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<h3>Book Reading in 2025: What the Data Tells Us and Why It Still Matters</h3>Let’s be honest. Most people tend to scroll more than they actually read, and our attention spans are under siege. But before we throw our books into the closest river, lake or sea, the global reading landscape in 2025 offers insights and some reasons for hope. As a researcher and indie publisher, I’ve been digging into global literacy and book consumption trends and the findings are essential for educators, content creators, policymakers, and parents alike. Here’s what we know.<figure id="figure-2llzk2fi3bmcm0ona3"><img id="2llzk2fi3bmcm0ona3" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/21xcN4tHHXzxnPlG2SliWSyN7Jq8u00jwYAgXd3oubeJXWUKY5esR10RslpHAlvA.jpeg" alt="2025 technology future vision" title="2025 technology future vision" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/21xcN4tHHXzxnPlG2SliWSyN7Jq8u00jwYAgXd3oubeJXWUKY5esR10RslpHAlvA.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Globally, 87% of adults are literate, up from just 68% in 1979 (UNESCO, 2024) and that’s no small win. But 754 million adults, two-thirds of them women, still don’t have basic literacy skills. In the US, only 48.5% of adults read even one book last year. One book and that’s down from 52.7% in 2019 (Mastermind Behavior, 2024) so a real cause for concern. Young people are dropping off even faster. Closer to home, just 18.7% of UK children read daily for pleasure, which, again, is a record low (National Literacy Trust, 2025).Interestingly (and perhaps crucially), research shows that 80% of those who do read say it brings them calm, connection and clarity (Everand, 2025). So, while fewer people may be reading, those who do are deeply nourished by it.<figure id="figure-5q0ceh3bjomcm0pjfz"><img id="5q0ceh3bjomcm0pjfz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/15EiSYKCdefU5ZU8mQpnVmX8sYlZzN7xOu72POblwF8PEeflA6WPSrhOCwAfZVhC.jpeg" alt="Young woman in lotus position on dock over lake" title="Young woman in lotus position on dock over lake" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/15EiSYKCdefU5ZU8mQpnVmX8sYlZzN7xOu72POblwF8PEeflA6WPSrhOCwAfZVhC.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>People aren't reading less because they can't. They're reading less because content has changed and so have the many platforms competing for our time. The behaviour isn't necessarily about laziness. It's about friction. But here's the upside: we're seeing a quiet, powerful shift. Communities like hashtag#BookTok and long-form newsletter culture are, slowly, pulling readers back in. Choice, voice and authenticity are driving a revival. And that’s where professionals, educators and publishers come in.Reading is mental health: Six minutes of reading can reduce stress by 68% (Magnet ABA, 2024) and, for me, audiobooks and eBooks are not enemies of literature: They’re allies to accessibility, neurodivergence and choice. In my own work with writers and creators, I’ve seen firsthand that reigniting reading habits is possible, but it must be framed as pleasure, not performance. It’s time to: Build reading habits, not just literacy skills. Promote stories that reflect diverse lives. Rethink “serious” reading. It’s the habit that counts.<figure id="figure-lkugf5uimcm0qb04"><img id="lkugf5uimcm0qb04" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3atWHCQmP1POheeVa6TWSh9F9nbsfVlAuKuzVn4EglgjyajjfaYxr0Ln7JdTvMuw.jpeg" alt="Relaxed young woman reading book on a green meadow in beautiful summer day. Education, learning and lifestyle." title="Relaxed young woman reading book on a green meadow in beautiful summer day. Education, learning and lifestyle." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3atWHCQmP1POheeVa6TWSh9F9nbsfVlAuKuzVn4EglgjyajjfaYxr0Ln7JdTvMuw.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Want More Insight? If you're interested in: Reading behaviour and attention economy insights or connecting literacy to leadership, you can connect with me here. I’m always open to consulting and collaborating on reading strategies that cut through the noise. Let’s bring books back. With purpose.#FutureOfLearning #ReadingMatters #LeadershipDevelopment&nbsp;

Book Reading in 2025: What the Data Tells Us and Why It Still Matters

Blue megaphones in a row with one of them is in orange color on blue background.

