Notebook LM Week 10: Penny Dreadfuls: Victorian Britain's Sensational Serial Literature

This past week has been a deep dive into music, mythology, and the evolution of creativity. As I continued developing Valhalla, my heavy metal album under Wrecked and Ready, I found myself reflecting on what it truly means to be a musician in the age of AI. At the same time, I embarked on a long and tedious search for my Josephine Marlin manuscript, which had been misplaced, delaying my editing progress. Between producing new music, debating the ever-evolving role of AI in artistry, and rediscovering my lost work, this week was a whirlwind of challenges, creativity, and triumphs.

Monday, March 1st – Laying the Foundations for Music and Writing

The week started with an introspective look at my creative process. I spent time refining my Valhalla album, carefully curating its themes to reflect Norse mythology and the battle-hardened souls destined for Odin’s halls. Each song in the album represents a part of a warrior’s journey, from their final moments on the battlefield to their ascension into Valhalla.

As I worked on Valhalla, I also revisited my Cassidy and the Castoffs album, Revolution. This project, tied closely to my urban fantasy storytelling, allows me to weave my music and writing into a shared creative universe. Balancing both projects has been exhilarating, ensuring that each track tells a vivid and immersive story.

Tuesday, March 2nd – Lost and Found: The Search for Josephine Marlin

Today was spent on a mission to find a lost manuscript. My Josephine Marlin trilogy, a foundational part of my literary universe, had somehow disappeared within the depths of my files. It’s a story that has evolved over the years, and with my 2026 novel release schedule in place, I needed the manuscript to begin the extensive editing process.

For hours, I sifted through external drives, cloud storage, and old backups, retracing my steps to locate the missing work. The frustration of losing something so significant was overwhelming, but it reminded me of the importance of organizing creative assets. Writing isn’t just about creating; it’s about managing years of work to ensure it’s accessible when needed.

After what felt like an endless search, I finally found the manuscript. Relief washed over me as I opened the document, knowing that editing could finally begin. The next step is to refine Josephine Marlin into a polished, immersive novel, setting the stage for the broader interconnected stories within my fantasy universe.

Wednesday, March 3rd – The Role of AI in Music & Artistic Evolution

As I continued producing Valhalla, I found myself reflecting on the ongoing debate surrounding AI in music. This week, I delved deeper into what it means to be a "traditional musician" in a digital era, especially as AI-generated music becomes more sophisticated.

The argument mirrors the early 2000s indie author movement and the Penny Dreadful era, where new technology and independent publishing disrupted traditional industries. AI is now causing a similar shift in music, sparking questions about authenticity, artistry, and industry evolution.

I’ve always believed that AI should be a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. While I use AI-assisted platforms like Suno to enhance production quality, the soul of the music remains deeply personal. The melody, lyrics, and thematic storytelling are shaped by my own experiences and artistic choices, ensuring that AI complements rather than dictates the final product.

This week, I explored how AI can be a collaborator rather than a competitor, much like how modern recording technology revolutionized the way we make music. Every era of creative evolution has been met with resistance, and this moment is no different.

📌 Read more about the Penny Dreadful movement: Wikipedia link

Thursday, March 4th – Producing Hall of the Slain & Expanding Valhalla

With my reflections on AI still fresh in my mind, I returned to music production, focusing on finalizing a key track for Valhalla. Hall of the Slain is an intense, warrior’s hymn, embodying the chaos, honor, and triumph of battle. This track will be released on March 10, marking another milestone in the album’s rollout.

🎶 Upcoming Valhalla Release Schedule:
📌 Hall of the Slain – March 10
📌 Battle Cry – March 18
📌 The Allfather’s Feast – March 25

Each song is carefully crafted to immerse listeners in Norse mythology, using heavy metal’s raw intensity to capture the power of Viking legends. As I continued refining the album, I worked on balancing historical inspiration with creative interpretation, ensuring the album feels both authentic and uniquely my own.

Friday, March 5th – Call to the Valkyries and the Future of Music

To wrap up the week, I revisited one of my recent releases, Call to the Valkyries, which launched on February 27. This track represents the moment a fallen warrior is chosen by the Valkyries, carried into Odin’s golden halls to feast for eternity.

🎸 Lyrics (excerpt) from Call to the Valkyries
🔥 Ride with the Valkyries, take to the sky,
🔥 Glory is waiting, we’ll never die!
🔥 Odin is calling, the chosen must rise,
🔥 Into Valhalla, through burning skies!

🔗 Listen to Call to the Valkyries: YouTube Link

This song embodies the spirit of Valhalla, using heavy guitar riffs, warlike drums, and mythological storytelling to bring the legend to life.

As I move forward, my focus remains on blending mythology, music, and storytelling into a cohesive artistic journey. The week was a reminder that creativity is constantly evolving, and whether through writing, music, or AI-assisted production, the heart of the work remains uniquely my own.

Reflections on Creativity and AI Integration

This week reinforced the delicate balance between human artistry and technological assistance. AI can enhance creativity, but it cannot replicate the emotional depth, personal experiences, or instinctual decision-making that make art truly meaningful.

As I move forward, my creative priorities are:
📌 Editing and refining my novels for 2026 publication.
📌 Continuing the rollout of Valhalla tracks to bring Norse mythology to life.
📌 Releasing more songs from Revolution under Cassidy and the Castoffs.
📌 Exploring AI’s potential in music without compromising artistic integrity.

Creativity is about pushing boundaries, and while AI offers new possibilities, it is human intuition that gives art its soul.