LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - GeorgiaChron -- Gwinnett County entrepreneur and longtime non-fiction author Audrey Bell-Kearney is entering what she proudly calls "the fun phase" of her life — and it includes mystery books, escape rooms, puzzles, fictional drama, and artificial intelligence.

After more than 20 years writing non-fiction books the traditional way — sitting at a computer typing every word from scratch — Audrey says AI has unlocked a level of creativity she never imagined possible.

"I don't call myself a fiction author," Bell-Kearney said. "I call myself a fiction creator. AI allows me to dream bigger, build worlds faster, and create experiences around my books that go way beyond just reading."

At a time when many people are planning retirement, Bell-Kearney is launching The Housewives of Gwinnett (THOG) — a cozy mystery franchise set in Gwinnett County featuring books, trivia games, puzzles, virtual escape rooms, micro dramas, live events, and interactive storytelling.

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Yes, she knows it sounds a little crazy.

"Most people at 59 are talking about slowing down," she laughed. "Meanwhile, I'm over here building fictional crime scenes during hot flashes with Claude open in one browser and ChatGPT in the other."

Bell-Kearney, an entrepreneur for 29 years, is also the President of the Gwinnett Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Her new publishing model blends storytelling, AI tools, multimedia content, and community engagement into something she believes is bigger than traditional self-publishing.

"This isn't just 'write a book and hope people buy it,'" she said. "I'm building a mystery experience. Readers can join a detective society, solve puzzles, play trivia, attend live events, and interact with the story world. I honestly made this model up because I wanted reading to feel fun again."

Bell-Kearney says AI didn't replace her creativity — it amplified it.

"There's fear that AI is replacing creators," she explained. "For me, it did the opposite. I still come up with the ideas, the humor, the characters, and the vision. AI just helps me bring it to life faster."

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She also credits her husband for surviving the chaos.

"One minute I'm talking business strategy, the next minute I'm explaining why a fictional mural might contain clues connected to a murder," she joked. "He supports all of it — even my midnight brainstorming sessions."

Bell-Kearney hopes her story inspires women, especially those over 50, to embrace reinvention.

"Society tells women our best years are behind us," she said. "I completely disagree. Sometimes your most creative chapter starts after everyone else expects you to slow down."

The first THOG mystery book, The Message In The Mural, is now available along with companion interactive experiences.

For more information, visit:
https://TheHousewivesofGwinnett.com

Audrey Bell-Kearney
President, Gwinnett Women's Chamber of Commerce
Fiction Creator & Entrepreneur