by Kelly Lucas
Hi, my name is Kelly Lucas and I am the author and creator of this class. I have created every single video you will be viewing and I've written each and every PDF that you will download. And believe it or not, you and I have a lot in common.
I once was a beginner just like you are now. I remember how frustrating it was to learn Expression Web and CSS. However, I did not have many resources available to help me out. I wasted so much money on worthless books. Not a single one started at the beginning and followed through logically.
So, I had to go to great lengths to learn CSS and HTML apart from Expression Web. And it took me a long time to learn all this. I studied and practiced 10-12 hours every day for many months. I was determined to learn this stuff! And I did. I took what I learned about CSS and HTML and incorporated it into Expression Web.
My experience and my mistakes now help others. This class was created so that each of you can avoid making all the mistakes I made, and it will save you from having to study 10-12 hours a day. And it will minimize your frustration!
I've had this class for over two years now. I am once again updating and redesigning it to make it even better. However, I don't want to fix something too much, especially when it's not broken to begin with. So the only changes I am making have to do with the user interface and adding more content. I also have to update some of the PDFs to reflect Expression Web 4.
I am, or was, a Registered Nurse prior to becoming a Freelance Designer and Teacher. I really like teaching and helping others. That's why I became a nurse (obviously!). I also loved a challenge, otherwise, I was so terribly bored.
I live in the US (back and forth from Pennsylvania to Florida). I earned my BSN Nursing in 1997 and BA Psychology in 1991 from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. I worked on a cardiac step down unit, which I found to be rewarding, both personally and economically. The leader in me sought out a management position after one year of working at the same Hospital, and I remained in management for about 6-7 years.
Unfortunately, in 2004 I had an operation that left me disabled. This led to several other surgeries to repair the damage. Yet, I would never be the same. Life as I knew it was over. My life has been turned upside down, inside out, and has been the challenge of a life-time.
I suffered for a few years, and still do occassionally. I have good days and bad days. My physical limitations prevent me from being on my feet for extended periods of time (like 15 minutes!). So it was easy for me to fall in love with the internet. I had a lot of time on my hands, and also needed a way to make extra money. I started out doing SEO work, and then writing web content and selling articles.
I then started learning web design with Expression Web. I found that optimizing web pages largely begins with the actual Design of web pages. Web Pages made with Frames are impossible to optimize. Tables are next to impossible, or at least they are challenging to optimize. It depends upon the complexity of the nested tables within other nested tables. They are definitely a pain in the ass to update!! Tables break so easily! But Pages Designed with divs and CSS are really easy to optimize for Search Engines. So this is how I got started...one thing led to the other.
As I began learning about Expression Web, which was brand new at the time, I found a huge lack of resources available for beginners. So instead of sticking with pure SEO work and web design consulting, I started www.Expression-Web-Tutorial.com as a free Tutorial Web Site. It became wildly popular very quickly and as a result grew into a new business of Selling Tutorials on DVDs and Online Classes. People requested all these things, and I just went with the flow and met these needs.
Physically limited or not, I still plug away at whatever I do. That includes helping others like yourself. I spend every day working on something web related. Some days it might be tutoring and consulting. Other days I am making videos or working on web design projects. I also spend a lot of time writing. It might be articles for other web sites I own, but mainly right now I am writing my book, Expression Web Tutorials, No Non-Sense Tutorials for Beginners. (haven't nailed down the final title)
In the end, I suppose you could say it was my tragedy that led me to where I am today. I have no idea what the future holds and I don't care. I have learned to live in the moment because the moment is all I have to be concerned with. No more futuristic thinking. Success is meant for today, not tomorrow.
I have two fabulous children that need me whether I'm disabled or not. The oldest is in college, my youngest is in high school. (where has the time gone!!) And I am determined to provide for them any way I have to. I hope that by my example, they will always do what it takes to rise above life and never, NEVER Give Up!
There is always a Gift in a Problem......you just have to look for it....
Best Wishes!
Kelly Lucas