How I Wrote and Published an AI Book in 90 Days

Hello there,

I missed you last week.

The super flu tagged me last week and said - Your Turn. I was sick enough that I physically lost my voice, and recovery took longer than I expected. When you work largely on your own, there is no real backup plan. Champ is excellent company, but he is not great at writing newsletters, consulting calls, or book logistics.

It was a needed reminder. When you are not well, nothing moves. And pushing through does not actually help. After many years in corporate environments where momentum often matters more than health, I still have to relearn that lesson and allow myself to rest.

**This week, I want to talk about libraries.**

If you use your local library, either in person or through an online checkout system, I have one important ask.

**Please request my book.**

Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI Author: Wanjiku Kamau Publisher: TealVoice ISBN: 979-8993162607

Library systems are largely demand driven. As a self published author, there is only so much I can do on my own. What truly moves the needle is readers requesting the book through their local libraries.

This is not about sales. This is about access.

Libraries take months, not weeks, to evaluate and acquire titles. Requests matter more than marketing. And right now, I am starting close to home with the New York Public Library, but many of you live across the United States. Your requests help this book reach people who may never buy it, but may need it.

**Here is something I learned too late.**

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States. It preserves books as part of the historical record and supports research, scholarship, and cultural memory. For authors, submitting a book there helps ensure it is formally archived and discoverable long term.

The catch is this: The submission process is designed to happen before publication, alongside copyright registration.

I learned this after my book was already published.

Consider this a note to future authors and a note to myself before Book Two. There is an entire ecosystem behind books that most of us only learn by missing a step. I am adding this one to my permanent checklist.

If you have already read the book, writing a review on Goodreads or Amazon remains one of the best ways to help it reach new readers.

Wanjiku

Happy Tuesday from a rainy/snowy NYC!

I have started offering autograph copies of the book. Thank you to everyone who has already ordered one. I created a small system at home that includes a label printer and media mail setup so I can ship quickly across the forty-eight continental states. I am still working on a solution for international readers and will share more once that is in place.

I also want to share a new partnership. I have teamed up with Acutrack. They will handle the book fulfillment for TikTok Shop. For anyone who has not heard of Bookstagram or BookTok, these are communities of readers who share, recommend, and move books in very real ways. I have not done any formal advertising to date. Everything has been word of mouth from this community. My hope is to reach a larger audience by meeting readers where they already gather. Acutrack will manage the shipping so I can focus on showing up in those spaces.

For those who purchased through Amazon, a gentle reminder. If you have a moment, please consider leaving a review. Verified reviews make a meaningful difference in how the book is recommended to new readers. If you are open to it, I would also appreciate a review on Goodreads.

A quick update on Book Two. Many of you have asked what I am thinking about and where I am headed. I am still in the concept phase. I have been recording voice notes and scribbling ideas across multiple pages. I might have about ten thousand words if I ever decided to put them in one place. The theme keeps coming back to one question I hear often: How did I write a book in ninety days? I have zero plans to repeat that sprint. It was intense. But it taught me a lot. There may be value in sharing the process so others can find their own path.

Wanjiku

Hello from the west coast,

Over the past two weeks, I have been asked one question more than any other. How am I defining success for this book?

It is a fair question, especially because publishing has its own quiet scoreboard that most people never see.

Before I get into that, a small personal update. Many of you have asked about my niece, Elle. She is seven months old and doing great. I spent Sunday with her for a small baby dedication. It was one of those gentle days that reminds you why all of this matters.

Now, back to success.

**The old scoreboard**

Traditional publishing measures success almost entirely through BookScan. Think of it as the Nielsen ratings of print books. Only print. Not ebooks, audiobooks or subscription reads.

If you ever want a shot at hitting a bestseller list, your print numbers need to land in one concentrated week. In most categories that means somewhere between five thousand and ten thousand print copies. It is a high bar, and it does not tell the full story.