Singularity. The hypothetical future moment when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, transforming civilisation in ways we can’t accurately predict...It’s a concept that’s as speculative as it is seismic.&nbsp;Futurist Ray Kurzweil (2005) brought the concept to mainstream attention in 'The Singularity Is Near', a doorstop of a book I'm currently reading that projected exponential technological growth culminating in a moment where machine and mind become indistinguishable. In fact, the term technological singularity was popularised by mathematician and science fiction writer Vernor Vinge, who in 1993 predicted that within thirty years we would create a superhuman intelligence that would signal the end of the human era (as we know it). Ahm, worrying...<figure id="figure-9kn26ymhy5mckdcdsp"><img id="9kn26ymhy5mckdcdsp" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3ey9eHoMYZuIVPsNzHf5LeJzkZkM6WiWFJBji0Zk9XKVxLmauKPHKluqnXGGm9Ek.jpeg" alt="Diverse Identity Design" title="Diverse Identity Design" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3ey9eHoMYZuIVPsNzHf5LeJzkZkM6WiWFJBji0Zk9XKVxLmauKPHKluqnXGGm9Ek.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>A couple of hundred of pages into his book, I feel Kurzweil’s version of the singularity is oddly optimistic. He envisions a future where AI merges with human biology, enabling radical life extension, enhanced cognition, and solutions to problems like disease and poverty. To him, the singularity is not the end, but a new beginning. That view is echoed in transhumanist circles where merging with machines is seen as not only inevitable but desirable. Is it though?&nbsp;Computer scientist and AI pioneer Jaron Lanier (2010) has pushed back against the deification of machines, arguing that such narratives erase human agency and lead to a dangerous abdication of moral responsibility. Similarly, philosopher Nick Bostrom (2004) earlier warned that the singularity could come with a price. Later, in 'Superintelligence', Bostrom (2014) explores the risks of creating an AI that could rapidly outpace human control and pursue goals misaligned with our values. But, what are 'our' values in the global 2025? Here we are in 2025 with no sentient machines, no digital godheads, just LLMs busy, busy, busy spewing and mimicking (our) scraped words.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-1ll1g35gtchmckddg5n"><img id="1ll1g35gtchmckddg5n" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/19sPJrGssP849Mm8P5EQ0K6Yfb55qKGQHkqQRmB137IeuA6Z8pJNArTX8nbaXZn8.jpeg" alt="Cyber Security Data Protection Business Technology Privacy concept" title="Cyber Security Data Protection Business Technology Privacy concept" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/19sPJrGssP849Mm8P5EQ0K6Yfb55qKGQHkqQRmB137IeuA6Z8pJNArTX8nbaXZn8.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>So what might we make of the singularity now? Is it imminent? Is it hype? Well, current literature suggests that while progress in AI has been impressive especially in natural language processing and generative design, we’ve still a fair bit to travel to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the type of intelligence required for a true singularity. It seems fair to suggest that most modern systems, even the most powerful ones, are currently narrow specialists rather than adaptable thinkers and there’s a gap between intelligence and consciousness that remains deeply mysterious. More to the point, the singularity may be less of a moment and more of a gradual drift. Automation, algorithmic bias, and surveillance capitalism may prove to be more immediate threats than robot overlords.<figure id="figure-pdzut4iv0vmckde8xs"><img id="pdzut4iv0vmckde8xs" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/eTF3ltpxRSt5Q006Rz85Rvpywp4yBVU4e7YYLKbt9O7AJgk5odA0yal2O20uDHS8.jpeg" alt="Magnifying success powerful red wooden businessman leading way. Human resource empowering corporate strategic teamwork unlock potential find perfect fit HR employment discovering unique talent concept" title="Magnifying success powerful red wooden businessman leading way. Human resource empowering corporate strategic teamwork unlock potential find perfect fit HR employment discovering unique talent concept" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/eTF3ltpxRSt5Q006Rz85Rvpywp4yBVU4e7YYLKbt9O7AJgk5odA0yal2O20uDHS8.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>#singularity #ai #futureBostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, dangers, strategies. Oxford University Press.Brynjolfsson, E., &amp; McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W. W. Norton &amp; Company.Cellan-Jones, R. (2014, December 2). Stephen Hawking warns artificial intelligence could end mankind. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30290540Goertzel, B., &amp; Pennachin, C. (Eds.). (2007). Artificial general intelligence. Springer.Kurzweil, R. (2005). The singularity is near: When humans transcend biology. Viking.Lanier, J. (2010). You are not a gadget: A manifesto. Knopf.Vinge, V. (1993). The coming technological singularity: How to survive in the post-human era. In Vision-21: Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in the Era of Cyberspace (pp. 11–22). NASA.

