March Promos Along With a Few Thoughts on AI Writing
A few notes on fiction writing followed by this month's promos
Jan Harayda recently posted a review of Rebecca Yarros' romantasy, Onyx Storm, in which she concludes by wondering out loud if it was written by AI.
In her post titled, I made the mistake of reading America's fastest-selling novel,1 Jan points out that three million readers eagerly paid money for the opportunity to read such gems as:
Apprehension slithers between my shoulder blades
and
He lifts his head to watch me as his fingers dip beneath the barrier of my underwear.
I dunno, maybe it was a titanium corset. In a romantasy, is there anything like bridge too far as a barrier?
I’ve read numerous accounts of AI-written novels overwhelming the Amazon self-publishing world.
Now, it appears to be seeping into the general publishing realm as well. But if readers are eating it up, what are the rest of us to do?
I have enough ideas percolating in my head at any given moment that I could probably crank out 50 AI-generated novels in a few days.
That’s not how I want to spend my time. It’s not writing.
As I mentioned in a comment on Jan’s review, maybe short stories and Lit Mags will be our surprising salvation:
There's no money in creating AI-written short stories. Who's going to generate an AI story and spend six dollars to submit it to The Black Horse Review?
Of course, there's no money in creating AI-written novels, either, unless someone hits the rare jackpot, but the AI users who publish these inanities aren't aware of that.
Everyone thinks they'll be the next winning lotto ticket. But most of them are just pointlessly draining the Willamette River.
It would be nice if agents and publishers stepped up to stop this scourge, but as long as someone is generating income for them, it will continue, unless some standardization mechanism is created in the publishing biz.
At the end of the day, a publishing standard is probably the only answer, even if it means that it creates a separate community of non-AI authors that readers who appreciate writing with soul can rely on for their commitment to stories not generated by AI.
For my part, I’ve created a Group Promo on Story Origin for authors who commit to not using generative AI for their books and novels.
You can find it here (there won’t be (m)any authors there yet because it doesn’t start for a while):
You can apply to be part of it by going here:
https://storyoriginapp.com/bundles/8028c070-0345-11f0-a935-bf6d73e4500c/info
Note: You will need a StoryOrigin account to participate.
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This Month’s Promos
Once a month, I pass along promos from fellow Indie authors. If you’d like to participate, send me a DM or email or join my group promo (link shown above). Note that this is not an affiliate program. Nobody gets any extra cash by participating. It’s just a way to help get eyeballs. Note also that I don’t review any of these books. I’m merely passing along the information.
This month’s promos…
"The Midnight Society - Guardians of the Cosmic Rift"
by Orion Blake
In this thrilling second installment of the Midnight Society series, the five childhood friends and their loyal dog, Whisp - must defend Earth from an unimaginable alien threat after gaining extraordinary abilities aboard a UFO. As gateways open between worlds, a rebel warns of an imminent invasion by the merciless Karnathians, launching the friends on a perilous mission that will determine the fate of worlds.
Deep within a mysterious network of caves, they uncover a terrifying secret: enslaved humans have unwittingly built a doomsday machine that threatens Earth's very molecular structure. Forging an uneasy alliance with an enigmatic alien general, the Midnight Society must destroy the device before it's too late. But when a monstrous overlord arrives to claim their home, they face a climactic confrontation where failure is not an option, and victory may demand the ultimate sacrifice.
The Midnight Society: Guardians of the Cosmic Rift is a pulse-pounding adventure that catapults readers from small-town Montana to the frontlines of an interstellar war. Imaginative and electrifying, this unforgettable tale of friendship, destiny, and courage in the face of impossible odds will leave you breathless. Brimming with action, humor, and heart, it's a sci-fi thrill ride you won't want to miss.
The Midnight Society - Alien Awakening
by Orion Blake
In a sleepy Montana town, five twenty-something friends—Tyler, Maya, Olivia, Alex, and Connor—have chased paranormal thrills since childhood as The Midnight Society. But one fateful night changes everything.
Under a canopy of strange lights, they stumble upon a mysterious alien craft. Abducted and experimented on by the tyrannical alien overlord Sultah, the friends find themselves imbued with extraordinary powers, revealing untapped potential and igniting a thrilling transformation.
As friendships are tested and loyalties waver under Sultah's ruthless manipulation, the stakes soar to galactic heights. United, they must confront not just a dark force threatening their town, but a sinister plot that could enslave the entire human race.
Will they rise as heroes, or will Sultah's cruel machinations divide and destroy them?
Join The Midnight Society and their faithful canine companion, Whisp, in "Alien Awakening," a breathtaking sci-fi adventure brimming with intrigue, betrayal and pulse-pounding action. Every twist will leave you craving more.
The fate of two worlds hangs in the balance. Are you ready to join the resistance?
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR BECKONS!
"Eternal Ashes"
by Janelle Marie
One night. One moment. One mistake. Now, life will never be the same.
In her hometown, Auburn Village, Sofie Collins has built a good life for herself and her teenage daughter, April.
Sofie’s business is growing, and they are both happily in love, with April about to graduate from high school in only a few weeks.
Life – although far from perfect – is good.
But one moment is all it takes.
Just one moment, and now Sofie’s world will never be the same again.
Instead of building a brighter future with each passing day, Sofie suddenly finds the happiness she found slipping further and further through her fingers.
And it seems as though all the blame and guilt lies with her…
Or does it?
This mesmerizing drama is the compelling first chapter of a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and cold revenge. When her world breaks, will Sofie find the strength to rebuild the pieces? Or is she about to send it crashing down?
That’s it for now!
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