Freida McFadden on AI Rumors, Output, and Owning Your Voice
Freida McFadden, the bestselling thriller author and practicing physician, addressed the "AI wrote her books" rumor head-on in a recent Open Book with Jenna episode that aired Dec. 11. Her stance was simple: the work is hers, and most of it was written before AI tools went mainstream.
With The Intruder out in October and Dear Debbie landing in January, her pace has raised eyebrows. Add the December release of The Housemaid adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney, and speculation was bound to surface. McFadden didn't flinch.
What McFadden actually said
- On the AI rumor: "I think every author gets the 'AI is writing her books,' even though most of (my books) are written before AI."
- On another wild claim: "One that is very funny is people saying I'm three men." She laughed, then added, "It will take three men to do what I actually do."
- On the "Photoshopped cleavage" rumor: she found it hilarious that a couple debated it at length. "I kind of love this couple."
- On writing under a pseudonym: "I never for a moment considered not writing under a pen name. I just wanted to keep it separate."
- On creative privacy: "These books come from inside my brain... it's like they're reading my diary… I don't want them to know what I'm thinking, and now they all do."
Why this matters for working writers
High output attracts doubt. If your cadence speeds up, people will fill gaps with their own story. That's not your problem-unless you let it drain your time.
McFadden's tone offers a model: stay light, stay factual, and move on. The work and the schedule speak for themselves.
Practical ways to handle "Did AI write this?" questions
- Show your process once, well. A short thread or newsletter issue that outlines your drafting workflow, research habits, and revision steps can save future back-and-forth.
- Keep receipts. Time-stamped drafts, version history, and notes protect you if a claim escalates.
- Answer in public, then stop. Point to a single page or post when the topic comes up again.
- Use humor when it fits. It disarms without feeding the rumor mill-McFadden did this perfectly.
- Be clear on tool use. If you use AI for brainstorming or admin, say so. If you don't, say that. Either way, your voice should be unmistakable on the page.
Pen names as a boundary (and a productivity tool)
McFadden's pen name isn't a gimmick-it's a boundary. It separates her physician life from her author life and gives her creative privacy. That's a valid choice, especially when your work reads like a diary.
- Decide what the pen name protects: your job, your family, your headspace, or all three.
- Keep a clean paper trail. Contracts, payments, and tax details should be consistent and defensible.
- Define the voice and topics for the pen name. Guardrails reduce decision fatigue and help you ship more.
Sustaining output with a full-time job
McFadden's catalog plus a demanding day job is a useful case study in focus. You don't need perfect conditions; you need predictable ones.
- Batch your week: drafting days, revision days, admin days. Protect the drafting block.
- Use seasonal sprints around launches and breaks. Rest is part of the plan.
- Work from a pipeline, not a single project. While one book edits, another drafts, and marketing runs in the background.
What the adaptation news signals
The Housemaid hitting screens with Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney signals market trust in story-first writing. That trust is built on consistency and reader experience, not speculation about tools.
Takeaways you can use this week
- Write a 200-word "How I write" note and pin it on your site or socials.
- Set a 60-90 minute daily drafting block. No phone. No browser. Just words.
- Draft a one-paragraph response for AI/tool questions. Reuse it.
- Decide on a pen name policy (if relevant): what it covers, and why.
If you use AI, keep your voice yours
Plenty of pros use AI for brainstorming or admin without outsourcing craft. If you're exploring tools, audit them like you would a new editor: limited scope, clear rules, and your voice in control.
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Bottom line: rumors are noise. Your systems, your pages, and your readers are the signal. McFadden keeps writing, keeps publishing, and lets the work close the loop.
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