Adventures in Storytelling (and my experiment with ChatGPT)
Larry Sceurman to present family storytime at the Whitehall Library 6 p.m. tonight
Today’s theme is storytelling.
Writing is of course how we preserve the story on the printed page, and there’s also oral storytelling.
Family Storytime
Larry Sceurman has evolved to embrace both, and he plays with his stories, manipulates them, in such a way that he can carry them across mediums. If you want to see Larry in action, he will host a family storytime at the Whitehall Library tonight at 6 p.m. The library is located at 3700 Mechanicsville Road, Whitehall Township, PA 18052. Larry, with his great affection for diners, would probably tell you it’s not too far from the Whitehall Diner.
Speaking of storytelling, Patchwork Storytelling Guild is hosting another performance at Bethlehem’s Ice House tomorrow, Free at Last. Parisian Phoenix does not have any performers in this line-up, but we’d thought we’d mention it to those of you who might want to see more tellers from that group. More information here.
And don’t forget… If you want to learn how to tell YOUR story with the world, I have a hands-on memoir writing workshop happing August 16.
1 to 4 p.m. at Blank Space Community Center, 85 Makefield Road Unit 7, Yardley, Pa., 19067. Tickets will be $40 and will include print materials.
My experiment with ChatGPT
ChatGPT came up in conversation several times last week and I expressed my usual concerns that (1) people need to fact check ChatGPT because it relies on generic scanning of the Internet and we all know how accurate the Internet-at-large is, and (2) we don’t know how/where ChatGPT sources its creative endeavors to know who we might be “ripping off.”
But— before last week— I had never really messed with ChatGPT. And I don’t like shooting my mouth off about things I have not done. So I visited ChatGPT and I asked:
“Tell me about author Angel Ackerman.”
It replied:
Angel Ackerman is an author known primarily for her work in the romantic suspense and mystery genres. She has a particular focus on creating engaging stories with a blend of romantic elements and thrilling suspense. Her writing is often praised for its ability to keep readers hooked with fast-paced action and complex characters.
Ackerman's works frequently explore themes of relationships, personal growth, and the unpredictability of life, often set against the backdrop of dangerous or high-stakes situations. She has written multiple books in a series, and her characters often navigate through intense and challenging circumstances, both external (like criminal investigations) and internal (emotional struggles, personal conflict).
Now, thus far, it sounds like ChatGPT is reading my tarot cards with all the finesse of a circus act. Very vague and generic comments. But in the next paragraph listed “my” works, and I had never heard of them
Some of her more well-known works include "Through the Lens" and "Escape to Love," but she's continued to expand her portfolio with a variety of novels that showcase her range as a writer.
I googled my name and “Through the Lens” and got nothing but my legitimate web presence. And I’m not curious enough to do the same with “Escape to Love.” I really thought it might confuse me with Angela Ackerman and tell me I made an error spelling my name. And then it ended with:
If you're into romantic suspense with an emphasis on emotional depth and intriguing plots, Angel Ackerman's books might be right up your alley. Would you like to know about a specific book or series of hers?
I asked: “Can you tell me about her Fashion and Fiends series? What genre is it?” The bot responded:
Angel Ackerman's "Fashion and Fiends" series falls into the cozy mystery genre, with a strong emphasis on fashion, fun, and a touch of the supernatural or quirky elements. It's a blend of mystery, humor, and light-hearted drama, making it perfect for readers who enjoy a less intense, but still engaging, mystery.
Oh, so wrong, ChatGPT. It’s paranormal horror. Finally I asked it who the main characters in the series are. It replied:
The "Fashion and Fiends" series by Angel Ackerman features a dynamic cast of characters, each bringing their own quirks and charm to the stories. Here’s a rundown of the main characters that you’ll likely encounter throughout the series:
1. Zara (Protagonist)
Role: Zara is the central character of the series, a sharp and stylish protagonist who works in the fashion industry. Whether she’s a designer, a boutique owner, or some other fashion-related professional, she is always deeply embedded in the world of fashion.
2. Madeline (Maddie)
Role: Maddie is Zara’s best friend and a supporting character throughout the series. She’s often the voice of reason, helping Zara navigate both personal and professional challenges.
3. Lucas
Role: Lucas is often portrayed as Zara's romantic interest, though his character sometimes walks the fine line between being a love interest and a bit of a “bad boy” in the fashion world.
4. Detective Neil Radford
Role: Detective Radford is the series’ primary law enforcement figure. While Zara tends to get involved in solving mysteries on her own, Radford often works in parallel with her, especially when the cases she’s investigating cross into the realm of serious crime.
