Sas Jacobs (eyes above) is a whiz-bang expert on ASP.NET/ASP application development, Flash, and XML. She’s a writer, a teacher, a speaker, and she edits technical books. But, she loves to travel, she sang in bands, she’s a photographer, and her business is wrapped around the theme that Anything is Possible.

Who is Sas Jacobs? Is she a disciplined geek who thrives on code? Or, does this woman have a soft spot for landscapes and Dean Koontz? Read on to find out!

1. Many of my readers want to know whether a college education is worth the effort, especially when so many courses are available for self-education in IT and in Web design. How do you feel about a college vs. self-taught decision in regards to technical and design careers?

I don’t really feel I can comment about design careers, as that’s not my area of specialty. I’m a developer so my comments relate to that area.

I have two University degrees but neither is in my area of work. When I first started working in Web development the area was so new that there weren’t any courses available through Universities. My only choice was self-education so that’s been my approach most of the time.

I’ve seen great University educated and self-taught developers working in the industry. I think that a degree covering broad skills is probably a good starting point for many people. However, developers also need to have the discipline to undertake self-education. One of the key things about our industry is that there is a need for ongoing learning as technology and products change.

2. Do you conduct training courses often, and what do you focus on in these courses?

Yes, I train in the classroom most weeks. I’m usually focused on Web-related areas, often teaching XHTML, Dreamweaver and Flash although I also train in areas like VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) and database design.

3. You have a wide set of specialties. Which specialty do you enjoy the most and why?

I actually like the variety in my work. I have a low boredom threshold so I really enjoy all the different facets.

I love Web development because it allows me to immerse myself in code and play with databases. I enjoy writing because it exercises a totally different part of my brain. I get to go to a quiet place in my head and write words. I enjoy training because it allows me to interact with people who are getting into the industry and make sure they get a good start.

4. What do you contribute to your success? In other words, what do you consider your first successful step in your journey from an unknown entity to a world-acclaimed author, speaker, and software trainer?

I wouldn’t really consider myself to be a world-acclaimed author!

I think I’ve worked hard to develop my skills and had some good opportunities along the way. I’ve always tried to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself. I also have a strong work ethic and work hard to produce high quality work within agreed deadlines. I think the importance of being a reliable worker is really underestimated in our industry.

5. You’re a Flash advocate, and you want people to know that Flash software can produce more than animations and splash pages. Can you tell my readers more about the capabilities that seem hidden within this software?

First, let me say that I don’t think that Flash should EVER be used for splash pages. Flash can do all sorts of clever thing from little widgets such as calculators and dynamic graphs to full-blown applications. It can do everything that XHTML can do and more but it does it with so much more style!

Flash can hook up to external information such as databases and XML files. It can also play many different types of media including sound and video. You can replicate just about any type of XHTML Web application in Flash.

6. In my research on Web accessibility, I read many articles that were critical about Flash’s inability to meet accessibility standards. How would you respond to those criticisms?

The later versions of the Flash Player include lots of accessibility features. Flash Player 8 has support for Microsoft Active Accessibility which means that it’s actually more accessible than Web applications that rely heavily on JavaScript.

The other point is that Flash can use alternative media to increase accessibility. For example, applications can include sound for people who are visually impaired or video for people with comprehension difficulties.

7. I see that your latest book, Beginning XML with DOM and Ajax: From Novice to Professional was published recently, and that you’ve written at least four other books and E-books, many tutorials for DMXzone, and just as many technical support articles and training manuals as well as editing several other books. Can you tell my readers why you like to write? Can you become rich as a writer, or is writing a means to another end?

I think that writing must be in the genes as my mother is an international fiction author. In my writing, I enjoy explaining complex things in a simple way. There’s something so incredibly satisfying about creating a book, article or manual that helps people. When I get emails from readers, it makes me feel really privileged to have been able to assist them.

I don’t think any writer gets into writing to become rich! It is a steady source of income but compared with my other ventures, it certainly pays a lot less when I look at the amount of time it takes.