The Singularity

Close up various fresh picked mushrooms on wood board

<h3>The mushroom farming industry in Ireland</h3>The mushroom farming industry in Ireland, while thriving, faces several key challenges that threaten its continued success. These challenges are both internal and external, ranging from economic pressures to operational hurdles. Here are some of the main challenges as identified by Anne Hayden MSc from The Informed Farmer Consultancy in her book, 'Aspects of Irish Agriculture' (ShadowScript Publications, 2024):<figure id="figure-lywfzckdt8mcjdy6tn"><img id="lywfzckdt8mcjdy6tn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1545uQzXN0lc992pM98AYMlPICYBP35aTMcFzdPk74CS1ffTIAkEDnIRgqHfA9bE.jpeg" alt="A cup of coffee with mushrooms and coffee beans on a dark background with copy space." title="A cup of coffee with mushrooms and coffee beans on a dark background with copy space." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1545uQzXN0lc992pM98AYMlPICYBP35aTMcFzdPk74CS1ffTIAkEDnIRgqHfA9bE.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>1. Over-Reliance on the UK Market: Ireland exports approximately 80% of its mushroom produce, primarily to the United Kingdom. This heavy reliance makes the industry vulnerable to fluctuations in the UK market and any disruptions in trade relations, such as those caused by Brexit. Potential tariffs, customs delays, and changing regulations could significantly impact the profitability of Irish mushroom exports.2. Labour Shortages and Rising Costs: Mushroom harvesting is a labour-intensive process that traditionally relied on a migrant workforce. However, changing immigration policies and rising labour costs have created significant labour shortages. This scarcity of skilled workers makes it challenging to maintain production levels and meet demand. Furthermore, the industry faces rising production costs, particularly for energy and raw materials like straw and chicken litter. Fluctuating energy prices and increased substrate costs impact profit margins, putting pressure on farmers.<figure id="figure-wpz4mxalfmcje02ab"><img id="wpz4mxalfmcje02ab" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/25hVby5nhSGQZEoV9ex1HkedaxJdQMKsVy15xwULvt3xg0Qdb6gJJuOm0wrhhzfX.jpeg" alt="EU Flag and shadows of People concept picture" title="EU Flag and shadows of People concept picture" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/25hVby5nhSGQZEoV9ex1HkedaxJdQMKsVy15xwULvt3xg0Qdb6gJJuOm0wrhhzfX.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>3. Environmental Sustainability Concerns: As consumer demand for sustainable food production grows, the mushroom industry faces pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Key concerns include energy consumption in climate-controlled growing houses, waste generation from substrate, and the potential for pollution from agricultural runoff. Meeting these environmental expectations requires ongoing investment in research and development to implement more sustainable practices.4. Competition and Market Fluctuations: The mushroom industry is subject to global market fluctuations and increased competition from other mushroom-producing countries. Maintaining competitiveness requires constant innovation in production techniques, efficient cost management, and exploring new markets beyond the UK.5. Succession Planning and an Aging Workforce: Like other agricultural sectors in Ireland, mushroom farming faces challenges related to an aging workforce and succession planning. Encouraging younger generations to enter the industry and ensuring the smooth transfer of knowledge and skills are crucial for the long-term viability of mushroom farming.<figure id="figure-5ghg0sveuwmcje1dy2"><img id="5ghg0sveuwmcje1dy2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2b6h1opn9ztIq1IngIV5cXYWV672zCamTpLKV81PwvBIqFhzD9wsLWF8KI1ERoBf.jpeg" alt="Reflective farmer, contemplating his Rain-Drenched Grain Field." title="Reflective farmer, contemplating his Rain-Drenched Grain Field." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2b6h1opn9ztIq1IngIV5cXYWV672zCamTpLKV81PwvBIqFhzD9wsLWF8KI1ERoBf.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>How Irish Farmers are Adapting to these Challenges:Market Diversification: To reduce reliance on the UK market, Irish mushroom producers are exploring new export opportunities in other European countries and emerging markets.Product Diversification: Expanding into niche markets, such as organic mushrooms and value-added products like mushroom-based ready meals, can help buffer against market fluctuations and cater to evolving consumer demands.Automation and Technology Adoption: Investing in automation, particularly for harvesting, can help address labour shortages and improve efficiency. Additionally, adopting precision technologies to optimise resource use can contribute to both economic and environmental sustainability.Sustainability Initiatives: Implementing sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient climate control systems, waste reduction strategies, and exploring alternative substrate materials, are becoming increasingly important for meeting consumer expectations and reducing environmental impact.Industry Collaboration and Support: Collaborative efforts within the industry and government support are crucial for navigating these challenges. Sharing knowledge, pooling resources, and accessing financial and technical assistance can help farmers overcome hurdles and ensure the long-term success of Irish mushroom farming.Hayden argues that by proactively addressing these challenges, Irish mushroom farmers can continue to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape.<figure id="figure-2w99orv7rbmcje2xdf"><img id="2w99orv7rbmcje2xdf" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/29gutckU9w6JOTu8xV5vLo8JpyzKRKY4vxhR7OTWI2TZpu1Ep9mxx3qjmnQxhAwa.jpeg" alt="Wind turbine power at sunrise" title="Wind turbine power at sunrise" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/29gutckU9w6JOTu8xV5vLo8JpyzKRKY4vxhR7OTWI2TZpu1Ep9mxx3qjmnQxhAwa.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>*You can purchase 'Aspects of Irish Agriculture' &nbsp;on Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aspects-Irish-Agriculture-Year-Blogs/dp/1068563346/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LOVU43QOVP4X&amp;sprefix=apects+of+irish+agriculture%2Caps%2C443&amp;sr=8-1" data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aspects-Irish-Agriculture-Year-Blogs/dp/1068563346/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LOVU43QOVP4X&amp;sprefix=apects+of+irish+agriculture%2Caps%2C443&amp;sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aspects-Irish-Agriculture-Year-Blogs/dp/1068563346/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LOVU43QOVP4X&amp;sprefix=apects+of+irish+agriculture%2Caps%2C443&amp;sr=8-1</a>&nbsp;