**The new scoreboard**

Independent authors live across every format and every platform. Here is a snapshot of where the book is today: - Goodreads: fifteen written reviews and seventeen total ratings - Amazon: thirteen reviews - Barnes and Noble: one review - Bookbub: four reviews - Google Play: one review

Most people do not realize how central Amazon is to the book world. More than half of all print books bought in the United States flow through Amazon, and the share is even higher for ebooks. That is why your reviews there matter. They genuinely help readers find stories they might not have discovered otherwise.

If you have finished the book, a gentle nudge. Please add your review on Amazon and Goodreads. Verified purchase is not required. Your words help more than you know.

Wanjiku

Hey there, it's Wanjiku.

Last week felt like a sprint. This week felt like... wearing ten hats at once while still trying to enjoy the afterglow of everything that just happened. People keep asking if things have slowed down. They have not. Not even close.

After all the events from last week, I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with friends, just letting myself soak it all in. But underneath all that joy was a very real question that kept coming up: what now?

A few answers showed up faster than I expected.

**The audiobook** is finally on Audible as of yesterday. That took longer than I imagined. It also landed on Spotify last Friday. InAudio and library access is still in progress. Every format has its own process, timeline, and approvals, and I am learning each one in real time.

**Distribution is its own journey.** Someone in New Zealand is still trying to get the paperback. Meanwhile it is popping up in Australia and Finland. So I am working through that too. Some days I am the author. Some days I am the publisher. Some days I am operations, distribution, social media, or marketing. All of it matters.

The best part of the week has been the feedback. Readers finishing the book. People telling me the Times Square Test stuck with them. Others tell me they laughed, or cried, or saw their own story somewhere inside mine. Several people, including a few who were laid off this year, said the book pushed them to try something new instead of waiting for the perfect moment. That feels like a real win.

**For 72 hours straight we were number six in our category on Amazon.** Pretty wild for a first-time independent author.

Goodreads reviews keep coming in, the most powerful way to help this book travel is to leave a review. Goodreads. Amazon. BookBub. Your words matter more than you think.

Even though launch week is over, event mode is not slowing down. Friends in Arizona are helping me find a venue for a reading later this year. I'm walking into local bookstores here in New York, introducing myself, carrying copies in my tote like a true independent author, building relationships one conversation at a time. The Marie Claire UK feature dropped last week too, which was perfect timing and is now on my LinkedIn.

If Week 11 was launch day, Week 12 has been learning to live in what comes after.

Wanjiku

Hey there, it's Wanjiku.

I'd love to tell you I'm writing this from my desk with a warm cup of chai in hand. In reality, I'm back in bed after walking Champ, typing this between sips of my second can of Coke Zero. Real life, right?

Last night was unforgettable. We packed the room at Stonewall, sold every single hardcover (note to self: people love hardcovers), and shared a night that felt more like a reunion than a reading. Standing on that stage reading my own words out loud was nerve-wracking and freeing all at once.

To everyone who came, cheered from afar, or posted a Goodreads review—thank you. We're already at 12 reviews and counting. If you've read even a chapter, I'd love your thoughts. Honest reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, or BookBub help this story reach new readers. (It's #37 in Computer and Technology Biographies)

If you missed it, check out Making Friends with AI Book on Instagram—clips from the launch are up now, and they'll live in the highlights too.

**Today marks the official release across all formats:**

• Hardcover, Paperback & eBook: Amazon • Paperback & eBook: Barnes & Noble • Audiobook: Google Play • Everywhere else: Apple Books, Kobo, Bookshop.org, and Books.by

This journey was never about selling books. It started on August 10 with a 90-day goal to invest in myself and finish something that scared me. Mission accomplished.

**There are 50 days left in the year.** What's one thing you've been avoiding that might change your trajectory if you just leaned in? Tell me—I'd love to know.

