In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite delve into the transformative impact of AI on the writing process. As an accomplished author and tech enthusiast, Steph shares her insights on how AI has helped elevate her writing skills, offering practical examples of how technology enhances creativity. Danica joins the conversation with a compelling discussion on the myths surrounding AI in authorship, emphasizing the critical thinking and flexibility that AI introduces to the craft. Together, they explore how AI can be a powerful tool for authors looking to expand their storytelling capabilities. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, we sit down with Alice Briggs, the creative director and co-founder of Indie Author Magazine, to explore the dynamic intersection of creativity and business acumen in the world of publishing. Alice shares her innovative approach to utilizing AI tools to enhance both creative processes and business strategies for indie authors. From personalized reader experiences through AI-driven recommendations to efficient marketing ideation, Alice offers valuable insights into how authors can leverage technology to focus more on what they love — writing. Discover how merging creativity with business savvy can transform your author journey. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite share personal experiences, including Steph's journey through brain fog and the strategic use of AI tools to enhance productivity. The discussion covers key topics such as democratizing publishing, ethical AI usage, and the importance of treating writing as a business. With insights into upcoming collaborations and industry events, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the intersection of creativity and technology. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, we sit down with Jill Cooper, co-founder of The Writing Wives, to explore the art of crafting sustainable author careers. Jill shares her expertise on leveraging AI tools to enhance creativity and productivity while maintaining joy in writing. She delves into strategies for building a strong backlist, aligning book covers with audience expectations, and finding longevity in the ever-evolving publishing industry. Whether you're an aspiring author or a seasoned writer looking to revitalize your career, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical advice. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, we sit down with Malorie Cooper from The Writing Wives to explore how AI is revolutionizing the world of book covers and marketing for authors. Malorie shares her insights on using AI-generated images to create stunning, diverse visuals that are often hard to find in traditional stock photos — especially for marginalized communities. We also dive into the ethics of AI, how it's making advertising more efficient, and why authors should embrace these tools to level up their marketing efforts. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, we sit down with Thad McIlroy from The Future of Publishing to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the publishing industry. From continuously updated books and global translations to AI-powered marketing tools, Thad shares his insights on how authors and publishers can leverage AI to streamline workflows and expand their reach. We also dive into the challenges of effective prompting, the nuances of AI-driven translation, and exciting new tools like Veristage and Shimmr. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, we sit down with fantasy author Amy Campbell to explore how she leverages AI tools like Midjourney and Dall-E to create stunning visuals for her successful Kickstarter campaigns. From dragons to magical cowboys riding Pegasus, Amy shares her journey in using AI to enhance both her writing and the visual elements of her books. We also dive into the challenges of navigating anti-AI sentiment in the creative community and discuss how authors can ethically integrate these powerful tools into their publishing workflows. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite engage in a dynamic conversation with Dale L. Roberts from Self-Publishing with Dale, exploring the integration of AI into writing craft, market research, and author workflows. Dale shares his journey from skepticism to embracing AI as a valuable tool that enhances creativity and streamlines processes. Listeners will gain insights into how AI can be leveraged for ideation, rephrasing, and efficient content generation, alongside tips on maintaining the integrity of storytelling craft. Whether you're an author looking to optimize your writing process or curious about the future of publishing, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite sit down with Hannah Jacobson, the founder of Book Award Pro, to explore how AI is transforming the pursuit of book awards and accolades for authors. Hannah shares insights into the innovative ways Book Award Pro uses AI to match books with suitable awards, simplifying a complex process and saving authors valuable time. The conversation delves into the importance of originality in submissions, the evolving landscape of AI in publishing, and how authors can harness technology to amplify their creative voices. Discover how AI-driven tools like ProWritingAid and Book Brush are enhancing the publishing process for authors worldwide. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

[00:00:00] Welcome to Brave New Bookshelf, a podcast that explores the fascinating intersection of AI and authorship. Join hosts, Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite, as they dive into thought provoking discussions, debunk myths, and highlight the transformative role of AI in the publishing industry.

**Steph Pajonas:** Hi, everyone. Welcome back to the Brave New Bookshelf. I'm Steph Pajonas, CTO and COO of the Future Fiction Academy and soon to be Future Fiction Press. By the time this goes live, the website will probably be up and we'll be talking about it more. But in the meantime, I'm here with my lovely co host.

As always, hi, Danica. How are you?

**Danica Favorite:** I'm good. Thanks. Hi everyone. I am Danica Favorite and I am the Community Manager at PublishDrive. And we help authors on every stage of their author journey, whether that is helping find the best description and metadata for their books using AI tools [00:01:00] or distributing their book to the widest markets or even splitting royalties with their co authors.

A lot of cool things and the best thing about my job is that I get to talk. About all things AI with my good friend here, Steph Pajonas. We're really happy to be here. Happy to get to talk to you today because when Steph and I were talking about what we were going to talk about, I am so excited because so much about me and who I am as an author, and even in the writing coaching that I do, is all about Mindfulness and finding joy in what you do.

And one of the things that Steph and I have been talking about, that's missing in the AI conversation sometimes, although to be fair, we have talked about this a little bit.

**Steph Pajonas:** Just a little. Yeah.

**Danica Favorite:** just a little, and it really is about finding joy in your writing and in your process. And the joy using AI tools brings, because I think ultimately we have to recognize that this is a [00:02:00] tool.

It's just a tool. And we would not we were just talking about how I recently got back into re watching Veronica Mars, because it's my favorite show because I found a friend who hasn't seen it yet. Of course, I have to spread the Veronica Mars love. And we were laughing because they were still using flip phones. And here I am with my giant cell phone that's got all this cool AI stuff. Like, Steph and I were talking about is how, Veronica Mars was a badass. Can you imagine what she could have done with a Smartphone? Seriously!

**Steph Pajonas:** She could have done some major damage, I think. Yeah.

**Danica Favorite:** yeah, and the thing is, is that none of us hate on her for that.

None of even like the different kinds of cameras and the camera technology they had back in. Right now we have, the reason I got my phone, I'll be really honest, is because at the time it was the very best camera that you could get in a phone. That was why I chose the Google Pixel. And now technology [00:03:00] has evolved so much.

I still think it's one of the better cameras, but I think I was reading something about a camera that beats it now. But here's the point. I get great pictures off of my phone and yet I know other people still prefer to use their telephoto lenses and all their other cool stuff on a regular camera camera.

And so my friend and I, as we're watching Veronica Mars, we're commenting. Do you remember how hard it used to be when you were waiting to get your photos back from the printer?

**Steph Pajonas:** My husband and I were just talking about that recently just think about where did all the photo developing places go, right? They went away at some point, now I think you can still get film developed by sending it away. And that's pretty much it. Mhm.

**Danica Favorite:** Yeah, and none of us say, oh, real photographers aren&