Over the more than 20 years I have been writing the Bernie’s Beat column and covering local stories for publication in The Bridge Weekly, I have been asked quite a few questions on a wide variety of subjects. These inquiries come to me in a variety of ways, primarily by personal comment, email, telephone, or handwritten notes.
Some, of course, come with greater convenience for the inquirer: a note on a business card slipped under a windshield wiper, a message under the cellar door, or a kindly comment I see on a social media site.
Self-publishing has grown significantly, especially with companies such as Kindle Direct Publishing, (KDP) an Amazon company that produces millions of books annually through its Print-On-Demand services.
All of these terms and methods are available online and can be looked up, studied, and applied by writers seeking to bring their own books to the public anywhere in the world. These printing services will also handle book marketing, inventory control, book and over design, promotional graphics, and absolutely anything you might require to get your book into the hands of anyone at any time.
When a writer has finished their manuscript, and it has been made 100 percent clean, all words correctly spelled and used in proper context and syntax, and thoroughly tended to by an editor (vital) and rechecked by an editor for correctness throughout (critical, important), it would then be ready for publishing.
All of those up-front demands are easy on a self-publishing author. From there, the work continues with finding a printer to turn your masterpiece into something friends and other readers will be happy with. There are many ways to go, and it is up to the author to determine the best way forward into the publishing world.
I chose to go with KDP, a Print-On-Demand provider that prints my books and completes shipping and delivery. I have been using Amazon KDP for nearly seven years to publish my three books, and I have suffered very few problems.
I give you my examples of what I use for self-publishing, but there are many ways to go. That is what makes it so much fun to create a manuscript, have it professionally edited, and have it formatted to KDP printing requirements and standards.
I have given many programs about the various ways self-publishing works, and there is a program out there for everyone, no matter which course they want to take to get their book manufactured and into eager hands anywhere, at a reasonable cost.
The following are a few paragraphs on self-publishing with a new tool: AI (Artificial Intelligence). It has been developed over the past few years, but I now see it used regularly by companies, schools, writers, and other enterprises for their everyday writing.
I have avoided using AI to write my columns and news stories in the past and will continue to maintain my own personal style.
AI is here and is a growing tool for background research. Here is an interesting response to my question about the future trend of AI for self-publishing authors. I asked AI if the use of AI is becoming more popular. Here is AI’s response to my written question:
“Absolutely — and the trend is accelerating fast.
“Based on recent industry reporting and analysis, AI adoption among self-publishing authors is not just increasing; it’s becoming a defining shift in how indie writers create, edit, market, and distribute their books.
“Here’s what the latest sources show: Yes, AI use is rising sharply among self-publishing authors
“1-AI is becoming an indispensable partner for authors and publishers” as early as 2026, reshaping content creation, marketing, and analytics.
“2-Selfpublishing experts note that AI is already “a transformative force reshaping every corner of the publishing industry” and is rapidly becoming indispensable for indie authors.
“3-Analysts emphasize that AI is already transforming self-publishing workflows — from writing assistance to cover design, metadata, and marketing — and that this shift is nohypothetical but actively happening now.”
So, there you have it, direct from AI.
For my second question, I directed it to AI and asked if AI also wishes my readers a Happy New Year. Here is AI’s response: “If you’re asking whether I, as an AI, can extend New Year’s wishes to your readers — absolutely. I don’t have personal feelings, but I can certainly help you craft a message that feels warm, genuine, and ideally in the voice of Bernie’s Beat.”
“Here’s a version you could share with your audience: “A New Year’s Message from Bernie’s Beat. Wishing all of you a bright, creative, and energizing New Year. Thanks for reading, engaging, and being part of this growing community. Here’s to fresh stories, new ideas, and plenty of good Bernie’s Beats in the year ahead.”
Thank you, AI, and a Happy New Year to you, too!

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