# 310: While Loops Dressed up for Halloween

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-11-15
- Length: 1h 12m
- Episode: 310
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween

## Summary

Aimee Lucido, a former software engineer at Facebook and Uber, explains how she transitioned to becoming a children's book author with her novel *Emmy in the Key of Code*. She discusses the structural parallels between coding and poetry, the decision to write in verse to engage reluctant readers, and the strategic choices involved in publishing with a startup imprint. Lucido also details her journey from working in tech to quitting her job to write full-time, including the financial and emotional challenges of that pivot.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=6) Introduction: Aimee Lucido and Emmy in the Key of Code
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=271) Career Transition: From Facebook and Uber to Writing
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=324) The MFA and the Birth of the Novel
- [13:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=805) Coding as Language and Poetry
- [28:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=1725) Publishing Strategy and Imprint Selection
- [37:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=2256) Quitting Tech and Full-Time Writing
- [54:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=3246) Writing Process and Craft
- [57:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween#t=3424) Book Details and Music References

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Emmy in the Key of Code (product)
- Facebook (company)
- Uber (company)
- Houghton Mifflin (company)
- Versify (company)
- Kwame Alexander (other)
- The Crossover (product)
- Java (other)
- Python (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [331 - I wrote a book and it's out TODAY!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-12-05-331-i-wrote-a-book-and-its-out-today) (People of Packaging)
- [Jeff Gothelf | Forever Employable: How to Stop Looking for Work and Let Your Next Job Find You](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-08-jeff-gothelf-forever-employable-how-to-stop-looking-for-work-and-let-your-next-j) (Being an Engineer)
- [ICYMI... HIBT Lab! The Financial Diet: Chelsea Fagan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-05-icymi-hibt-lab-the-financial-diet-chelsea-fagan) (How I Built This)
- [Meet The HIBT Fellows: Pierre Paul & Toby Egbuna](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-05-11-meet-the-hibt-fellows-pierre-paul-toby-egbuna) (How I Built This)
- [Author and Podcaster: Tim Ferriss](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-15-310-while-loops-dressed-up-for-halloween. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.