AI Usage Statement

This statement describes how AI tools were and were not used in creating Calling Out the Shadows, both the book and the audiobook. It is taken word for word from the note printed in the book.

Note on AI and writing tools

This book was written by the author through human drafting and revision between July 15, 2025, and March 12, 2026, over approximately 837 hours of focused writing time. From February 16 to March 12, 2026, the manuscript was edited in collaboration with one additional reader and a series of grammar, formatting, and AI editing programs, for roughly 162 hours of concentrated editorial work. Those programs were used only for grammatical editing, proofreading, and consistency checks, not to generate creative scenes, characters, or chapters. All narrative content, interpretations, and decisions about wording remain the author’s own.

The audiobook was recorded by the author over eleven days, from Saturday, March 21, 2026, through Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Stewarding Springs Casita. Recording time totaled 51 hours and 33 minutes across many takes to reach the flow, tone, and emphasis he thought the book should carry.

Post-production was handled by an audio and mastering engineer. EQ, compression, a noise gate, and a limiter were added during that process. Final mixing and mastering followed, bringing the recording to the technical standards required for audiobook distribution. Some AI tools were used by the engineer to reduce pops, lessen extended spaces, cut louder breaths, and remove any additional background noises.

No words were generated, replaced, or scripted by artificial intelligence. What you hear is the author’s voice, reading his own words.

Last reviewed: June 2026.