New Novel Soon!

I sent out my last newsletter over a year ago and in the interim there have been several major developments. First, I'm still alive after seven and a half years with ALS, which is a pleasant surprise and a boon to my literary endeavors. Second, in 2024 Invention Is a Mother was a finalist in five literary contests, in categories ranging from humor to visionary fiction. Third, I finished a second book, CARE GIVE OR TAKE!

CARE GIVE OR TAKE is about living with the assistance of caregivers. As you might expect, the transition to caregivers is framed as an alien abduction and life with caregivers is framed as an alien invasion--though not a very good one. If you've let your guard down and aliens aren't your first association with caregivers, then let this be a wakeup call. Someday on your journey into decrepitude you'll find yourself in the hands of caregivers and you'll think, Oh, that's what he meant! and you'll be prepared to defend yourself…but only if you read the novel.

Sadly, that's the best I've got for a promotional blurb. Reminding readers of aging's inevitability is probably a terrible marketing tactic. 

CARE GIVE OR TAKE, in paperback and ebook, will be available for pre-order sometime in early February and I'll let you know exactly when. I'm shooting for a publication date at the end of February.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Top Gun on Wheels

Top Gun on Wheels

Last Spring I moved to a new wheelchair that is controlled by eye-gaze. I've also switched most of my time writing to eye-gaze typing. The technology seems to fascinate people so my son Conor put together a video to show what it's like. Check it out! It's a dramatic story: 

https://youtu.be/GBc8OHR4Ts0
Contests!

I entered Invention Is a Mother in literary contests last spring and results are trickling in. The novel was one of three finalists in the American Fiction Awards' visionary fiction category, but was not picked as winner. The Cygnus science fiction award by Chanticleer moved me to the long list and then the short list and now I'm waiting to see if I get selected as a semifinalist. More literary contest results are announced through early next year.

Jesus Makes an Appearance 

Our friend Clark visited from Northern California and brought this amazing t-shirt he created with the assistance of one of those fun new degenerative AI programs that are destroying our civilization. (Invention Is a Mother is suggested supplemental reading if you don't recognize the references.)

Thank you for your continued interest and support!

Literary Improv

Over the past year, I've been slowly creating material for a second novel. I'd like it to be funny, but funny is harder for me to come by these days. That's where you come in! Near the top of my website's homepage, I added a suggestion box for anyone to anonymously offer a funny word or phrase. I'll do my best to incorporate your offering into the narrative and hopefully one day you'll see yourself in print. There is no limit to the number of offerings you can make. English words in common usage, especially folksy words, will get priority. Please share your version of funny!

Search Me Update

The search phrase that most frequently suggests my website is currently "book marketing consultant." That's a sad commentary on the desperation of independent authors, if you ask me. My name also appears near the top of the list, but no one searching for "Rob Brownell" chose my search result. My conclusion: somewhere out there is a more interesting version of me. I can accept that I have a doppelgänger or that I'm a clone, but it stings to find that I'm not the best me.

If you're keeping score, my website was suggested twice for the phrase "mother nudes" and once for the phrase "momy nudes" (sic).

Six Years

The end of June marks six years that I have survived ALS. I was surprised that I was able to finish Invention Is a Mother and I'm even more surprised that I'm putting effort into another book. Hopefully you're in the camp where those news items are all good news, Thank you to the many people who offered kindness and support over those years.

Technology Update

The crack inventors at the Syllaballistics Product Lab recently announced a competitor to Apple's VR headset. We're tentatively calling it the iBall and it will be released with a killer app called The Darkness Simulator. Here's a picture of me demonstrating the new technology at our launch event. I'm using the Riding in a Convertible With the Lights Off on a Moonless Night module. So believable!

Search Me?

Promo

Loyal supporters, I'm excited to let you know that I've been working with a book marketing consultant and we are putting together promotions to increase readership of Invention Is a Mother. To that end, I want to alert you that I'm advertising the Invention Is a Mother e-book for $0.99 from March 17- 31, 2023.

