Takeaways from the Brave New Bookshelf podcast for book authors
Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming tech — it’s reshaping storytelling itself. In the latest episode of Brave New Bookshelf, co-hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite sat down with the two co-founder of Authors A.I., Alessandra Torre and myself, to explore how AI can help authors craft better books and reach more readers. The conversation centered on Marlowe 3, our groundbreaking AI-powered editor that’s changing the way writers prepare manuscripts for publication.
Whether you’re a debut author polishing your first draft or a seasoned novelist fine-tuning your next release, this episode offers valuable insights into how Marlowe can help you transform your manuscript into a page-turner that connects with readers.
The origin story: From The Bestseller Code to Marlowe
The story of Marlowe begins with Dr. Matthew Jockers, co-author of the influential book The Bestseller Code. His research examined what differentiates bestselling novels from the rest — the story patterns, pacing, and emotional arcs that keep readers hooked.
Building on that foundation, Lasica, Jockers and Torre launched Authors AI in 2020, at a time when few people associated AI with fiction. Their goal was to give authors the same kind of insight that publishers and data scientists use — but in a tool designed for creatives, not coders. Jockers took the code used to bestsellers in The Bestseller Code and transformed it into version one of Marlowe.
“Marlowe was built to show authors how their manuscripts stack up against the DNA of bestsellers,” Alessandra explained. “It’s like having a developmental editor who’s read a million books — and remembers every one of them.”
What Marlowe does (and doesn’t do)
Unlike tools that try to write for you, Marlowe’s mission is to help you write better fiction. Authors upload their manuscript, and in less than 15 minutes, Marlowe generates a detailed developmental report that covers:
- Story structure and pacing — with visual graphs showing the highs and lows of your narrative arc.
- Character development — identifying where protagonists lack motivation or consistency.
- Tone and emotion — analyzing whether your story maintains the right mood for its genre.
- Comparative insights — benchmarking your manuscript against bestsellers in your category.
“Marlowe is trained to be critical, but not cruel,” I pointed out during the episode. “It gives actionable feedback — not vague praise or harsh judgment.”
That objectivity is one of Marlowe’s biggest advantages. It doesn’t have human bias or favorite genres. Whether you write cozy mysteries or space operas, Marlowe reads your work through a consistent lens: story mechanics and reader engagement.
Real authors, real results
Both podcast hosts, Steph and Danica, tested Marlowe on their own manuscripts — and found the results eye-opening.
Steph uploaded one of her already published novels, curious to see what the AI would catch. “It nailed all the things that were wrong with that book,” she said with a laugh. “It found positives, too, but it didn’t sugarcoat the problems. That honesty is refreshing.”
Danica, meanwhile, ran a novella she was expanding into a full-length novel. “Other tools gave me generalities,” she said. “Marlowe gave me specifics. It told me where and why readers weren’t connecting with my hero.”
Steph and Danica underscored one key feature of Marlowe: It’s a guide, not a dictator. Writers remain in control. If the AI flags something that feels wrong to change — such as a bad decision that’s actually part of a character’s arc — it’s up to the author to decide whether to follow or override that advice.
As Steph put it, “You’re still the human in charge. AI can point out logical inconsistencies, but only you can decide what makes your story human.”
Why authors love the data
One reason authors are embracing tools like Marlowe is that data cuts through emotion. Human editors may say, “I didn’t connect with this character,” but can’t always articulate why. Marlowe can. It measures dialogue balance, action-reaction rhythm, and internal versus external conflict — the tangible elements that create emotional resonance.
“AI doesn’t feel that something’s off,” Danica said. “It knows exactly what’s off — and shows you exactly how to fix it.”
That makes Marlowe especially powerful for authors seeking to improve their craft without spending thousands on multiple editorial passes. The visual charts also make abstract concepts like pacing easier to grasp — and fun to explore.
Designed by authors, for authors
Marlowe’s creators understand writers’ needs because they’re authors themselves. Alessandra writes domestic suspense from her home in the Florida Keys, while I write high-tech action thrillers from my base in Puerto Rico. Our team of authors and data scientists have spent years refining Marlowe based on feedback from professional editors and thousands of writers.
A typical Marlowe report takes about 10 to 15 minutes to generate, depending on manuscript length. It accepts .docx and .epub files and provides results through an interactive dashboard. The analysis works best for fiction — from short stories to full-length novels — though some authors also use it to evaluate narrative nonfiction.
The platform offers two report modes:
- Debut author mode, which explains core storytelling principles like inciting incidents and midpoint reversals.
- Experienced author mode, which skips the basics and dives straight into high-level analysis.
As I mentioned to the group, “I wish I had Marlowe when I was starting out. It’s like having twenty craft books condensed into one tool.”
Complementary tools in the authors’ toolkit
Beyond Marlowe, Alessandra and I cited other AI tools to streamline the creative process:
- ChatGPT and Claude for brainstorming, outlining, and refining blurbs.
- Otter for dictation and transcription while walking or traveling.
- ElevenLabs for generating audiobook versions of their novels.
- Freepik and Ideogram for creating marketing visuals and social media content.
The key, they stressed, is using AI to solve real pain points — not to replace creativity. Alessandra uses ChatGPT to look up details like “what’s blooming in Pasadena in April” or “five outfit options for a California mom in February,” keeping her focused on storytelling rather than Internet rabbit holes.
Final takeaways
The bottom line of this Brave New Bookshelf episode was straightforward: AI isn’t here to replace authors — it’s here to empower them. Tools like Marlowe can help writers uncover hidden weaknesses, strengthen their storytelling, and approach publication with confidence.
I put it this way: “We’ve always believed authors should be at the center of the equation. AI just gives them better tools to do what they do best — tell amazing stories.”
If you’re ready to take your manuscript to the next level, now’s the perfect time to meet Marlowe — your smart, tireless, and completely unbiased editorial partner. And if you listen to the end of the podcast episode, you’ll hear a coupon code mentioned for even further savings.
