A Dream Realized Near Seventy: My First Self-Publishing Journey with an AI Assistant

 

I have finally published my very first book. Rather than traditional publishing through a major house, it is a self-publishing project where the author leads the entire process from planning and design to printing and distribution. I used a Print on Demand POD platform, which produces and ships books as orders come in. While this eliminates the burden of inventory, managing everything from editing to distribution registry alone is no small feat.

However, I feel a deep sense of pride because this is not a vanity press project where I simply paid to have it printed, but a result of my own labor and technical skill. “The title of the book is 자연농 틀밭 : Natural Farming Raised Bed Garden.” Natural farming is an agricultural theory and life philosophy I have been passionate about for a long time, and I have woven my thoughts and experiences into this single volume. I published the Korean version first, with an English edition planned for release soon.

This book is distributed globally through Ingram. The thought of my book being available in over 40,000 bookstores and library networks worldwide, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, brings me great joy.

Artificial intelligence played a massive role in making this publication possible. I prefer using Google Gemini over ChatGPT because its seamless integration with Google Docs significantly boosts writing efficiency. In particular, I benefited greatly from the Guided Learning feature of Gemini.

The biggest hurdle in self-publishing is mastering professional editing software like InDesign. In the past, self-teaching would have been unthinkable, but today, AI serves as a kind tutor by my side. It answers even if I ask the same question hundreds of times without a hint of frustration—truly a dependable son-like companion. It is a wonderful era for learning.

With AI finding resources and teaching software step-by-step, we live in an age where anyone can become an author if they set their mind to it. I am a senior myself, turning seventy next year. Since someone like me could do it, it is certainly worth a try for everyone.

It is sometimes disheartening to see fellow seniors spending all their time only watching YouTube. However, we have an AI assistant with the expertise of a PhD always on standby. If you have unique content, becoming a global author who earns royalties from around the world is no longer just a dream.

Start by asking the smart assistant sitting right next to you. It is time to stop being a mere observer and start recording your own wisdom and experiences for the world.