How are generative and agentic AI technologies impacting the romance publishing industry? What are authors doing to make use of these technologies or to avoid them? How do readers feel about the adoption of these technologies? How do these technologies influence industry practices, such as acquisitions and marketing, and what policies have publishers set about authors’ use of AI tools? These are some of the fundamental questions Bridget is exploring in a new research project.
Phase 1: Survey of readers’ attitudes toward generative AI use (summer 2025)
This phase has now been completed. Initial research findings are currently under peer review for future publication.
Phase 2: Interviews with both authors who use and authors who refuse AI tools (currently active, Oakland University IRB-FY2026-397)
The purpose of this study: The purpose of this research study is to learn more about romance authors’ attitudes toward and uses of generative and agentic AI. The results will be used for academic research and publications related to the romance industry and AI.
Who can participate: Anyone who is an adult over the age of 18 and is a romance author who has published at least one book or intends to publish at least one book in the future. Both authors who use AI tools and those who don’t are being recruited to participate in this study.
What to expect: You’ll be sent an information sheet with important details about the study that you should read before your interview. You can also download the information sheet here:
Apart from that, you don’t need to prepare anything else in advance. I may record our conversation, but only for my notes. You can ask me to stop recording at any time, and you can turn your video off at any time.
What you’ll be asked: The interview should take about half an hour. You’ll be asked some questions about how you do or don’t use AI in your pre-writing, writing, editing, and sales/marketing practices. You’ll also be asked about your attitudes toward AI generally and its specific use in the romance industry. You can tell me you want to skip any question you don’t want to answer.
When will this happen: Interviews will take place from June 29-August 8. I’ve set up a list of appointment times that try to account for different time zones. Each appointment time is half an hour.
Select an appointment time here
What if you can’t make it: If you’re willing to participate but none of the appointment times work for you, or if you prefer not to meet over Zoom, you can email and let me know. I can send you the list of interview questions, and you can email them back to me with your answers.
Risks to participants: For this study, the potential risks are minimal. Personal information about your writing habits and attitudes will be asked, and notes will be taken by the interviewer. When the results of this researched are published, parts of your interview may be quoted or referenced. You will be asked in your interview if you want to have a fictional name assigned to you or if it’s okay to use your legal or pen name when quoting or referencing your responses. You will also be asked if it’s okay to make a video recording of the interview. You can say no or, if you say yes, have your camera off. The recording will be stored in the Zoom cloud and only be accessed by the researcher. It will automatically be deleted after 120 days.
Benefits to participants: Although there may be no direct benefits to you, the results of this study may benefit others in the future.
Compensation: You will not receive anything for participating in this study (except the researcher’s gratitude!). Sorry, but this project has no external or university funding.
Contact information: If you’d like more information or have questions, you can contact the researcher, Prof. Bridget Kies at Oakland University. For questions regarding your rights as a participant in human subject research, you may contact the Oakland University Institutional Review Board, 248-370-4898.
BRIDGET KIES 