P.S. My one ask this week: if the book speaks to you, don't buy another copy for yourself—buy it for someone else. Someone who might need a little courage, who's been afraid to start, or who just needs a reminder that it's never too late to try.

Wanjiku

Hello there,

We made it. One week to launch.

The audiobook is officially complete and uploaded across platforms, joining the paperback, hardcover, and ebook. On Tuesday, November 11, "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI" will be available everywhere.

Hearing the full recording for the first time—after all those hours in the booth—was surreal. It made this project feel whole.

Behind the scenes, my week has been a mix of late-night tweaks, finalizing bookmarkers, confirming inventory, and slowly realizing this is really happening. For those in New York, I'll be celebrating with a gathering on Monday, November 10 at 6 p.m.—an in person book reading before the big release day.

Meanwhile, early reviews from ARC readers are starting to appear on Goodreads, and reading their words has been both humbling and energizing.

**A quick reflection on launch strategy**

One thing I've learned through this process is that launching a book isn't one size fits all. Your approach depends on your goal.

If your focus is sales and charts, you'll want to track BookScan and concentrate on driving volume in one big week.

If your goal is discoverability, it's about visibility across platforms and formats.

And if, like me, part of your goal is giving back, there's meaning in choosing distribution partners that share your values. I'm working with Books.by so a portion of each purchase supports my local bookstore—small gestures that matter.

Publishing teaches patience. It's less about instant gratification and more about setting up the right pathways for the story to travel.

**What's next**

This week, I'll be reaching out to a few of you to help amplify the launch—whether that's posting on social media, sharing the book with your circles, or simply forwarding this email. Every share helps this story find new readers.

And in case you missed it, I've been experimenting on Pinterest—turns out it's less social media, more search engine for book discovery.

Wanjiku

Hello there,

This week was all about the audiobook—and the irony of temporarily losing my voice.

Tuesday: Day 1 in the studio went beautifully. Then by Wednesday morning, my voice turned into a rasp that sounded like I'd swallowed a frog. Rather than record through it, I took two days off to rest and handle the mountain of behind-the-scenes admin that comes with book distribution.

What I learned: every platform has its own quirks. Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play Books each want different file formats, financial verifications, and bank-account checks before a title can go live. Some take twenty-four hours, others up to two weeks. It's a reminder that publishing is rarely "one click and done."

The good news: the book is now visible on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play Books. I'm not steering anyone there yet—this is just a quiet milestone worth celebrating. Yippee!

Meanwhile, I've started researching audiobook distribution. ACX (Audible's platform) is the best-known, though Spotify and others have new options that are catching up fast.

And on Friday, my voice came back. I headed straight to the studio and recorded the final chapters. The first cuts are in, and I'll be reviewing them over the next 24 hours with a few trusted ears. For everyone waiting on the audiobook: it's coming soon, and it's been far more emotional than I ever imagined. Reading those vulnerable passages out loud, in a soundproof booth, took the wind right out of me.

To end the week on a bright note, I had a full-circle moment: I saw Shonda Rhimes and Robin Roberts live at 92Y in Manhattan. Robin moderated a conversation celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Shonda's book "Year of Yes." Pure inspiration.

Wanjiku

Hey there, it's Wanjiku.

Every week this journey surprises me, but this one felt special. Somewhere between sound checks, pumpkin carving, and the first author copy arriving at my door, the book truly started to feel alive.

**First, a giant thank-you.**

To everyone who has sent texts, mailed notes, gifts, and even presents for Champ, thank you. Some of you have already read early copies and shared thoughtful feedback. Others have introduced me to people in journalism, podcasting, or publishing, helping the book reach circles I could not reach on my own. Those connections matter more than you know. Every introduction helps this story find its next doorway, and I am endlessly grateful.

