This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the next wave of AI tools for authors, focusing on Fable and the rise of agentic AI. They explore how these new tools can ingest an author's entire backlist, create series bibles, analyse metadata, support developmental editing, and become long-term business assistants rather than simple chatbots. Along the way, they share updates on their own writing projects, discuss practical AI workflows, and look at how tools like ChatGPT's new Sites feature are rapidly changing what authors can build without coding.

Key Talking Points

• What is Fable and how does it differ from traditional AI chatbots?
• Agentic AI and why it's a game-changer for author businesses
• Building a series bible from an entire backlist
• Using AI for developmental editing and metadata optimisation
• Why authors should ingest their content while pricing remains low
• James shares how AI is helping him plot Book 5 without writing it for him
• Practical examples of AI organising story structure and chapter planning
• The real costs of AI-powered publishing workflows
• Creating AI "decision filters" to avoid shiny object syndrome and stay focused

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com
• Claude Fable 5: claude.ai - just open claude.ai (or the desktop/mobile app) and pick it from the model dropdown.
• Patreon: learnselfpublishing.com/support — where listeners can sign up for the Indie Writers Club Patreon (tiers: Quirky Friend $5/mo, Reliable Narrator $10/mo, Main Character $15/mo).
• https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?si=dGSQ65NIC9Y7EkEK
• https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/fable-download