Brave New Bookshelf Episode 52: Starting Over at 50: Embracing AI in Authorship with Connie Clark

By Danica Favorite October 30, 2025

In this week’s episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite chat with Connie Clark (pen name: Constance R. Clark) — an inspiring author who decided to start over at 50 and turn her writing passion into a thriving full-time business. After leaving her corporate career, Connie embraced AI as a creative partner, helping her boost productivity, expand her storytelling, and build a sustainable author brand.

From Corporate Life to Creative Freedom

Connie’s publishing story began in 2011 through traditional publishing, but her true independence came in 2020 when she reclaimed her rights and stepped fully into indie publishing. Now, at 51, she’s proving that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. With a mix of financial planning, creative courage, and smart use of AI tools, Connie has turned her dream of being a full-time author into a thriving business.

"This is just another part of that growing in all of the different things that we've just been in flux since we were kids."

Connie Clark, on embracing AI as a natural progression.

How AI Became a Creative Catalyst

Having grown up adapting to new technologies—from typewriters to early computers—Connie sees AI as a natural evolution in the writer’s toolkit. Rather than replacing creativity, she believes AI empowers it, allowing her to work faster, test ideas, and explore new formats like audio dramas and serialized fiction.

Her creative workflow blends writing, multimedia production, and community building. Here’s a glimpse into the tools she uses every day:

Claude – For brainstorming and scriptwriting.
Eleven Labs – To create lifelike character voices for audio dramas.
Ideogram – For generating consistent character visuals.
Canva – To design videos and marketing graphics.
Audacity & Mixcraft – For editing and producing audio.
Substack – To serialize stories and connect directly with readers.

Building a Business Through Innovation

Connie’s author journey isn’t just creative—it’s strategic. She built a diverse business model that includes publishing across multiple platforms, engaging with readers through newsletters, and using promotional tools like Bookclicker to reach new audiences. She also experiments with serialized storytelling on platforms such as Inkitt and Ream, maximizing her reach across different reader communities.

Connie’s Advice for Fellow Authors

Embrace AI as a creative ally, not a replacement.
Plan strategically if you’re transitioning to full-time authorship.
Experiment with new formats like audio and video storytelling.
Keep learning and adapting—your next chapter can start anytime

"AI is a tool that has really helped me get it done and work even more efficiently."

Connie Clark, on AI enhancing productivity.

Explore More

Discover more from Connie Clark:

Want more insights on the evolving role of AI in publishing? Listen to this episode of Brave New Bookshelf on your favorite podcast platform.