The Mushroom Farming Industry in Ireland

General view of Milano Centrale railway station, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, Europe.

A Monument To Pomp and Power We’re in Milan on research for our forthcoming book, ‘Threads of Trauma’ and visited Milano Centrale, inaugurated in 1931 with bold Art Deco, Liberty, and Fascist-infused architecture, which was Mussolini’s showcase of national might. Yet during WWII, the station’s lavish arches also masked a darker role, as it became a gateway for deportations.<figure id="figure-66hqklp6xfmcbst1pg"><img id="66hqklp6xfmcbst1pg" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/32FZhkSrOxkm0oOBEf9F3nYp8FAZvCaVo4GhhyX3BAOGXUthnry3IvOMA1Q5YTvT.jpeg" alt="General view of Milano Centrale railway station, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, Europe." title="General view of Milano Centrale railway station, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, Europe." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/32FZhkSrOxkm0oOBEf9F3nYp8FAZvCaVo4GhhyX3BAOGXUthnry3IvOMA1Q5YTvT.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Platform 21: A Hidden Hell Below the polished terminal lay Platform 21, an unassuming freight platform from which at least 23 trains departed between 1943 and 1945, deporting thousands of Jews and political prisoners to Auschwitz and other camps. • The first convoy left on Dec 6, 1943 with 169 deportees and only 5 survived. • A later train on Jan 30, 1944 carried 600 people, including children where upon arrival, 500 were murdered at Auschwitz. Since 2013, the Memoriale della Shoah at Platform 21 stands as a solemn tribute to the victims. Though spared the brunt of heavy Allied bombing, Milan and the station endured repeated raids targeting rail yards and suburbs. Passengers, trains, and infrastructure suffered disruption and human tragedy, but Milano Centrale’s core architecture remarkably survived. <figure id="figure-6kfysvkrjmcbsuj51"><img id="6kfysvkrjmcbsuj51" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2YEj0yjQLFFm23ZcYw6DhgoW7zpbMustxUeIwmkSHQmBcOG2pZXbAi4RpA4LSqDO.jpeg" alt="Milan Central Railway Station" title="Milan Central Railway Station" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Now bustling with 320,000 daily passengers, Milano Centrale blends living history with modern transit. Hidden beneath its grandeur, Platform 21’s memorial invites reflection and contemplation. #HolocaustRemembrance #WWIIHistory #Milan #Platform21 #HistoryMatters #MemorialeShoah #ArchitecturalArchives

