Brave New Bookshelf Episode 53: AI Automation and Creativity with Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite

In this week’s episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite take a deep dive into how AI is reshaping not just their own workflows, but the wider writing community. From automation and accessibility to creativity and collaboration, their insights offer practical takeaways for authors navigating the evolving publishing landscape.

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Meet the Hosts: Two Innovators Leading the AI Conversation

Steph Pajonas is the CTO of Future Fiction Academy (FFA) and the editor-in-chief of Future Fiction Press, where she helps authors embrace AI to improve their productivity and storytelling. Recently, Steph has turned ergonomic challenges into opportunities for innovation—using AI-driven automation and better workflows to reduce strain while increasing efficiency.

Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive, is a longtime advocate for empowering authors at every stage of their publishing journey. Having relied on dictation for more than a decade due to ergonomic issues, she now integrates AI tools into her process to make writing and editing even smoother.

From NINC to Author Nation: How Authors Are Adopting AI

Danica shared key takeaways from her recent trip to the Novelists, Inc. (NINC) conference, where AI dominated the agenda. Once a controversial topic, AI is now being widely embraced—so much so that only two attendees admitted to not using it at all.

Next, both Steph and Danica will be appearing at the Author Nation conference. PublishDrive will host a dedicated session and be available on Vendor Day, while the Future Fiction Academy will run intimate, hands-on sessions on practical AI tools for writers.

Finding the Right AI Workflow for You

A central theme of this episode is personalization. Both hosts emphasize that AI should serve your creative goals—not replace them.

• Danica continues to rely on dictation for her fiction writing, blending tools like Google Recorder and ChatGPT to streamline transcription and editing.
• Steph uses automation tools like n8n.io to handle repetitive work—automatically generating show notes, updating websites, and freeing time for creativity.

Their approaches may differ, but both demonstrate how AI can enhance productivity and reduce burnout without compromising artistic authenticity.

Key Takeaways for Authors

• Identify Your Pain Points: Look for areas in your workflow that AI can simplify—whether in writing, editing, or marketing.
• Keep Learning: Dedicate time to experimenting with tools that align with your creative goals.
• Prioritize Smartly: Frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix can help you decide what to automate and what to focus on yourself.
• Protect Your Creativity: Use AI to eliminate friction, not inspiration.
• Stay Flexible: The publishing industry is changing fast—adaptation is your greatest strength.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in the publishing world, Steph and Danica remind us that the goal isn’t to replace creativity—but to enhance it. Whether you’re exploring AI for the first time or refining your workflow, this episode of Brave New Bookshelf is a must-listen for any forward-thinking author.

Tools and Resources Mentioned

• n8n.io – Automate repetitive creative and administrative tasks.
• Google Recorder – Ideal for dictation and seamless transcription.
• Future Fiction Academy – Learn to integrate AI into your writing.
• PublishDrive – Distribute, manage, and grow your author business with smart automation.