diff --git a/templates/project_setup.html b/templates/project_setup.html
index 092b991..9b7c07b 100644
--- a/templates/project_setup.html
+++ b/templates/project_setup.html
@@ -121,12 +121,12 @@
                     
                     <div class="mb-4">
                         <label class="form-label">Tropes (comma separated)</label>
-                        <input type="text" name="tropes" class="form-control" value="{{ s.tropes|join(', ') }}">
+                        <input type="text" name="tropes" class="form-control" value="{{ (s.tropes or [])|join(', ') }}">
                     </div>
-                    
+
                     <div class="mb-4">
                         <label class="form-label">Formatting Rules (comma separated)</label>
-                        <input type="text" name="formatting_rules" class="form-control" value="{{ s.formatting_rules|join(', ') }}">
+                        <input type="text" name="formatting_rules" class="form-control" value="{{ (s.formatting_rules or [])|join(', ') }}">
                     </div>
 
                     <div class="d-grid gap-2">
diff --git a/web/routes/project.py b/web/routes/project.py
index 9e20d57..c8a073d 100644
--- a/web/routes/project.py
+++ b/web/routes/project.py
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@ def project_setup_wizard():
     try: ai_setup.init_models()
     except: pass
 
-    if not ai_models.model_logic:
-        flash("AI models not initialized.")
-        return redirect(url_for('project.index'))
-
     prompt = f"""
     ROLE: Publishing Analyst
     TASK: Suggest metadata for a story concept.
@@ -67,13 +63,46 @@ def project_setup_wizard():
     }}
     """
 
+    _default_suggestions = {
+        "title": concept[:60] if concept else "New Project",
+        "genre": "Fiction",
+        "target_audience": "",
+        "tone": "",
+        "length_category": "4",
+        "estimated_chapters": 20,
+        "estimated_word_count": "75,000",
+        "include_prologue": False,
+        "include_epilogue": False,
+        "tropes": [],
+        "pov_style": "",
+        "time_period": "Modern",
+        "spice": "",
+        "violence": "",
+        "is_series": False,
+        "series_title": "",
+        "narrative_tense": "",
+        "language_style": "",
+        "dialogue_style": "",
+        "page_orientation": "Portrait",
+        "formatting_rules": [],
+        "author_bio": ""
+    }
+
     suggestions = {}
-    try:
-        response = ai_models.model_logic.generate_content(prompt)
-        suggestions = json.loads(utils.clean_json(response.text))
-    except Exception as e:
-        flash(f"AI Analysis failed: {e}")
-        suggestions = {"title": "New Project", "genre": "Fiction"}
+    if not ai_models.model_logic:
+        flash("AI models not initialized — fill in the details manually.", "warning")
+        suggestions = _default_suggestions
+    else:
+        try:
+            response = ai_models.model_logic.generate_content(prompt)
+            suggestions = json.loads(utils.clean_json(response.text))
+            # Ensure list fields are always lists
+            for list_field in ("tropes", "formatting_rules"):
+                if not isinstance(suggestions.get(list_field), list):
+                    suggestions[list_field] = []
+        except Exception as e:
+            flash(f"AI Analysis failed — fill in the details manually. ({e})", "warning")
+            suggestions = _default_suggestions
 
     personas = {}
     if os.path.exists(config.PERSONAS_FILE):
@@ -201,8 +230,33 @@ def create_project_final():
 
     try:
         ai_setup.init_models()
-        bible = planner.enrich(bible, proj_path)
-    except: pass
+        # Build a per-book blueprint matching what enrich() expects
+        first_book = bible['books'][0] if bible.get('books') else {}
+        bp = {
+            'manual_instruction': first_book.get('manual_instruction', concept),
+            'book_metadata': {
+                'title': bible['project_metadata']['title'],
+                'genre': bible['project_metadata']['genre'],
+                'style': dict(bible['project_metadata'].get('style', {})),
+            },
+            'length_settings': dict(bible['project_metadata'].get('length_settings', {})),
+            'characters': [],
+            'plot_beats': [],
+        }
+        bp = planner.enrich(bp, proj_path)
+        # Merge enriched characters and plot_beats back into the bible
+        if bp.get('characters'):
+            bible['characters'] = bp['characters']
+        if bp.get('plot_beats') and bible.get('books'):
+            bible['books'][0]['plot_beats'] = bp['plot_beats']
+        # Merge enriched style fields back (structure_prompt, content_warnings)
+        bm = bp.get('book_metadata', {})
+        if bm.get('structure_prompt') and bible.get('books'):
+            bible['books'][0]['structure_prompt'] = bm['structure_prompt']
+        if bm.get('content_warnings'):
+            bible['project_metadata']['content_warnings'] = bm['content_warnings']
+    except Exception:
+        pass
 
     with open(os.path.join(proj_path, "bible.json"), 'w') as f:
         json.dump(bible, f, indent=2)