**Behind the scenes: the audiobook adventure.**

The recording journey started at home, then moved to a podcast studio, and finally to a professional studio after calling nearly a dozen across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Along the way, I learned that audiobook narration is its own art form. Thankfully, a friend connected me to their wife, a vocal coach who offered a crash course on projection and pacing. Today, Tuesday, October 21, I begin my first real recording session (walking over to the studio shortly). The team at this studio not only said yes but also worked with my budget and cheered on the project. When people believe in your story, doors open.

**A moment I will never forget.**

On Wednesday, after a long day of pre-launch work, a box arrived. Inside was my first author copy. I brought it with me to meet friends at our local for our annual pumpkin-carving night, and after the last candle was lit, I opened it in front of them. The room was full of laughter, carved pumpkins, and the faint scent of orange peel and whiskey in the air. Holding that book, with my name on the cover, was surreal. Did I sleep with it that night? Only Champ knows.

**What's next?**

Many of you have asked how you can support the launch. I created a single landing page called Making Friends with AI that lists easy ways to help, from marking the book as "Want to Read" on Goodreads to sharing early posts. I'll keep the page fresh with new updates as things evolve.

Each week, this project becomes less about me and more about all of us who are finding our way through change, creativity, and courage.

Wanjiku

Hello there and Happy Tuesday!

What a week. New York gave me the rain, and book life gave me the sunshine.

**The biggest update first: my book is now officially listed on Goodreads!!!**

If you already use Goodreads, it takes one click to mark "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm" as "Want to Read." If not, it's free to join, and it's one of the best ways to help authors before a book launches. Those early "want to read" clicks show interest, which helps the book appear in more readers' feeds and recommendations. Think of it as planting a small seed for this story to grow beyond us.

**Behind the scenes**

I learned more about typesetting than I ever thought I would. A typesetter turns a manuscript into real formats readers can hold or download. Because I have three versions—ebook, paperback, and hardcover—I needed three separate files, each with its own layout and dimensions. And yes, the audiobook version is already in the works.

In the middle of all that, I found a tiny typo: "cuddiest" instead of "cuddliest." One missing letter became a two-day learning curve, but I fixed it with a tool called Sigil for the ebook and Adobe Acrobat Pro for the print files. What felt like a setback turned into real progress.

And that progress paid off: the ebook is now up for preorder on Amazon. I'm not directing everyone there YET since pricing and rollout are still in motion, but it's surreal to type my own name into Amazon and see it pop up. I even picked up Champ to show him, but he could not be bothered.

**Join the BETA Reader Group**

Now that the book is live on Goodreads, I'm opening a very small round of Advance Reader Copies called the BETA group.

Only five spots are available. This round is meant for thoughtful early feedback and a short Goodreads review to help shape how the book meets its first readers.

If you'd like to be one of the five, please reply to this email.

Here's what it involves: 1. You'll receive a digital copy of the book from [email protected] 2. You'll have 1 week to read it. 3. When finished, you'll post a short review on Goodreads, and later on Amazon once the book goes live.

Your insight will help me understand how the story lands before it reaches the wider world. There will be more rounds of advance copies coming soon, but this first group is extra special.

Wanjiku

Hey — it's Wanjiku.

Hope you had a good weekend.

I slipped away to the beach for a few days. No city noise, no deadlines, even a short break from Champ. Just quiet time to reflect on this year and how far things have come. Being near water always resets me, it's where I remember to breathe again.

That calm came at the perfect moment, because this week I get to share something big: **the draft cover** for "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI."

Here's the truth: getting to this version was a journey. I worked with a few different designers, tried a handful of concepts, even ran some AI experiments—but nothing clicked. The ideas were competent, just not me.

Then one night, on a FaceTime call with friends on the West Coast, we started playing around with a few mock-ups. That moment sparked the direction I'd been missing. From there, I finally had a clear vision, something I could hand to a designer who really understood nonfiction and memoirs. Working with her has been a delight, and together we've landed on a design that feels alive.

It's not the final version yet. We're still fine-tuning—but this one stopped me in my tracks. It captures both the chaos and calm that have defined this journey.

