Dear Readers,

In my last newsletter, I shared my incredible experience at the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival this past May. Among the many insightful speakers was Sal Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy. His talk about the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—especially in education—was nothing short of inspiring.

Sal introduced us to Khanmigo, an AI tool designed not to tell students what to write or think, but to engage them in thoughtful conversation and critical thinking. Educators are using it to build custom study plans tailored to their students’ needs. For someone like me—who has always approached technology cautiously—it was a refreshing and hopeful perspective on how AI can enhance human creativity rather than replace it.

Bringing AI into My World as an Author

Soon after I returned home, I discovered something fascinating on Kindle Direct Publishing: authors can now create audiobooks of their paperbacks using an AI narrator. At first, I was skeptical—would it sound robotic? Would it lack emotion?

That doubt quickly turned into curiosity. So I experimented, starting with my very first novel, Brotherhood Beyond the Yard (published in 2011). Kindle offers a variety of AI voices—different genders, regional accents, and tones. After testing a few, I selected two American English male voices and got to work.

The process? Time-consuming. Every word required attention—adjusting pauses, fixing typos, and fine-tuning the rhythm. But the result? Surprisingly human. The AI even captured excitement in dialogue, nailed foreign words, and delivered a polished listening experience.

Now Available in Audiobook Format
I’m excited to announce that the first two novels in the Simon Hall Thriller series—
Brotherhood Beyond the Yard
Noble’s Quest
—are now available as audiobooks!

The third, The Ultimate Revenge, will be released later this month.

My Thoughts on AI in Writing

Like the Internet, AI is a tool—and, yes, it can be misused. But when used ethically and creatively, it holds real potential. I will continue to work with a professional narrator (like the incredible one I hired for Climatized and The Beekeeper’s Secret), but for this series, AI provided a unique and valuable solution.

And while I may use AI tools from time to time to brainstorm or push past writer’s block, the creative process and the final voice will always be mine. That’s a promise.

I’d love to know what you think.
If you listen to the audiobooks, please don’t hesitate to share your honest feedback. Your input means the world to me as I continue to grow, learn, and explore new creative horizons.

With appreciation,
Sally Fernandez
www.sallyfernandez.com

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Please remember, all reviews are more than welcome!