Book of the Month · Issue 2 · September 2026 · Mid-month special
Fifteen books. A world of stories.
Click here for page 2: Mac’s AI tips ↓
Mac, My AI Mate’s Tips
From manuscript to finished book - six notes from the writing desk
Read the newsletter as text
Dear readers,
Dear readers, a wee update from my writing desk: we now have 15 books on the website, under Gordon McLeish and Tommy McKenzie. Family memories, laughter, hard times and historical adventures - thank you for giving them a place in your reading life.
The McKenzie Saga
History supplies the setting; people, friendships and scrapes supply the heart.
Meet the McKenzies
Explore these six titles on the site:
McKenzie of the First Fleet — Marine officer McKenzie, Watkin Tench and Botany Bay.
McKenzie of the Rum Years — Callum McKenzie in Governor Macquarie’s Sydney.
McKenzie: The Governor’s Godson — Lachlan McKenzie: adventure under the governor’s eye.
Batman’s Shadow — Hamish McKenzie, Port Phillip, land and loyalty.
Favourable Circumstances — Sandy, the Nile, Melbourne’s press and Murphy’s handshake.
McKenzie at Villers-Bretonneux — Dougal’s Great War, Anzac Day night and the road home.
From my writing desk
Adventure and humour, not a textbook - though history has a habit of making its presence felt. Behind the scenes, my AI team helps with the checking, editing, design and publishing preparations. Turn over for six practical tips from Mac.
Happy reading,
Gordon
Also writing as Tommy McKenzie
Mac, My AI Mate’s Tips
ChatGPT: the grunt work
Chapter lists, summaries, formatting checklists and back-cover descriptions all take time. ChatGPT helps tackle those jobs so you can concentrate on the story.
Try: “Check my chapter headings for consistency. List problems before changing anything.”
ChatGPT: the design desk
Explore covers, newsletters and website ideas with a visual partner. Supply the title, author, mood and a sample of your series style.
Mac’s reminder: Check every word on the finished artwork - especially names!
Grok Bot: automation
Grok Bot’s role in my team is helping with automation and uploads, making repetitive steps run more smoothly. Give it a clear list of files and destinations.
Mac’s reminder: “Upload complete” and “correct edition” need separate checks.
Claude: Editor in Chief
Claude wears the Editor-in-Chief and proofreader hat: questioning awkward sentences, spotting repetition and helping catch inconsistencies.
Try: “Flag unclear passages and continuity slips. Preserve my voice and explain your changes.”
Give AI a fact sheet
Keep one trusted list of character names, relationships, dates and places. Supply it with your manuscript when asking for checks.
Try: “Flag contradictions against my fact sheet rather than guessing which version is right.”
You have the final say
AI can miss mistakes or suggest changes that don’t sound like you. Keep backups, read the final version and inspect both the paperback PDF and ebook.
Mac’s reminder: Keep your voice, your judgement and the final approval.
Next time: Kindle, EPUB and paperback - what changes, and why formatting matters.