- South African author and entrepreneur Coral Hart reportedly generated about US$1 million (approximately KSh 145 million) in royalties and sales in less than a year through AI-assisted romance publishing
- She published more than 370 books under 21 pseudonyms, combining multiple artificial intelligence tools with detailed story planning and human editing
- After losing ghostwriting contracts to automated writing tools, Hart developed a publishing workflow and launched PlotProse, a training platform aimed at helping other independent authors adopt technology-assisted writing methods
A South African writer and entrepreneur known by the pen name Coral Hart has reportedly built a large-scale romance publishing operation after losing ghostwriting contracts to a publishing house that turned to automated writing tools.
Source: Instagram
Rather than leave the industry, Hart decided to learn how the technology worked and use it to increase her own publishing output.
Her approach reportedly resulted in more than 370 romance books published under 21 different pseudonyms, generating approximately US$1 million (KSh 145 million) in royalties and sales in under a year.
The reported achievement highlights how some independent authors are combining creative expertise with artificial intelligence (AI) tools to produce books for international markets.
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How Coral Hart built her AI-assisted publishing system
Hart's approach goes beyond asking an AI tool to generate an entire book. Instead, she developed a structured workflow that combines story planning, specialised AI platforms and human editorial oversight.
According to the report, she uses different tools for specific writing tasks. One assists with dialogue, another helps with plot development and pacing, while a third supports the creation of descriptive romantic scenes.
Before generating a manuscript, Hart prepares detailed story outlines, develops character profiles and establishes the tone of the book. These preparations provide the AI tools with a clear framework to follow.
She has also highlighted the limitations of relying entirely on large language models, explaining that they can produce weak writing when given little direction.
By developing chapter-by-chapter outlines, she can use AI to produce manuscript drafts more efficiently while maintaining control over the story's direction.
Human editors remain part of the publishing process
Although AI plays a significant role in Hart's production system, the initial draft is not treated as a finished book.
Her workflow includes multiple rounds of structural editing with digital tools, followed by human editorial review.
Editors refine awkward sentences, remove repetitive passages and improve sections that sound mechanical or lack a natural voice.
This process is intended to make the finished manuscripts more readable while preserving the characters, tone and storytelling elements expected by romance readers.
Hart's approach demonstrates how AI can serve as a production tool rather than a complete replacement for the planning, judgement and editorial decisions involved in publishing fiction as reported by Briefly News.
From romance books to international bestseller lists
Hart's publishing strategy reportedly delivered results beyond the volume of books released.
One of her titles reached international bestseller lists, a milestone that can increase an author's visibility in competitive digital book markets.
Publishing under multiple pseudonyms also allows authors to separate different writing identities or market distinct types of stories. However, maintaining numerous pen names requires consistent branding, audience management and quality control.
Hart's reported sales and publishing output have drawn attention to the opportunities available to independent writers who use digital tools to expand their operations.
The figures are based on the reported account and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that other authors using similar methods will achieve comparable results.
Coral Hart launches PlotProse to train other authors
Building on her experience, Hart launched PlotProse, a training platform designed to help independent authors develop their own technology-assisted publishing workflows.
She is also developing dedicated software intended to support writers who want to produce books at scale without relying entirely on traditional publishing houses.
The initiative extends her work beyond writing and publishing her own books, positioning her to share the methods she developed with other authors exploring AI-assisted production.
Her experience illustrates how changes in publishing technology can create both challenges and opportunities for writers. For Hart, the loss of ghostwriting contracts reportedly prompted a shift towards building her own publishing operation.
Her story also highlights the importance of combining technology with creative direction, editing and a clear understanding of readers when producing books for a global market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or professional advice. TUKO.co.ke does not provide financial advice. Readers should conduct their own research and seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions.
Source: TUKO.co.ke