I'd love to know your first impression. Does it feel like the book you've been following?

**Behind the scenes:**

• Proofreading wrapped. • Typesetting is underway. • I'm now learning how many tiny things go into "the final file."

**Five weeks to launch.**

Thanks for being here every week—especially through the messy middle.

With gratitude, Wanjiku

P.S. Hit reply and tell me what you think of this version. I really want to hear it.

Hello there,

If you've been following along these past few weeks, you know this book started as a personal project—me trying to figure out AI while sitting at an airport gate with my dog Champ, feeling completely lost about what came next in my career, post layoff.

This week, it became something bigger.

**We made it official.**

On Tuesday, a press release went out through the International Business Journal announcing "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI." Seeing my story—our story, really, since you've been part of this journey—show up in a business publication felt surreal.

It's one thing to tell your friends and family you're writing a book. It's another to see it in print, with a launch date and everything that makes it feel real.

**New here this week?**

Last week I shared an excerpt from Chapter 1: At the Gate—the opening scene where this whole journey began. If you missed it and want a taste of what's inside the book, just hit reply and let me know. I'll send it your way immediately.

**What else happened this week:**

The final rounds of proofreading are wrapping up. Every time I think we're done polishing, we find one more thing to smooth out. Books, it turns out, are like renovations—always one more detail.

The cover design is progressing. I can't share it yet (next week, I promise), but seeing the visual identity come together has been one of the most exciting parts of this process.

The typesetter will have the manuscript next and work their magic. Soon I'll see what the actual book pages look like—not just a Word document, but the real thing.

**Six weeks until launch.**

Mark your calendars: Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Thanks for being here every week. Your votes on the subtitle, your replies, your patience—it all matters more than you know.

Wanjiku

Hello there,

We have a winner. After weeks of back-and-forth, polls, and your votes, the subtitle is officially set:

**Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI.**

Thank you to everyone who weighed in—it really means a lot that this choice came from you.

For those of you just joining (and there are quite a few new faces this week, welcome!), here's the quick catch-up: this book started as my attempt to figure out what AI actually meant for someone who felt completely left out of the conversation. Four months ago, I couldn't explain a single acronym. Now, the manuscript is nearly finished, proofreading is underway, and the cover is in progress.

Behind the scenes, I've also been getting some legal eyes on the manuscript (turns out even books need lawyers), and polishing those final copy edits. It's been a whirlwind, but a good one.

Since you've patiently followed the journey, I want to give you a little taste of what's inside. Here's the very beginning of Chapter 1: At the Gate—where it all started, at the Sacramento airport with my dog Champ and a question I couldn't ignore: What's next?

*At the Sacramento airport gate, with the low hum of conversations and rolling luggage around us, it was just me and my dog, Champ, waiting for our flight home to New York. I'd just said goodbye to my family—including a kiss for my newborn niece, Elle—and now Champ curled up beside me, his head resting on my thigh, his tongue poking out the way it always does: calm, steady, content.*

*Airports didn't faze him; he could ride escalators and elevators like a pro. Butterflies, on the other hand, terrified him. Sitting there with him, it almost felt like he carried the calm I couldn't quite find for myself.*

*On paper, my career looked solid. Siemens. Intel. Google. An MBA. These companies had brought stability to an industry that rarely offers it. In just under four years at Google, I'd found myself in a world I couldn't have imagined—working with AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM that most people had never heard of, but somehow never really exploring what they could do for me personally.*

*My days were spent preparing endless presentations about data center strategy across regions—from Latin America to Europe—climbing the ladder, trying to make the case for resource allocation—and then never even making it into the room where decisions were made. The work was demanding but rewarding, until it wasn't.*

Seven weeks to launch. More to share soon, including a first look at the cover.

Thanks again for being here each week. I couldn't do this without you.

