[An Essay from My Heart]

A Summer Story: My Journey of Publishing Ten Independent Books

This summer, I set myself an ambitious goal.

It was to refine and revise all the writings I had either completed or merely conceptualized over the years, and then publish them as books. I had previously published two academic books through publishers in the UK and Germany, but I felt somewhat dissatisfied with the speed and cost of the process. So, this time, I resolved to take full responsibility for the entire publication process and attempt independent publishing myself.

Among the various self-publishing platforms, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) stood out for being convenient, transparent, and easy to use. I created an account and began the publishing process in earnest, starting with manuscripts that were already finished or only required translation and revision.

Thus, during an exceptionally hot summer, I managed to publish the following ten books:

1. Build Up Your Strength, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, June 7, 2025.
2. The Fast Track to Becoming a Creative Minority, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, June 10, 2025.
3. Becoming a Successful Professor: Dreams, Challenges, and Advice (Korean), Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 2, 2025.
4. Journey of Successful Korean Professors: Experiences, Reflections, and Advice, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 5, 2025.
5. Sijo: Songs of the Virginian Four Seasons, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 10, 2025.
6. The Pearl Within: Reading Life Through John Steinbeck’s Literature, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 14, 2025.
7. John Steinbeck’s Mirror: Life Reflected in Literature (Korean), Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 16, 2025.
8. Choi Rip, Singing the Era: The Aesthetics and Spirit of Joseon Poetry, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, July 29, 2025.
9. Mastering Generative AI Prompts: Easy, Fun, and Powerful (Korean), Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, August 13, 2025.
10. The One-Line Prompt Miracle: An Easy Guide to Using Generative AI, Young B. Choi, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon, August 24, 2025.

Book 1 contains the inspiring and timeless words of the revered independence activist and educator Dosan Ahn Chang-ho.
 Book 2 presents practical and fast-track strategies for thriving as a creative minority in the United States.
 Books 3 and 4 compile essays from various professors, offering experiences and advice on the journey to becoming a successful university professor, published in Korean and English editions.
 Book 5 introduces sijo, Korea’s unique traditional poetic form.
 Books 6 and 7 are collections of book reviews, written over several years, on fifteen major works by the American literary giant John Steinbeck, published separately in English and Korean.
 Book 8 presents and analyzes the hanshi (classical Chinese poetry) of Choi Rip, hailed as a Renaissance figure of the Joseon Dynasty, and attempts a new kind of literary analysis using AI technologies.
 Books 9 and 10 serve as beginner-friendly introductions to prompt engineering—the core technology of generative AI—published in English and Korean respectively.

Below is a brief description of each book.

1. Build Up Your Strength – National Hero Dosan Ahn Chang-ho

Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is one of the most revered moral leaders in Korea’s modern history. His life was marked by the values of “education and reform, independence, and the pursuit of truth.” This book comprehensively illuminates Dosan’s human virtues and his vision as a national leader, offering a deep interpretation of his grand ideas and actions.

Readers will encounter Dosan’s character—humble yet resolute—his indomitable will that overcame trials and exile, and his political philosophy rooted in morality and service. The book also includes a selection of Dosan’s own maxims, which continue to provide timeless wisdom on leadership and life in the 21st century. More than a simple biography, this work is a spiritual guidebook that recalls Korea’s moral heritage and challenges us to reflect on our responsibilities as global citizens.

2. The Fast Track to Becoming a Creative Minority

Building on the history of the Korean diaspora and its evolving identity, this book explores pathways for becoming an influential cultural agent in multicultural societies. The concept of the “creative minority” is rooted in Dosan Ahn Changho’s spirit of the Heungsadan and the historical experiences of the Jewish community, underscoring that minorities can serve as catalysts for social transformation.
 It also introduces servant leadership, derived from the teachings of Jesus, as a new paradigm for 21st-century leadership. By analyzing forty-nine core values of American society, the book provides concrete guidance for Koreans and other minority groups on how to preserve their cultural roots while establishing themselves as creative leaders within the mainstream. More than just a strategy manual, it is a manifesto of spiritual and cultural leadership—demonstrating how minorities can serve their communities and transform society without losing their identity.

