Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects.

The animal appearing on the cover of Writing Word Macros is a Beisa oryx (Oryx gazella beisa), a brownish-grey subspecies of East African antelope. The oryx is distinctively marked with black and white face and leg patterns; their white underbelly is outlined with a black stripe. The oryx is about the size of a deer (1.5–2.4 meters long), with slightly curved, parallel, ridged horns up to four feet long; these are used for defense in both sexes.

The Beisa oryx is located throughout eastern Africa, particularly Ethiopia, in shortgrass steppes, semi-desert, and savannah habitats, feeding upon leaves, grasses, fruits, and other plant materials. They are gregarious, traveling in herds of a few dozen, and eating several times a day. Their enemies include large cats, such as leopards, lions, and cheetahs, as well as hyenas and human hunters. Their territory has dwindled due to excessive hunting. The Beisa oryx once appeared on one of a series of Ethiopian stamps celebrating the nation’s wildlife.

Nancy Kotary was the production editor and copyeditor for Writing Word Macros; Jeffrey Holcomb was the production editor coordinating the updates for the revised edition. Sheryl Avruch was the production manager. Kristine Simmons was the proofreader. ...

Get Writing Word Macros, Second Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.