All case studies

A leadership book from a tech founder

Leadership book

He had AI drafts he couldn’t use. Now he has a book.

He had AI drafts he couldn’t use. Now he has a book.

He had AI drafts he couldn’t use. Now he has a book.

Tech and finance founder · Texas, USA

Before

Day one

“I don’t want another AI-written book.”

“I don’t want another AI-written book.”

“I don’t want another AI-written book.”

What they came with

Several drafts generated with AI

Several drafts generated with AI

Accurate information, lifeless writing

Accurate information, lifeless writing

None of his own experience on the page

None of his own experience on the page

Readers in both the US and India

Readers in both the US and India

A name he wanted to be proud of

A name he wanted to be proud of

After

4 months later

Leadership book

Title withheld

Title withheld

Name withheld

Why good leaders don’t let AI think for them

28,000

28,000

words

4 months

4 months

start to finish

12

12

chapters

How we got there

From first conversation
to finished book.

From first conversation
to finished book.

From first conversation
to finished book.

Week 1

Starting over

Starting over

We put the AI drafts aside and started the book again from scratch.

Weeks 2–6

Interviews & research

Interviews & research

Long, honest conversations about his work in finance and technology, backed by original research.

Months 2–3

One voice, two worlds

One voice, two worlds

Every chapter written for readers in the US and India, in his own voice.

Month 3

More than a book

More than a book

I handled the writing and the editing, start to finish.

The full story

The challenge

My first international client, a technology and finance entrepreneur in Texas, wanted to write about leadership in the age of AI: why leaders cannot outsource judgment to machines.

He arrived with several AI-generated drafts. The facts were right. The writing wasn’t. No personal experience, no original thinking, nothing worth putting his name on.

How we worked

We started over. No AI text at all. Just interviews, research, and honest talks about his work.

His readers are in the US and India, so every chapter speaks to both, in his voice. I did the writing and the editing, start to finish.

The outcome

Three months later he had more than a book. It became a credibility asset, sharing his thinking with clients long before they booked a call.

Your turn

Every leader has a book.
Let’s write yours.

Every leader has a book.
Let’s write yours.

Every leader has a book.
Let’s write yours.

Merlin Manrold
Merlin Manrold

Merlin Manrold

Book ghostwriter

Memoir writer

Every project is under NDA. No client is ever named.HomePrivacy

© 2026 Merlin Manrold. All rights reserved.

Merlin Manrold
Merlin Manrold

Merlin Manrold

Book ghostwriter

Memoir writer

Every project is under NDA. No client is ever named.HomePrivacy

© 2026 Merlin Manrold. All rights reserved.

Merlin Manrold
Merlin Manrold

Merlin Manrold

Book ghostwriter

Memoir writer

Every project is under NDA. No client is ever named.HomePrivacy

© 2026 Merlin Manrold. All rights reserved.