Andy Weir

And these were hardcore science dorks.

Like the sort of stuff I wrote was like really intensely science focused.

So I thought I was writing for this tiny niche audience.

Like I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative, right?

Because I like that.

So there are a few other people who like that.

But I never imagined that a book which is basically a long series of algebra word problems would end up being so popular.

but it did.

So I am still baffled.

As for my career pivot, I actually, I really liked being a computer programmer.

I really enjoyed that career.

When the Martian

you know, made it big, I did not quit my job.

I continued working and I really liked it.

I only quit my job because I got a second book deal where I now had like one year to write a book.

But it was like kind of bittersweet leaving the software industry because like I said, especially...

You know, by that time I'd been in the industry for 25 years.

I was a senior level architect, level engineer.

I ran my team.

I was like the technical lead.