Then Mother’s Day came.

I was late getting a card for my wife, June.

After 48 years together, a store-bought card did not feel right. So I tried something different. I used ChatGPT to create a Mother’s Day poem based on our life together. I added details about our sons, their families, our trips, and the moments that shaped our lives.

I sent it to June in an email while she was in another room.

Five minutes later, I walked in.

She gave me a big hug and had a tear in her eye.

That moment changed everything.

It was better than a card because it was personal. It reflected our life, not something printed for everyone.

After that, I kept learning.

My first book was Brooks’ Bubble Adventure: Wonder, Discovery and Sibling Fun. I created it using GPT-4 and image tools. It was not easy. The tools made mistakes. Images changed constantly. I created hundreds of images before I selected the final 26.

But I finished it. And I was proud of it.

That process taught me something important. The tool can generate options, but the creator decides what stays.

Next, I asked what I should write about.

The advice from indie authors was simple. Write about what you love.

For me, that meant the Civil War, West Point, and how technology changes war.

That became the foundation for my Steel and Honor series.

I am now well over halfway through the saga. I am learning more about history, military innovation, and storytelling than I expected. I am also learning something I did not plan on.

Marketing.

As an indie author, writing the book is only part of the job. You must also reach readers. That means websites, email lists, social media, and content strategy.

There is also debate about using AI to write.

Some people say it is not real writing. Others say it will damage the industry.

I understand the concern.

But tools have always changed how books are created. The printing press did. Word processors did.

AI is another tool.

Even my wife, a retired librarian, does not always call me a writer.

I tell her I am a creator managing the writing process.

My voice, my decisions, and my standards shape the story. The tool helps, but it does not replace the person behind it.

That Mother’s Day poem was not perfect.

But it was real.

And it showed me that words, even with help, can still matter.

My hope is that readers engage with and enjoy the Steel and Honor series. I hope they learn from it and feel the human side of history.

And to all mothers:

Happy Mother’s Day.