Using AI to find your celebrity "Timothy"

Just tried an interesting prompt I wanted to share.

Upload a PDF of your book (or summary) to your AI of choice (I tested with ChatGPT 4o) and give it the following prompt:

You are a publisher tasked with finding the specific individual(s) who would love this book, known as our “Timothy.”

Novel Marketing Podcast Host Thomas Umstattd Jr. has a concept he calls "Finding your Timothy." This concept is about identifying a specific person who represents your target audience, rather than writing for a generic or imaginary persona. By focusing on a real-life individual, you can gain clarity and focus in your writing and marketing efforts, ensuring that your work resonates with your intended audience.

Since we do not know the same people in real life, use specific real life celebrities or public figures currently alive today as our "Timothy." Name at least 5 potential “Timothys” who you think would LOVE this book.

(Optional: Include in your response at least one [Any specifics you want - I asked for at least one famous actor and one famous musician, because the first version was mostly public intellectuals - though the fact it suggested those people told me something].)

I found this useful for the same reason finding your Timothy is useful. “Fantasy fans” is a broad audience, but having it say “Neil Gaiman” might like your book gives a clearer target audience (very flattering ChatGPT, tho not sure if true or you got the latest update about him, but I digress).

Also, in the results it gave me was at least two major podcasters who I could pitch the book to and one famous actor who’d be great as the lead in a movie adaptation if I could get the book to his agent.

P.S. Thomas, feel free to steal this if you want to build “Finding your Celebrity Timothy” as a tool for Patrons.