In a world that keeps pushing me ‘round

I’ll stand my ground

And I won’t back down.

-Tom Petty

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Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, but most often writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

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NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

• StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

• Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

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This week’s Tell The Damn Story offers an AI discussion about AI dangers in the publishing industry

This week on TTDS, I beamed into the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia to join a panel discussion on the multi-faceted dangers of AI in the publishing industry. We covered many issues and concerns on the topic, raised more questions than we resolved, of course, but both the panel and the audience participants truly demonstrated how strong a need there is for policy and professional guidance on this topic. If you are curious about the do’s and don’ts of AI, this episode is a damn good place to start.

Here’s the link:

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On Writing: As debate heats up among writers about the crime of using AI to write, we’ve got much more to talk about on this topic

The vast majority of authors with integrity agree that using AI to write our work isn’t writing as much as it is distilled plagiarism. Most hold a zero tolerance policy for using AI for writing.

That’s a majority, not 100 percent.

The same policy exists for cover and interior art in our community. Zero tolerance for using AI.

That’s a majority, not 100 percent.

More discussion and demonstration and policy on both areas is needed.

But I suggest we need to go even further.

We also must hold discussions about what is acceptable to use in executing the other requirements as authors (especially those who are indie and/or traditionally published by small or mid-list houses) because writers most often are expected to do every job in the industry to sell our books:

• Writing.
• Proofreading.
• Editing.
• Layout and design.
• Overseeing cover design and art.
• Publishing.
• Distribution to book selling entities.
• Marketing.
• Promotion.
• Researching public events, booking, travel, and public appearances.
• Protection of our work from a world full of those willing to steal it for their own profits, including AI.

And most of us do it all ourselves. Without training. Without vast resources.

Meanwhile, even the least whiff of suspicion can ruin our career whether we are guilty or not. Feels like the Red Scare days.

What can independent, small, and mid-list authors do about this? What we always do; research it, discuss it, make decisions, and move forward honestly and passionately.

Proofreading and editing seem to fall under the writing policy. Same for cover and interior art.

How about marketing and promotion? Which apps/programs are acceptable for usage on those fronts?

I ask this because AI is creeping into every corner of the tech world. For creators wanting to do the right thing in every facet of the publishing industry, it is getting more difficult to escape AI.

How do I know? I stand accused, that’s how I know.

I was recently—and politely—accused of being an AI supporter because my Tell The Damn Story podcast partner used AI to create an illustration for a promotion for one of our over 400 episodes, all of which which we offer for free. I didn’t even know he was using AI for those purposes. But the person who contacted me seemed ready to terminate our relationship, both business and as friends, based on something I wasn’t even aware had happened. Honestly, it was heartbreaking.

Addressing that issue created more heartache.

The debate between myself and my co-host nearly ended the show. To his credit, Alex pulled any AI usage out of our promotional materials. Now he does everything the old-fashioned way. Sure, it takes longer, we are significantly more limited in what we can do, and it doesn’t have as much impact, but that’s the most most honest way I think we can proceed at this point. (Thank God for Alex, he always means well and he’s a good friend.)

I bring all this up to illustrate two important points that are impacting so many of us in this industry.

One is the AI Red Scare is creating animosity in our community. Yeah, yeah, I wanna be a Bronx tough guy, but, honestly, it does still bug me that a person I thought was a friend and business colleague seemed ready to cut me out of their lives for something I wasn’t even aware was happening. On top of that, their confronting me created even more serious friction between me and my co-host—a friend for about forty years! That’s how heated this conversation is becoming. All respect to both of these people, but I think these incidents between friends are a pretty good indication that a wider ranging conversation is necessary and guidelines need to be established.

The second point is the AI Red Scare is treacherous because it is getting more difficult to avoid AI. Most apps we might use for promotion or marketing already utilize at least some components of AI. As far as I know, all the social media platforms utilize some elements of AI, whether it is to judge who sees our posts, or whether our posts are even allowable. It makes me wonder whether my publishing platform is AI compromised. It very well could be; how would I know? For that matter, email is. Try composing an email and see how quickly AI offers to do it for you. It makes me want to look around for Rod Serling.

How about what editors use to edit? How can we know for sure they aren’t using AI? Damn, the AI monsters have definitely arrived on Maple Street, eh, Rod?

Even word processing programs offer AI help now. How about spell check, or grammar check? How do we know for sure what is acceptable usage?

Meanwhile, many of the larger publishing companies have adopted or even required the use of AI to lower production costs and time, accentuate marketing, and get an edge of the competition.

We pure hearts are getting left behind.

We’re used to it.

But we need to make some decisions about what can and cannot be acceptable paths to travel in trying to get our work out there before all of us find ourselves accused, shamed, and/or ruined.

I would love to know your thoughts on any or all aspects of this issue. Let me know what you think in the comments section at the end of this newsletter.

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And now a picture of a handsome fella

Deep Thought McGee!

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POP CULTURE FUEL

BOOKS

Memorial Day weekend was drenched. Left a ton of time to read. Here’s what I used to fill all those hours:

And credit where it is due, Slugfest was chosen after seeing that Brian Keene was reading it, according to his newsletter. If you aren’t reading that one, I highly recommend you give his Substack newsletter a shot. He is consistently fascinating.

MUSIC

Mostly summer playlists. Dave Grohl’s are pretty cool. The one I mentioned last week that Rick Beato did an episode on got repeated listens as well. And I am putting one together now that I’m calling “Fun” – no political songs, no heartbreak songs, just upbeat fun. When I ‘finish” it (are playlists ever really finished?) I’ll share it here.

MOVIES

Having seen it twice before and having both read the novel, Glorious and I went to Project Hail Mary again last weekend. It still hits all the feels. It is still gorgeous, well cast, well acted, and a basically perfect film. Plus, the theater was packed for a film that has been out for weeks. Yay!

Sadly, we also saw The Mandolorian and Grogu. It was a good couple of TV episodes that didn’t need to be a movie. Not bad. Just not a movie.

TV

On a Marvel’s Daredevil kick. The Netflix shows hold up. The Defenders was fun but goofier.

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Welcome, my son, welcome to the machine,

Where have you been?

It’s alright, we know where you’ve been…

-Pink Floyd

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Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.