I’ve always believed that stories should come from the heart — and mine do. Every book I’ve written, every line, character, and theme, comes directly from me. I write them myself. I build the worlds, shape the voices, and pour my imagination into every page.
But lately, that’s not what people have wanted to talk about.
What’s drawn more attention — and, unfortunately, criticism — is the fact that I use AI-assisted tools to help design and illustrate my book covers and promotional images.
To some in the author community, that single choice has been enough to spark judgment, assumptions, and hostility. I’ve been told that AI “cheapens” art, that it’s “lazy,” that I’m “taking shortcuts.” Some have even said my books don’t deserve to be called real children’s literature because of it.
That hurts — not because I doubt myself, but because I see how easily innovation can be misunderstood.
The truth is simple: I use AI ethically, responsibly, and creatively. I don’t copy other artists. I don’t steal styles or mimic real names. Every image I generate begins with my own direction — a concept I’ve imagined, written, and refined until it visually reflects the story I’ve already created in words.
For me, AI isn’t a replacement for creativity. It’s an extension of it.
I am still the author, the storyteller, the dreamer behind it all. Every book I release is my original writing, shaped by months (or years) of planning and emotional investment. The illustrations and covers are a way to bring that vision to life — not to erase artists, but to make storytelling more accessible for independent creators like me.
I respect illustrators. I’ve worked with traditional art before, and I always will. But for many indie authors, AI tools have opened a door that allows ideas to exist in the world — ideas that might otherwise stay trapped in imagination due to budget, resources, or opportunity.
What I’ve learned through this experience is that creativity doesn’t have a single “right” method. What matters is intent — and integrity. I use AI with both.
I understand the fear. Technology is changing fast, and the publishing world is trying to catch up. But shaming or excluding authors for using new tools doesn’t protect art — it stifles it. True creativity thrives when we explore, adapt, and create responsibly.
At the end of the day, my books are about colour, kindness, imagination, and courage — the very qualities that inspired me to write for children in the first place. If a child picks up one of my stories, smiles, learns something, or feels inspired to dream a little bigger — that is what truly matters.
So yes — I write my own books. I use AI ethically to illustrate them. And I stand by that choice.
Because creativity should never be limited by fear, or by someone else’s definition of what “real art” looks like. It should be guided by heart, story, and the desire to create something meaningful for the next generation.
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