User Guide

Your Account

Registering an account is your first step. You'll need to provide your name (optional), a valid email address, and a secure password. Crucially, you must confirm your email address by clicking the link we send you. Without email confirmation, you won't be able to access core features like the eBook generator or subscribe.

Once logged in, you can manage your profile details (name, email) via the "My Profile" page and change your password via "Change Password" (linked from "My Profile").

Subscription

AI eBook Suite operates on a monthly subscription of €39.99 for unlimited eBook and novel creations. You can subscribe via the "Subscribe" link in the navigation bar. If you have an active subscription, this link will change to "Manage Subscription," allowing you to view your billing details or cancel via Stripe's customer portal.

Managing API Keys

The "API Keys" page allows you to securely store your API keys for supported LLM providers (OpenAI, Straico, OpenRouter). These keys are encrypted in our database. When you generate an eBook, the system will use the appropriate key you've saved for the selected provider. You must have an active subscription and a confirmed email to manage API keys.

The eBook Generator is where the magic happens! Here’s a breakdown of the form to help you craft the perfect input for the AI.

AI Configuration

• API Provider: Choose which AI service you want to use (OpenAI, Straico, OpenRouter). You must have a corresponding API key saved on the "API Keys" page for your selection to work.
• LLM Model: Once you select a provider, this dropdown will populate with available models from that provider. Different models have different strengths, capabilities, and token costs. Experiment to find what works best for your needs.

eBook Core Details

• eBook Type (Crucial!):
  • Narrative Story: Select this for fiction like novels, short stories, screenplays. The AI will focus on plot, character development, dialogue, and maintaining a "story bible" (internal memory of characters, plot points, and setting) for consistency across chapters.
  • Informational Text: Choose this for non-fiction such as essays, articles, tutorials, guides, or technical documentation. The AI will focus on factual accuracy (based on your brief), logical structure, clear explanations, and will maintain a "conceptual memory" of key terms and ideas.
• Main Topic of the eBook: A clear, concise topic helps the AI focus its generation. (e.g., "The Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome," "A Beginner's Guide to Quantum Computing," "The Secret Life of Detective Harding").
• Detailed Brief / Key Points (Very Important!): This is your primary instruction to the AI. The more detailed and well-structured your brief, the better the output.
  For Narrative Stories, include: Plot outline (beginning, middle, end, key turning points), main character descriptions (name, personality, motivations, conflicts, arc), supporting characters, setting details (time, place, atmosphere), desired tone (e.g., humorous, dark, suspenseful), POV (e.g. first person, third person limited/omniscient), any specific scenes or dialogue ideas.
  For Informational Texts, include: Scope of the text, target audience (and their prior knowledge), key concepts to explain, arguments to make, desired structure or chapter outline (even if rough), specific data or facts to include (if any), desired level of detail.

Style & Formatting Inputs

• Specific Genre: (e.g., "Hard Sci-Fi," "Cozy Mystery," "Academic Essay," "Technical Manual"). Helps the AI adopt appropriate conventions.
• Writing Style: (e.g., "Engaging and witty," "Formal and objective," "Descriptive and immersive," "Colloquial and friendly"). Guides the AI's tone and language.
• Language: Use ISO language codes (e.g., en-US for American English, it-IT for Italian, es-ES for Spanish).
• Author Name (Optional): If you want an author name on the generated eBook. Defaults to "AI Assistant".
• Custom Title (Optional): Provide your own title. If left blank, the AI will generate one based on the topic.

Structure & Length

• Number of Chapters: (Min 1, Max 25 advised). Defines the overall length and structure.
• Approximate Word Count per Chapter: (Min 200, Max 5000 advised). Helps guide the AI on the depth of each chapter. Note that actual word count can vary.

Optional Elements

• Dedication (Optional): Add a personal dedication to your eBook.

Maximizing Output Quality

• The Brief is King: A detailed, well-thought-out brief is the single most important factor for high-quality results. Think of it as your script or blueprint for the AI.
• Be Specific: Vague instructions lead to generic output. The more specific you are about plot, characters, concepts, tone, and style, the better the AI can match your vision.
• Iterate and Refine: Don't expect perfection on the first try. Use the "Recreate" button on the "My eBooks" page to load previous settings into the generator form. Tweak your brief, try different models, or adjust parameters and regenerate.
• For Narratives - Character Depth: Provide rich backstories, motivations, flaws, and desired character arcs in your brief. The AI uses this to build its "story bible."
• For Narratives - Plot Structure: Even a simple three-act structure (setup, confrontation, resolution) in your brief helps guide the AI.
• For Informational - Logical Flow: Outline the sequence of topics or arguments you want the AI to cover.

Managing API Tokens & Costs (When Using Your Own Keys)

• Monitor Your Usage: Always keep an eye on your token consumption directly on your API provider's dashboard (OpenAI, OpenRouter, Straico). AI eBook Suite does not track your third-party token usage.
• Model Choice Matters: More advanced models (like GPT-4.5, Claude 3.7) are generally more expensive per token than smaller or older models. Choose a model appropriate for your needs and budget.
• Brief Efficiency: While detail is good, overly verbose or repetitive briefs can consume more input tokens. Aim for clarity and conciseness where possible, once you've provided the core details.
• Chapter Length & Count: Requesting many very long chapters will naturally consume a significant number of tokens. Start with fewer/shorter chapters to test your brief and model, then scale up.
• "Recreate" Feature: This generates a *new* job and will incur new token costs for the full generation. It doesn't just "edit" the old one.

Generation Process

When you submit a generation request:

1. The AI first attempts to generate an outline or structure based on your brief.
2. It then generates content chapter by chapter (or section by section).
3. For "Narrative Story" mode, it continuously updates an internal "story bible" to try and maintain consistency of plot and characters. For "Informational Text," it focuses on conceptual consistency.
4. You can monitor the status on the "Generation Status" page.

"My eBooks" Page

This page lists all your generated eBook jobs. You can:

• View Status: For ongoing or failed jobs.
• Preview & Download: For completed jobs, you can preview the content in your browser and download it in HTML, PDF, or DOCX formats.
• Recreate: Use a previous job's settings as a template to start a new generation, allowing you to make modifications. This will create a new job and incur new token costs.
• Delete: Permanently remove a job and its associated files.

Common Issues

• Generation Failed: Check the error message on the "Generation Status" page. It might be an issue with your API key (invalid, out of credits), the selected LLM model being temporarily unavailable, or the AI struggling with a very complex/ambiguous brief. Try simplifying your brief or choosing a different model.
• Email Not Confirmed: If you can't log in or access features, ensure you've clicked the confirmation link sent to your email. Check your spam folder. (A "resend confirmation" feature is planned).
• Output Not As Expected: The AI's output is heavily influenced by your input brief. Try to be more specific, provide more context, or rephrase your instructions. Experimentation is key!

Contact Us

If you encounter persistent issues, have questions, or want to provide feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us at: info@aiebooksuite.com.