Novel Factory founder lands six-figure Penguin Random House deal for debut fantasy novel

Katja Kaine, creator of the AI-free writing software Novel Factory, has released her debut fantasy novel Blood of Gods and Girls through Penguin Random House. The international launch spotlights a growing divide in publishing over generative AI, human creativity, and author privacy.

Why it matters: - Penguin Random House’s six-figure acquisition puts a spotlight on a founder who built AI-free writing software and then used it to publish her own debut novel. - The deal gives Novel Factory a high-profile proof point at a time when writers are debating AI tools, privacy, and how books should be created. - The release also adds a commercial success story to the broader argument for human-led storytelling in fantasy publishing.

What happened: - Katja Kaine, the creator of Novel Factory, released her debut fantasy novel, Blood of Gods and Girls, internationally on July 2. - Penguin Random House published the novel in a major six-figure deal. - The book was written entirely within Novel Factory. - Kaine’s debut centers on feminist fantasy themes and draws on her background in Singapore, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The details: - Blood of Gods and Girls features a complex magic system and a layered political landscape. - The story includes cursed goddesses, immortal kings, sisterhood, rebellion and betrayal. - The novel is described as challenging traditional Eurocentric fantasy tropes with an Asian aesthetic and intersectional feminist principles. - The book is available in hardcover in the UK and in paperback internationally, including Singapore and Australia. - A German translation is also available. - Digital and audiobook editions are available internationally. - Novel Factory is a cross-platform writing tool built for planning, outlining and writing fiction. - The software includes character tracking, world-building and plot-structure tools. - Novel Factory says it remains AI-free and prioritizes author privacy, including protection of notes and manuscripts from scraping or model training. - The software is free to try for 30 days. - The company’s official social links were listed as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Between the lines: - Kaine is using the novel’s release to make a broader case against generative AI in the creative industries. - The publication doubles as a product demonstration for Novel Factory, framing the software as a tool that supports complex storytelling without automated text generation. - The emphasis on privacy and “human-centric” writing positions Novel Factory in contrast to competitors adding AI plotting and drafting features.

What's next: - Novel Factory is likely to use the book’s launch to reach more writers looking for non-AI planning tools. - The international rollout of the novel gives Penguin Random House a fresh title to market across print, digital and audio formats. - Kaine’s public stance against AI suggests the novel’s promotion may continue to focus on human creativity and author control.

The bottom line: - A software founder turned novelist has turned an AI-free writing philosophy into a mainstream publishing win.