is a must have book if you want to push WordPress into more of a Content Management System tool” 5/5 by cwc100 (May 10, 2010)
    • “At present, I run three seperate instances of WordPress (two blogs and one content managed site) and I can see this book playing a big part in developing these”5/5 by Ross B (April 20, 2010)
    • “I really cannot fault this book. Its definately not for beginners, but if you know PHP and want to get the most out of WordPress, then you will LOVE this book.”5/5 by Finnbar Saunders (April 23, 2010)

    Current Amazon score is 4 stars out of 5 for Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog (last checked on February 19, 2011). I’m pretty happy with that.

    The book cover


  • Smashing WordPress Themes: Making WordPress Beautiful

    Smashing WordPress Themes: Making WordPress Beautiful

    Smashing WordPress Themes: Making WordPress Beautiful is my second book on WordPress published by Wiley in the Smashing series (yes, of Smashing Magazine fame). The first one was Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog which will get a 2nd Edition later in 2011.

    In Smashing WordPress Themes: Making WordPress Beautiful I’ll teach you how to create great WordPress themes and get the most out of the wonderful publishing platform that is WordPress.

    You can expect 368 pages of WordPress theming in full color, written in a way far from boring tech books of the olden days. WordPress is fun, and so the tone of Smashing WordPress Themes is light and conversational, just as in my previous book, without thinking that the dear reader is a dimwitted moron. Read an excerpt or just order the thing and you’ll see what I mean.

    11 chapters of theming galore

    So what’s in the book then? Lots and lot on WordPress theming of course. We’ll not only learn what makes themes work, but also put our knowledge to good use by building a magazine theme, giving an existing WordPress site community features with the BuddyPress plugin, creating a semi-static website, and so on.

    Here’s the contents at a glance:

    Part I: What are WordPress themes?

    • Chapter 1:
      Gettings Started with WordPress
    • Chapter 2:
      This is a Theme
    • Chapter 3:
      Digging Into the Twenty Ten Theme

    Part II: Hacking a theme

    • Chapter 4:
      Using Child Themes
    • Chapter 5:
      Choosing a Theme

    Part III: Building your own theme

    • Chapter 6:
      Planning the Theme
    • Chapter 7:
      A Semi-Static Theme
    • Chapter 8:
      A Media Theme
    • Chapter 9:
      A Magazine Theme

    Part IV: Taking themes further

    • Chapter 10:
      The BuddyPress Community
    • Chapter 11:
      Extending with Plugins

    Who should buy Smashing WordPress Themes?

    We’ll cover the basics, but you should know that some rudimentary knowledge of HTML, CSS and PHP will help, although you don’t need to be an expert nor know all three. If you’ve dabble with scripting languages, web publishing, or something similar then I’m sure you can use this book to learn to do WordPress themes.

    If HTML, CSS and PHP sounds like Greek (or any language you don’t know, should you know Greek), then you should get acquainted with these things first.

    Finally, a nice big cover

    You may nab that cover if you want to cover (pun intended) the book in any way. I appreciate a link back here should you do so. Thanks!


  • Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog

    Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog

    The first version of Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog hasn’t been available for quite some time I’m afraid.


  • 🇸🇪 Drömspel – En bok om Sega Dreamcast

    🇸🇪 Drömspel – En bok om Sega Dreamcast

    Drömspel – En bok om Sega Dreamcast gavs ut av Alltid Attack Förlag. Boken skrevs av Thord D. Hedengren, Rickard Olsson, Mikael Sylverberg och Michael Edström, med illustrationer av Stefan Pålsson.

    Dessvärre är Drömspel – En bok om Sega Dreamcast ur tryck sedan länge och återfinns lättast på antikvariat, hos retrospelsbutiker eller på auktionssajter.