3–4. Becoming a Successful Professor (English & Korean Editions)

In today’s rapidly changing academic landscape, becoming a scholar is not merely a career choice but a journey of self-discovery and mission. This book is a collective testimony and reflection on the challenges and achievements of Korean and Korean-American scholars in the U.S. academy.
 It addresses themes such as the transition from graduate student to faculty, balancing research and teaching, establishing an academic identity, navigating the difficulties of scholarly publishing, the importance of mentoring, and the meaning of international scholarly exchange.
 Published in both English and Korean, the book highlights that the tension between academic achievement and ethnic roots can become an asset rather than an obstacle. It serves as a valuable guide for international students, early-career researchers, and all scholars navigating multicultural academic environments.

5. Sijo: Songs of the Virginian Four Seasons

Sijo (時調) is a traditional Korean poetic form that conveys profound thought and emotion within a concise structure. This collection presents forty sijo poems set against the backdrop of Virginia’s four seasons, celebrating the harmony of nature and human life. Spring’s hope, summer’s vitality, autumn’s reflection, and winter’s stillness all shine through the poet’s lens.
 The book goes beyond mere depictions of nature to embody philosophical reflections on the trajectory of human life. Each sijo is also reinterpreted as English verse, Chinese regulated quatrain, and Japanese haiku—an innovative literary experiment that stages a dialogue between Eastern and Western poetics. Readers will encounter the unique aesthetics of sijo and embark on an inner journey through the seasons of life.

6–7. Reading Steinbeck’s Literature (English & Korean Editions)

John Steinbeck, a towering figure of American literature, was a writer who captured the lives and struggles of ordinary people with remarkable sensitivity. This book is the fruit of years spent reading and reflecting on Steinbeck’s major works, including The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men. These works transcend fiction, probing universal issues such as community breakdown and solidarity, as well as human loneliness and compassion.
 The collection also engages with Steinbeck’s travel writings and nonfiction, as well as insights drawn from reading Western and Eastern classics alongside him. Readers will join the author’s inner journey, reflecting on American society, immigrant identity, and the universal meaning of human existence. More than a compilation of reviews, this book stands as a record of self-exploration and spiritual maturity through literature.

8. Choi Rip, Singing the Era: The Aesthetics and Spirit of Joseon Poetry

Choi Rip (崔岦, 1539–1612), a literary figure of mid-Joseon, was celebrated as “the genius of his age,” with a reputation that reached even China. This book presents fifty of his selected poems, capturing the beauty of nature, the warmth of friendship, and the sorrows of living through turbulent times.
 Choi Rip was not merely a poet; he was a Renaissance-style intellectual who engaged with leading figures such as the physician Heo Jun and the calligrapher Han Ho, bridging scholarship and the arts. His poetry, though written more than four centuries ago, still resonates vividly today. This book goes beyond simple introduction—it attempts a novel AI-based analysis, creating a dialogue between tradition and modernity, between human creativity and technological innovation.

9–10. An Introduction to Generative AI Prompts (English & Korean Editions)

Humanity is now experiencing a profound transformation in how we live and work, driven by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Among these innovations, generative AI has emerged as a powerful tool capable of creating diverse forms of content—text, images, music, and beyond. Yet to harness its full potential, one must master the art of designing effective instructions, or “prompts,” for the AI.
 This book systematically presents the principles and techniques of prompt engineering in a way accessible to both beginners and advanced users. It introduces four core principles—clarity, specificity, contextualization, and iterative refinement—while also addressing practical applications and ethical considerations. Readers will learn how to embrace AI not merely as a tool but as a creative partner, expanding the horizons of their imagination and productivity.

This summer was the most productive season of my writing life. By directly engaging in independent publishing, I gained a much deeper and broader understanding of the entire process of book production. Through this journey, I discovered two key lessons that I would like to share.

First, the most essential element in publishing is the ability to write creatively. To cultivate this, one must devote oneself to lifelong habits of reading and reflection, through which creativity gradually expands.

Second, writing is a powerful way to embody the spirit of “Learn and share with others!” Publishing allows one’s knowledge and insights to be shared more easily, effectively, and expansively with those who truly need them.

“Creation begins in the heart and is fulfilled through writing.”

— September 16, 2025

{Solti}