5. The Fiends (Supporting Characters with Quirky Supernatural Elements)
Role: The "fiends" in the title might refer to various supernatural or quirky characters that Zara encounters over the course of the series. These could be spirits, eccentric individuals with unique abilities, or even mysterious figures who have knowledge of otherworldly phenomena. They aren’t the central characters but add the quirky and supernatural dimension to the series.
I can’t, ChatGPT. That’s not even close.
Artifice or Intelligence?
And connected to artificial intelligence, E.H. Jacobs had his essay, “Artifice or Intelligence,” published in Streetlight, which you can read here. Here is an excerpt:
The general trajectory of a short story, novel or essay might be set, but during the course of creation I am bombarded with distractions, like bits of overheard conversation, daydreams, interesting sights, even artwork. I take pictures of things that I find visually interesting, just as I write down thoughts and phrases that come to mind, so that I can hold onto them in case I might find a way to include them in future pieces. AI cannot know what random thing might strike me as interesting on any given day and will end up in a story weeks, months or years later.
Penstricken also recently published his short story, here. His poems appeared in Abandoned Mine, here.
DID YOU KNOW…
For less than $2 an issue, you can support PARISIAN PHOENIX BOOKISH BABBLE as a paid subscriber. Benefits include: 1. Free chapters and excerpts of new books. 2. Curated lists and annotated reviews of podcasts, writing books, and bookstores. 3. Full, unlimited access to ALL of my slides from my writing workshops. PLUS unlimited access to the archives of all my posts.
In coming weeks, paid subscribers will have access to an excerpt and early cover reveal of Dawn O’Harra’s Any Landing You Walk Away From… and an in-depth review of writing craft book, The Intuitive Author by Tiffany Yates Martin, whose haircut I commandeered after the 2025 Write Stuff Conference.
“Bestseller” Rankings
This week, several Parisian Phoenix new titles hit the top 100 in various Amazon categories:
Echo City Capers’ Sprinkles Did It! hit #16 in Children’s Trickster Tales Fiction. Buy a copy at a really cheap price here. (It was $8 when I posted this!)
Group Portrait: Poems on a Photograph by Herman Landshoff by Mark Luebbers and Ben Goluboff, which released last Friday, hit #63 in political and protest poetry. Read more about the chapbook and order it here.
Coach of the Building by Julian Costa, a book about the career of Richard Carty and the construction of East Stroudsburg North High School is still ranking at #93 in the educator biographies category more than a month after its release. Learn more about that book here.
UPCOMING EVENTS (MOST ARE FREE)
July 12, E.H. Jacobs will be at The Bookery in Manchester, N.H., signing his debut novel, Splintered River, from 1 to 3 p.m. Jacobs has a sophomore novel on deck for 2026. For more information about The Bookery, click here. (This book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.)
Also on July 12, Echo City Capers will be signing books at Bushkill Park, from noon to 6 p.m.
July 14, the official release of Motorhome Gypsies, our RV Living book that is part memoir and part practical advice, by Rachel Thompson and Lisa Cross.
At 11 a.m. on July 16, Larry Sceurman will visit the Cops N Kids Reading Room on the southside of Bethlehem, Pa. For more information on Cops N Kids Lehigh Valley, click here.
Also on July 16, at 6:30 p.m., the Echo City Capers duo will be visiting the Allwood branch of the Clifton (N.J.) Public Library. For more information or to register, click here.
July 25 and July 26, Echo City Capers will visit Barnes and Noble. On the 25th, in the evening, Joseph Swarctz will be at the Barnes at the Lehigh Valley Mall, and the following day, he will land at the Barnes at The Promenade Shops in Center Valley.
Barnes and Noble in the Southmont Shopping Center in Bethlehem Township, Pa., will host a benefit for the children’s hospital on August 16. Larry Sceurman will present a children’s story time (and he hopes to have his second children’s book ready before that event). Details to come. See Larry’s books here.
And an opportunity for writers from the Pocono region:
It’s always a lot of fun putting together these newsletters for you. Upcoming topics include airplanes, Amazon ads, and a bookstore tour. We have a new author update, a new “sell sheet” of all of our books— 40 of them!— and a sneak peek at our production schedule for 2026. So stay tuned!
As always,
— Angel
Oh, man!
ChatGPT needs some learnin'!
Wow - about your ChatGPT experience! Appalling that it could get so much wrong.