Milano Centrale:A Research Visit

When I first sat down to write this book, I had absolutely no intentions of becoming an author. I just needed some sort of medium to express the things I couldn’t say out loud. At the time, everything just felt so messy and uncertain. I was going through something that completely took over my life, &nbsp;trying for a baby, and watching month after month go by with no answers, no changes, just more questions and more heartbreak. Infertility, miscarriage… these weren’t things I ever expected to be writing about, never mind living through. But there I was.<figure id="figure-eriht2l5lmbl0itpv"><img id="eriht2l5lmbl0itpv" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24HKc2waFySSmyLRlqbERkcqamK7o5cDXk9iVoQbIpzxx5zdqHWIx0QGVDqZSFCU.jpeg" alt="In the close-up shot, an Asian woman is seated at a table in her backyard, enjoying a moment of relaxation and me-time as she writes on a notepad in the morning." title="In the close-up shot, an Asian woman is seated at a table in her backyard, enjoying a moment of relaxation and me-time as she writes on a notepad in the morning." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24HKc2waFySSmyLRlqbERkcqamK7o5cDXk9iVoQbIpzxx5zdqHWIx0QGVDqZSFCU.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> And so I started putting it down on paper, not because I had some great plan or because I wanted to turn it into anything, but because I didn’t know what else to do with it all. The grief, the rage, the endless loop of hoping and bracing for disappointment. Writing became a way of holding myself together and to be honest, it gave me a way to let out stuff I’d been bottling up for a very long time.&nbsp; Some of the chapters were really hard to write. I’d sit there trying to find the right words for how it actually felt, and sometimes there weren’t any. How do you explain the madness of tracking cervical mucus and waking up at the same time every day to check your temperature, or the way your heart pounds when you see a smiley face on an ovulation test, like it might change your whole life? My writing speaks on this in a lot of detail. That quiet obsession that takes over when you're trying and trying and nothing is happening. The peeing on sticks before your morning coffee, the Googling, the overthinking, and the looking for signs in everything. It’s not something people talk about much, but if you know, you know.<figure id="figure-3s3dbxbvbqmbl0l0l6"><img id="3s3dbxbvbqmbl0l0l6" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2f16sJvPklh3NIe1xP2oMzpecNuqE7azvYDTp6v4cqqQe9JKNg8qiKhtVwEX6dVK.jpeg" alt="fountain pen on paper with ink text closeup" title="fountain pen on paper with ink text closeup" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2f16sJvPklh3NIe1xP2oMzpecNuqE7azvYDTp6v4cqqQe9JKNg8qiKhtVwEX6dVK.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> What I realised as I kept writing was that I wasn’t alone. And if I wasn’t alone, maybe someone else out there needed to hear that too. So that’s why I kept going, not to give advice or answers (God knows I didn’t have them), but to tell the truth. To say, this is what it was like for me, and if you’re going through it too, I get it. Truly. I hope this book reaches the people who need it. The ones who are in the thick of it right now. The ones who’ve been through it and are still trying to make sense of it. The ones supporting someone quietly from the side-lines. You’re not overreacting. <figure id="figure-zaf194kljjmbl0m81f"><img id="zaf194kljjmbl0m81f" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/0P6qcqcDiaQGezXZVT4rYYdY2UyL9E55e5Xn2HT8cELhk6wD77JsnmZd9Ay12QgF.jpeg" alt="Contemporary art collage. Conceptual image of male hand with pencil and blank paper. Creation of story" title="Contemporary art collage. Conceptual image of male hand with pencil and blank paper. Creation of story" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/0P6qcqcDiaQGezXZVT4rYYdY2UyL9E55e5Xn2HT8cELhk6wD77JsnmZd9Ay12QgF.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>You’re not making it up. And you’re not on your own. Thanks for being here. Laura 💖&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Why I'm Writing My Debut Book

