Brave New Bookshelf

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite are joined by Skye MacKinnon, a prolific author and expert in international translations. Skye shares her fascinating journey of using AI to reclaim her time, from building custom WordPress plugins with Antigravity to managing complex series bibles with NotebookLM. As a native German speaker, she provides invaluable insights into the nuances of AI translation, the importance of cultural awareness in global markets, and how to automate the "admin sludge" of a writing career. Whether you are looking to scale your business across multiple pen names or dive into the lucrative German market, Skye’s practical approach to AI automation offers a roadmap for long-term success. 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 are joined by author and "vibe coder" Cassie Alexander to discuss how high-level AI automations can revolutionize an author's business operations. Cassie shares her fascinating journey of building a cloud-based "command center" using Supabase and slashing her monthly overhead by replacing expensive subscriptions with custom-coded tools. From scaling a single nonfiction book into 50 different languages to developing bespoke AI "skills" that handle the tedious grunt work of retailer uploads and ISBN registration, Cassie provides a roadmap for authors looking to reclaim their creative time and maximize their global reach. 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 are joined by Greg Keogh, co-founder of Curios, to discuss the revolutionary shift toward direct-to-reader sales. Greg shares how Curios empowers authors by acting as the merchant of record—handling the complexities of sales tax and customer support—while providing a "permissionless" platform that welcomes AI-forward content and high-spice fiction without the fear of de-platforming. From the logistical ease of setting up a digital storefront in minutes to the exciting future of integrated print-on-demand services, this conversation explores how authors can reclaim their independence, own their reader data, and build a more resilient publishing business. 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 are joined by prolific sci-fi author and software engineer Malorie Cooper to dive deep into the technical and philosophical future of AI in publishing. Malorie shares her fascinating transformation from an AI skeptic to a power user, explaining how she utilizes custom hardware rigs and her proprietary "Lore Oracle" system to manage an expansive fictional universe of over 130 books. The discussion spans from the "sentience gradient" and the emergent behaviors of AI in Project Sid to practical, high-level strategies like creating "continuance artifacts" to manage AI context windows. Whether you are curious about the ethics of machine intelligence or looking for cutting-edge ways to automate your series bible and research, this conversation offers a visionary look at the intersection of code and creativity. 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 author Coral Hart and her lead programmer, Phil, to discuss the revolutionary development of Authorythm. This innovative platform is designed as a comprehensive "operating system for authors," bridging the gap between creative craft and technical code to allow writers to draft entire five-book series while keeping their business data and marketing in one centralized location. Coral and Phil share their journey of building an AI-driven engine that eliminates the common "editing stew" of anxiety and scales production, all while ensuring the human author remains the creative lead. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.