Wanjiku

P.S. If this opening made you curious, hit reply and let me know—your reactions keep me going.

Hello there,

It's me again with the Week 3 update. First, a huge thank you to everyone who has already voted in the subtitle poll. If you've voted, you're all set—no need to vote again.

For anyone who hasn't yet, I'm keeping the poll open just one more day so we can lock in the winner.

The choices are: • Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: One Person's Path with AI • Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI

Meanwhile, the editing process continues. Right now I'm in the copy/line editing phase before the final proofread, which means the manuscript is being sanded smooth page by page.

One of my editors described the book as "a brave, deeply human story about identity, reinvention, and the uneasy crossroads where ambition meets burnout." That line made me pause—it really does capture the heart of this project.

Please mark your calendar: the book officially launches on **Tuesday, November 11, 2025**.

Thanks again for being here each week. In the next update, I'll open the curtain on something new—maybe a chapter excerpt, maybe the first cover sketch.

Author in training, Wanjiku Kamau

P.S. Every vote helps. Think of it as your chance to leave fingerprints on the cover.

Hello there,

First things first, thank you again for being here. Knowing you're following along makes this whole process less overwhelming and a lot more fun. A few updates from this past week:

**The Subtitle Debate Continues**

I'm down to two options, and I'd love your input. Think of it as a mini book club, but instead of discussing the plot, you're helping decide what goes on the cover.

The choices are: • Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: One Person's Path with AI • Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI

**Editing Is Not What Hollywood Promised**

I always assumed a book went through "an editor"—like one person in a chic scarf who says a few brilliant things and voilà, it's done. Turns out, it takes a team.

• First came developmental editing (big picture, story structure). • Now it's with a copy editor (line by line polish). • Later comes proofreading (the final sweep).

Basically, it's like three different TV spin-offs I didn't know I'd signed up for.

**The Cover Journey**

I've been reaching out to cover designers, but finding the right fit within budget has been trickier than expected. While I keep searching, I've been experimenting with AI mock-ups to get a sense of visuals. It's giving me ideas I can eventually hand off to a professional designer.

**The Waiting Game**

Right now, the manuscript is sitting with my copy editor for the next week or two. So I'm in that awkward in-between space: equal parts patient and impatient.

Thanks again for being part of this ride. Every reply, vote, or little note back keeps me going.

Wanjiku

P.S. Books are better with company. Share the book waitlist with one friend who'd love to be "in the loop" too.

Hey there,

It's Wanjiku. Wednesday, September 3rd. Sitting at my desk with Kenyan chai that's gone cold, staring at different book titles wondering which one won't make people scroll past.

**What happened this week:** Got feedback from two developmental editors. Spent 72 hours over the weekend incorporating their notes. The book went from having bones to having muscles—still not done, but you can see the shape now.

**The title problem:** "Late to the Party: From Googling AI Jargon to Figuring it out for all of Us" wasn't working. People who didn't know me weren't picking it up. So I tested new options in WhatsApp groups (thanks to those who voted) and threw $9 a day at Meta ads targeting 35-64 year olds interested in books and AI.

**What I learned:** Titles either grab you in two seconds or they don't. There's no middle ground. My dog Champ's approach to new things is more reliable—he sniffs first, decides fast, then commits.

I've got the final two contenders. I'll share them next week once the data comes in from new polling. One is playful, one is direct. Curious which one you'll like better.

The book is starting to feel real. Not just an idea anymore. Here's a tiny peek at the table of contents so far: • At the Gate • Hi, ChatGPT • Spectacular Failures • Finding My Teachers

Just seeing those titles lined up gave me chills—like, oh wow, this is becoming a real book.

If you're on this waitlist, you're not just watching from the sidelines. You'll get first looks at chapter previews, the cover mock-ups, and maybe even the advance copy when it's ready.

Wanjiku

P.S. If you've ever tested a book title and have war stories, hit reply. I'm collecting data on what works and what doesn't.