NOTE: Sas’s mother writes under several names but her most famous is Anna Jacobs. Under this name, she writes historical fiction, usually set in Lancashire in England. She is very popular in the UK and recently received an award for the Best Romantic Book of 2006. She has a Web site where you can read excerpts of her work.

8. From an author’s perspective, I wonder how you feel about rating systems like the ones that Amazon and DMXzone use to rate a writer’s work. While five-star ratings are heartwarming (and you have many), how do you handle the occasional poor “one star� rating? Additionally, do you believe that these rating systems are useful?

I think rating systems can be useful providing they are used correctly. It doesn’t make sense to allow people without knowledge of a product or subject area to provide ratings. Why would you let someone rate an article is they haven’t purchased it?

9. You’re also in demand now as a speaker, as evidence by your latest engagements at Flash Forward conferences, MXDU in Sydney, and Media Elements in the Netherlands within the past two years. How do you handle speaking to hundreds of people from a stage?

I spent many years of my life playing and singing in bands so being on stage is natural for me!

10. I had no idea that you were a singer – do tell!

I have been in many bands from about the age of 18 onwards until around 2 years ago. I started life as a keyboard player but had to fill in with lead vocals when our front person quit suddenly just before a gig. After filling in, I got promoted and after that stuck with lead vocals as well as keys. I also play the flute and saxophone. I’ve played in everything from 7 piece bands with dancers and doo wap girls to duos.

11. You like to read when you’re not writing, speaking, and training. Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction, and do you have a favorite author?

I mainly read fiction for pleasure, as I have to read so much non-fiction for my work. I like to read many different types of books. My favourite author is Dean Koontz who writes fantastic novels. They’re well written but also cover very interesting topics. I also read my mother’s novels before she sends them to her editor.

12. You’re also into photography, and you have some fantastic photographs posted on both your Websites. Do you feel that your training in Web development has had an effect on how you see the world through a camera lens?

I’m passionate about my photography and started it long before I got into Web development so it’s the other way around. I think my photography training and experience has probably impacted on the way I approach Web development.

13. How is the new Nikon D200 digital camera working out in comparison with your manual cameras? Why did you choose a Nikon?

The new camera is a dream for me. I like the immediate feedback that I get from the camera as well as the fact that I can work in program mode, aperture or shutter priority, or even in full manual mode. I can also change my ISO rating at any time. It’s just so flexible compared with film cameras.

I chose a Nikon camera with a Nikkor lens after doing lots of research. Everyone I spoke to and everything I read indicated that Nikon make the best digital cameras. I have a 28mm-200mm VR lens which is fantastic. The camera was an expensive investment but the results show that it was worthwhile.

14. Your eye for photographic composition is amazing. Do you rely heavily on Photoshop for the final product, or do you rarely use this program on your images?

Thanks. To me, the composition makes the photo. I started in photography long before I started with Photoshop so I try to compose the shot correctly when it’s taken. I occasionally crop a little with Photoshop and adjust the levels or curves, but other than that I don’t do much correction.

15. Where do you see yourself business-wise ten years from now?

I have no idea! I think that things will have changed so much that it’s not possible to say. Hopefully, I will still be enjoying what I do as much as I do now.

16. If you could travel to anyplace in the world, where would you go and why?

I’m lucky enough to have traveled quite extensively so I have been to many of the places that I really wanted to see. I’d love to revisit places like India, Egypt and East Africa. I guess I’d still like to go trekking in Nepal and Peru, see Angkor Wat in Cambodia and visit China. I’m fascinated by landscapes and man-made structures.

17. Since you believe that “Anything is Possible,� if you had the money and the power to change just one thing in the world, what would you change and why?

Wow, that’s a very deep question. If I had magical powers, I’d increase tolerance and acceptance of diversity. If I had lots of money, I’d put a stop to poverty and third world debt. It saddens me that some parts of our planet have so much and in others, people are dying because they have no food.

View Jacobs’ photography at her personal site, SasJacobs.com.