08/25/2026
I recently added the above note to my books addressing my use of AI-assisted illustrations because I feel there is a lot of negativity surrounding AI, and sometimes the individual story behind its use gets lost.
I see AI for what it is: a tool. Can it be misused? Absolutely. But when used thoughtfully and responsibly, it can also help someone bring an idea to life that might otherwise never make it beyond the idea stage.
Without AI, my books would probably still be sitting on my computer.
For years, I tried different ways to bring these stories to life. I explored having relatives help with the illustrations, including my son, whose experiences helped inspire the books. I’m an artist myself, and there are several talented artists in my family. But being creative also means recognizing our limitations—whether those limitations are time, finances, availability, or simply finding the right person for a particular project.
As a single mom working full time, I didn’t have the financial resources to hire a professional illustrator for an entire book, nor did I have the time to create every illustration from scratch myself.
And these weren’t just any characters to me. These are our stories. 🥹🥰 These are our dogs. Roxy, Riley, and Otis are based on dogs we have loved, and I had a very specific vision of how their personalities and expressions should come through. I wasn’t willing to choose something that didn’t feel right simply for the sake of finishing a book.
I wish people weren’t so quick to assume that using AI means someone is lazy, untalented, or doesn’t value artists. Using AI does not erase creativity, ideas, effort, or artistic ability. I know firsthand how much time and talent go into drawing, painting, and creating artwork, and I have tremendous respect for those who do it.
AI simply became one of the tools that helped me finally turn the stories and characters I had carried in my head for years into something children could actually hold in their hands.
And ultimately, that is what matters most to me.
When a child opens one of my books, they aren’t thinking about what tools were used to create it. They’re connecting with the character. They’re laughing, learning, recognizing a feeling, or maybe realizing that someone else understands what they’re going through.
The story, the lessons, the feelings, and the connection—that’s what reaches hearts. And that has always been the point. ❤️🫶🏻
