My Writerly Self - Week 8: 2025 - Notebook LM: The End of a Project of Love
Abstract: A Week of Creative Evolution – Music, Storytelling, and AI Integration
From February 17th to 21st, 2025, I immersed myself in a week of artistic milestones, blending original songwriting, storytelling, and AI-assisted production. The highlight was completing my long-running episodic series, The Adventures of Millie and Sandra, a story that has grown into a vital part of my interconnected literary universe.
This week, I also finalized Rising from the Ashes – Part Two and Breaking the Surface – Part Three, part of my three-song series inspired by Lake of Tears. Using AI tools such as Suno V4 for sound refinement and Ideogram for album artwork, I balanced technology with creativity. However, AI's role remained an assistant rather than a creator—I was present at every step, shaping the final output through meticulous editing in Reaper and DaVinci Resolve.
Alongside music and fiction writing, I launched From Then to Now, a 12-part series chronicling my evolution as an artist and my relationship with AI in creative expression. This retrospective, hosted by AI-generated personas Larry and Louise via Notebook LM, provides insights into my artistic philosophy and the balance between human ingenuity and AI augmentation.
This journal reflects my continued journey in multi-platform storytelling, reaffirming my belief that while AI can enhance the creative process, the soul of the work remains undeniably human.
Polished Weekly Entries
Monday, 17th February – Rising from the Ashes
Today marked the release of Rising from the Ashes – Part Two of my Lake of Tears three-song series. This sultry jazz ballad tells a story of resilience and transformation, following a protagonist who rises stronger after devastation.
🎶 Rising from the Ashes is about reclaiming power from pain, turning loss into light. Every tear and every wound become a source of strength. Scarred but not broken, she rises—fierce and unbreakable.
Lyrics (excerpt):
🔥 Smoke and fire tried to take me, burned my skin, leaving scars so deep.
🔥 But in the embers, I found my freedom, in the wreckage, I learned who to lean on.
🔥 I'm rising from the ashes, the flames can’t hold me anymore.
The song, available on my YouTube channel, was refined using Reaper for final audio edits and Ideogram for its accompanying album artwork.
Tuesday, 18th February – A Familiar Tale
I set out to edit what I believed to be an unpublished episode of The Adventures of Millie and Sandra—only to realize halfway through that I had already released it. The déjà vu moment was amusing, but I was relieved to find a half-written new episode at the end of the document.
Though this unexpected discovery disrupted my initial workflow, it ultimately became an opportunity to expand the final book version of the series, incorporating fresh edits into the collected edition.
Wednesday, 19th February – Closing a Chapter
Today, as I edited what I thought would be the next installment of The Adventures of Millie and Sandra, I realized the episode naturally concluded the series.
Writing without a rigid outline, I hadn't anticipated the ending to emerge so soon, but the narrative had found its own resolution. Yet, the world of Millie and Sandra isn't truly over—I’ve left the door open for them to intersect with my Josephine Marlin, Sin-Eater, and Thealtic Verse universes.
In addition to this unexpected ending, I revised the chorus of This Little Bird, the first song in another coming-of-age music series:
🎵 Chorus Revision:
"This little bird, she’s falling slow, trying to fly, but in her sorrow, she lost… her lullaby."
I softened the language to make the song’s haunting tone more approachable while maintaining its emotional depth.
Later in the day, I launched From Then to Now, a deeply personal 12-part series documenting my creative journey. Part One—Who is Karen Eastland?—introduces my history in digital content creation, storytelling, and music, emphasizing my evolving relationship with AI in artistry.
📌 Watch the first episode on My Writerly Self.
Thursday, 20th February – A Pause for Reflection
Today was a rare day off—though my mind didn’t quite rest. Instead, I reflected on the order in which I plan to release my novels.
Since my books exist in a shared universe, some connections are subtle, while others are more intertwined. I aim to organize releases so that readers feel immersed without confusion. With that in mind, I decided to re-edit Josephine Marlin first, ensuring its foundation aligns with the broader multiverse I’ve built.
Friday, 21st February – Breaking the Surface
I stayed awake to see the release of Breaking the Surface – Part Three, the final installment in my Lake of Tears song trilogy. This concluding piece represents liberation, self-discovery, and finally stepping into the light after being submerged in pain.
🌊 Breaking the Surface is for those who have fought their way back from darkness. The waves that once held her down now propel her forward. She breathes freely, untethered by the weight of the past.
Lyrics (excerpt):
💙 Shadows whisper, pulling me down, echoes of the past, they surround.
💙 Breaking the surface, I fight to breathe, through the storm, through the grief.
💙 The weight of the world, it crushes my bones, but I’ll rise again, I’ll find my way home.
Listen to the full song here.
I also completed all images for the remaining From Then to Now episodes. Next week, I will finalize production and upload all 12 episodes.
To host this podcast, I’ve enlisted the help of Notebook LM, with AI hosts Larry and Louise narrating the series. Their presence adds an engaging, experimental element to this journey into AI-assisted artistry.
Reflections on Creativity and AI
This week reinforced the delicate balance between AI and human creativity. While AI assisted in refining album artwork, structuring lyrics, and generating podcast narration, the soul of each project remained my own. AI, in its current form, lacks the spontaneity, intuition, and emotional complexity of true artistic expression.
By integrating AI as a tool rather than a creator, I continue to push the boundaries of my work while ensuring that the human touch remains at its core. My stories, my music, and my artistic identity are all shaped by my vision—and no algorithm can replicate that.
As I move forward, I’ll carry these lessons into the next phase of my creative evolution. The journey continues, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.