I decided to write an e-book about AI and TV production—a process that took about a month, which, in writing terms, is practically light speed! With the manuscript finished and polished, I was ready to share my wisdom with the world. Naturally, Google Play Books seemed like the ideal platform. I signed up for "partner" status, uploaded my e-book, added a snazzy cover, filled in all the details, and hit "submit." Easy, right?

Well, not quite.

The Waiting Game

The submission process went smoothly at first. My 25 years in TV production, combined with my newfound love for AI, surely made me the ideal candidate to join Google’s e-book ranks. I used my trusty Gmail address—one I’d had since Google Mail first launched. This email has practically grown up with me!

Then came the waiting. For seven days, I watched my account linger in some sort of digital purgatory, with my e-book stuck in “pending review” status. I felt like I was back in school, waiting for exam results, wondering if I'd passed or if Google would write "see me" in red pen all over my submission. On the seventh day, I thought, “Enough’s enough,” and emailed support to ask for an update.

The Shock! Horror! Account Suspension!

The next morning, I did my daily check-in, and my heart sank. The account was suspended. Cue panic. Had I unknowingly committed some grave digital sin? Was my e-book too edgy, too radical, or—dare I say—too honest? The email I received was as clear as mud: I had somehow violated Google’s policies, and as a result, they’d locked my account.

No feedback, no constructive criticism, just a cold, hard “You’re out.”

Playing Detective and Staying Sane

Determined to uncover the mystery, I scoured every line of my e-book, wondering if I'd inadvertently broken some rule or plagiarized without knowing. For a fleeting moment, I even questioned if my own experiences were somehow invalid.

But then, clarity struck—this wasn’t about the content. I’d written something valuable, something that spoke to my years in the industry. And I was determined to prove it. I reached out to Google again, politely asking for a review and some much-needed clarity. I’d come too far to be ghosted by an algorithm.

The Proof is in the Links

A day later, a glimmer of hope appeared in my inbox. A real, breathing human from Google (yes, they do exist!) requested that I validate my identity, but not with the usual passport or driving license—nope, they wanted links. They asked for two or more links to online publications where I had some presence.

This made sense, but it was still a head-scratcher. My e-book was my first foray into the world of self-publishing, but I had a few blogs under my belt, so I sent links to those, along with my website and IMDb listing—figured that might show them I wasn’t some rogue AI trying to scam my way into the literary world. I waited, fingers crossed.

Vindication at Last

The next morning, battling a cold from the comfort of my couch, I checked my email. There it was, the notification I’d been waiting for—my account was reinstated! My e-book was live! They had validated my identity, my experiences, and my work. It turns out, Google just really, really likes to err on the side of caution.

The First Milestone: Achieved!

And so, the first big hurdle was cleared. My e-book Mastering Artificial Intelligence for TV Production was officially live on Google Play Books. All that was left now was to celebrate, and of course, prepare for the next milestone—making that first sale! You can view it HERE.

If nothing else, this rollercoaster ride taught me patience, perseverance, and the value of keeping calm when Google turns from an ally to an obstacle. Here’s to anyone navigating this wild publishing journey—I’ve been there, and believe me, it’s worth it.

Now, let’s see who clicks “buy” first!

My Journey with Google Play Books: The Rollercoaster of Uploading My First E-Book