Barnes & Noble: Ai Generated Books?

 

Social media has become a toxic playground due to people calling everything ai and assuming that every self-published author out there is using ai in their writing and everything else. It’s the paranoia that is running amok. By the way, it’s perfectly okay for authors to use online tools to create videos or images for promoting their books, not saying that those images or videos are made with ai, I’m just saying that it’s no one’s business what an author uses to promote their book, just enjoy the video or image for Godsakes. Stop being uptight and angry.

 If someone dismisses this as AI-generated content, they can simply choose not to engage with it. The choice ultimately lies with the reader. Recently, I’ve noticed discussions online, particularly about Barnes & Noble, which is trending for unexpected reasons.

Many people are accusing the store of endorsing AI-generated books, leading some to call for a boycott. Personally, I don’t shop at Barnes & Noble, so I’m not entirely sure what the fuss is about. In an Indie Author group I’m part of on Facebook, whenever fellow indie or self-published authors post their book covers, there’s often a comment like, “Looks like AI to me” or “AI Slop.” It seems that the term "slop" has become a catch-all for anything that doesn’t meet certain standards.

I came across a comment on Tumblr that included the word "SLOP." The person was talking about a photo of someone genuinely sharing a moment with her dog in her backyard. It seems like people are really overusing that term. One day, we might look back and find it amusing, but for now, it’s not and it is annoying.

In Facebook Indie author groups and Threads, I’ve seen some members demanding proof that authors created their images without AI help, which is just crazy.

(This comment is referring to another author who shared their book cover image, in that group. And this is why I think people are blowing it all out of proportion. Witch Hunt)

If you’re an author facing this, my advice is to simply ignore those comments; they’re just looking to stir up online drama. Remember, if someone is questioning the authenticity of your work, they’re likely not genuinely interested in your book and are just trolling. Recognize these signs, scroll past their negativity, or delete their comments if you can, and don’t hesitate to block them. 

NOTE: I use KDP gallery images that are provided. However, three books do have covers that I created myself but I used Render, Bender and whatever online tools available. Personally, I don't have to tell anyone how I made my book covers and that's my point. No author should do that. If a person is genuinely interested in their book, they'll read it. Period.

In conclusion, bookstores like Barnes & Noble don’t care what books they sell, if the book has garnered a lot of rates/reviews, the company will buy copies and sell them in their stores to make a profit. They don’t care.

Ask The Author: Q & A's

 

These are questions from random people who have read some of my books.

Q: In your book, The Maze from Hell, can you give me more background info on Syra and Kyle? It doesn’t appear that you wrote about their life before the Backrooms.

A: You’re right. This is their background:

Kyle, a divorcee, is five years younger than Syra, and is a father to three kids—two daughters and a son. While working the night shift at Walmart, he accidentally found himself in the Backrooms. How it happened was, during a break, he stepped into the restroom, and when he emerged, he was met with a disorienting yellow maze instead of the familiar store.

Turning around, he realized the door he exited had vanished. Navigating through level 0 like many before him, he made his way to other levels until he encountered one of the colonies and decided to stay.

Syra was a married woman with a loving family. Her children were already adults when she mysteriously vanished. The details of how she found herself in the Backrooms are hazy, as her experiences there have clouded her memories of the events leading up to her arrival. Initially, she faced the same challenges as others in that non-Euclidean dimension, but eventually, she reached the Raiders colony and met Kyle. Accepting that returning home was no longer an option, Syra and Kyle formed a bond, navigating their new reality together while learning from the people around them.

Q: Was Mr. Smith, in your book, A Time Traveler’s Companion, have other companions not mentioned in your book?

A: Yes, but they were short lived. After Melanie left but before he met Remi, he had a brief encounter with a woman from the day spa where he first took Remi. Following that, there was Ella, whom I mentioned in the book, along with a few others. However, it was Remi who truly captured his heart and became his long-term companion until her passing. Later, during his fifth incarnation, he took Ryla as a companion, however she referred to him as uncle because of their history. No intimate encounters between them. When Ryla dies, years later, he continues his journeys with new companions.

Q: You mentioned that A Time Traveler’s Companion is loosely inspired by a fanfiction you wrote. Does it follow the original story?

A: Well, it’s a bit of both. While some elements from the fanfiction remain, many aspects have been altered. Given that it’s a Doctor Who fanfic, I made several changes during the writing process, which unexpectedly led to the novel exceeding 500 pages. I believe the story stands apart from the fanfiction, and I appreciate you taking the time to read my book.

 

Q: In your book Flare, you mentioned that Cher knows Jane’s parents. Can you elaborate?

A: They were quite close, as Cher often assisted the Hunters, the organization to which Jane’s parents belonged. Their friendship deepened over the years, and Cher was present when Jane was born. However, after Jane’s parents passed away, Cher couldn’t take her in due to her nature as an energy vampire.

Cher is an enigmatic individual and remains so throughout the Phoenix Files book series. She will appear in one of the volumes from the series, assisting Jane on one of the assignments.

Thank you for visiting this blog and if you have any questions regarding my books, please feel free to ask.

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CG Heandez

Cecile Garcia

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