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Working in the 21st Century: The Rise of AI and Creatives According to MarketsandMarkets, the global AI market is projected to grow from an already staggering $58.3 billion just four years ago to a staggering $309.6 billion by next year in 2026. Those are eye watering numbers. In our realm of books and publishing, AI’s reach now extends far beyond adult literature into the very precious world of children’s books, and it is transforming how stories are illustrated, produced, and published. Of course, this brings many challenges.<figure id="figure-s8qe7fqk5mbi5qtao"><img id="s8qe7fqk5mbi5qtao" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/22bzNgNeehr9jyE3AMlRvB5mPBzIgAX2rJ2clYOzRABhbVBY3pgla7RhG0QDWZmG.jpeg" alt="Humans are using laptops and computers to interact with AI, helping them create, code, train AI, or analyze big data with fast, cutting-edge technology." title="Humans are using laptops and computers to interact with AI, helping them create, code, train AI, or analyze big data with fast, cutting-edge technology." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/22bzNgNeehr9jyE3AMlRvB5mPBzIgAX2rJ2clYOzRABhbVBY3pgla7RhG0QDWZmG.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> There are real questions in this transformation....No...revolution is a more apt word. The first is, are we taking opportunities and payment pathways away from human artists and illustrators if we embrace AI to greater or lesser extents? And a second is, how can anyone now ensure 'fair use' of AI-created images? (what even is 'fair use' in such a rapidly and dramatically changing environment?). For very many traditional artists, AI represents a massive and deeply scary shift in the(ir) industry— and it's easy to see why. We are reminded of childhoods spent in Killarney, County Kerry where pony and traps transported us holiday makers around the town and out into the countryside. We're sure when the Model T came along back in the day, it was met with fear and resentment by these people in business - much like an attitude to AI held by some people. But, here's the thing. As with everything in life, the very best at anything, any industry, any profession will, somehow, survive and indeed prosper. It will be a different landscape for sure, but not unsurvivable. The pony and traps remain today in Killarney and Central Park in New York because at least some humans place a value on them. Not as many as before, but they are there. We know. We've been on them.<figure id="figure-vd3q1okvzmbi5ronu"><img id="vd3q1okvzmbi5ronu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/118zVIsqNKsRcyYFBkuWLs73d2ie6V3pEyrdPAQJbzOHPedAsnWqukcz8JZinBr9.jpeg" alt="Amish Buggy and Sunbeams at Daybreak" title="Amish Buggy and Sunbeams at Daybreak" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/118zVIsqNKsRcyYFBkuWLs73d2ie6V3pEyrdPAQJbzOHPedAsnWqukcz8JZinBr9.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> Change will most likely mean an appreciation and journey into blended work and some creatives will like this and find it fascinating and some won't and will find it distressing. That's ok. Our view us that there will always be room and an appreciation for human creativity because, ultimately, we are all creatives although we might use different language and terminology to describe what we do. Not everything comes down to profit margins and spreadsheets. Expression is everything. The tailor who takes pleasure in a suit made, the cobbler who admires shoes made, the electrician who loves the latest circuit creation, the illustrator proud of an insert and the author who delights in a book are all creatives in their own right.<figure id="figure-r0nie71q6mbi5sruj"><img id="r0nie71q6mbi5sruj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/4r2tKd0OFounPOLyYKPbYXt03hVPOlbYc4sYR4IPdWxRU0E4nlv3HpJTBP6S742L.jpeg" alt="Close up woman hand artist in the darkroom warm light working on painting with brush and variant acrylic color. Female artist painter on canvas in creative studio as art concept" title="Close up woman hand artist in the darkroom warm light working on painting with brush and variant acrylic color. Female artist painter on canvas in creative studio as art concept" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure> There are literally hundreds of free or inexpensive training tools and packages with AI centre stage and it's a good idea to keep conversant with current and emerging trends that are, and will, likely affect us creatives. To pretend there is only the traditional way of doing things in any industry is to remain stagnant. If Darwin taught us anything in school, it was that those who adapt survive. Let's even try to stay true to our creativity... The ShadowScript Team ©

The ShadowScript Group

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