This affiliate link will take you directly to the Amazon Kindle page: https://amzn.to/3KFxIZD  (Please share that link in your many social media postings)

Readers will recognize that my opinion of marketing is… not glowing, and question whether a marketing engagement is doomed from the get-go. I'm framing it as bravely facing my worst fears. There is no light without darkness! (I heard that recently in reference to surviving a zombie dystopia, which struck me as a fair analog for publishing today.)

For those of you who haven't yet left a review and need to clear your conscience, the $0.99 price also presents a guilt-busting opportunity to buy the Kindle version from Amazon, wait a few days, and then leave a verified Amazon review. My consultant tells me that a handful of reviews from verified buyers will substantially boost my book's credibility. Reviews can be just one sentence, you're not required to leave your name, and I encourage honesty, not flattery. Honest flattery is completely acceptable.

Thank you for helping me spread the love to new readers.

Disturbing Nudes
Yesterday, I reviewed search terms that generated clicks to my syllaballistics.com website. One individual had searched for the phrase mother nudes and because I had jokingly used the word nudes in my previous newsletter, Google offered the person my site, which they found enticing and obligingly clicked. Not wanting to imagine what the individual was actually searching for, I reflexively decided they were twisted... and possibly an avid reader, which is a demographic combination I could work with. No, I did not investigate my mother nudes search competition.

I prefer being associated with highfalutin keywords like novels for intelligent readers or best humorous fiction of 2022/2023 or visionary metaphysical fiction, but you have to meet your audience where they live. Theoretically, by relating this story in my newsletter and repeating the offending phrase, I increase the likelihood that future mother nudes fans will be offered my site as a search result. Verification of that theory will be reported in future newsletters.

Bunny
The mother nudes incident reminded me of when I helped develop concepts for an animatronic animal's tail mechanism and was warned by a colleague to exercise caution if I chose to Google robotic tail. In that case I did investigate the search term. Beyond the drawings of cyborg vixens, the search led to the subculture known as "Furries" — people who dress/identify partially or completely as animals. Years later, that discovery bubbled back out of my imagination as Bunny, Invention Is a Mother's feral engineer. True story.

--

Rob Brownell
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Syllaballistics nudes

My voice control is punishing me today for reasons it won't reveal. That subject header should have read news not nudes. Sorry to disappoint.

Speaking of improving disability technology, I'm excited to tell you that Function Engineering is part of an NSF project to improve the design of power wheelchairs. We are a member of a collective headed by researchers at Northwestern University. Other team members are Team Gleason, Relay Robotics, and LUCI. You can read more details about the NSF grant and its goals in this gnus release from Northwestern University.

Kickstarter Books Shipped!

I'm excited to announce that the Syllaballistics shipping department delivered Kickstarter books and merch to the post office yesterday! We did a couple of USPS test shipments and believe you should expect delivery within one week, but please allow two weeks.

Invention Is a Mother launches publicly on November 17th. I would appreciate a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or wherever you typically leave reviews. The quantity of reader reviews, in addition to positive ratings, has a strong influence on how well a book is received.

If the story isn't to your taste, consider my grandmother's advice: if you don't have something nice to say, then don't air your opinion online.

Thank you to my Kickstarter supporters for helping me reach this milestone, I couldn't have done it without your support. I hope you find some small pleasure in what I've written.

Ta-da! The Cover Reveal!

What do the graphics mean? Excellent question. Read the book to find out.

PROOFS!

I received proof copies of the paperback and the hardback and they look amazing! I'm making a few small tweaks and will then order copies for my loyal Kickstarter supporters. I can't predict exactly when I'll be able to ship the advance copies, but my goal is mid October. The book will go on sale to the public in mid November (tentatively).

Spread the word, production copies are available for preorder!

Once launched, the book will be available through a wide variety of online retailers. Some of them are taking preorders now. If you missed out on the Kickstarter advance order, this is your next best opportunity to live on literature's cutting edge. Follow the Preorder Now links at the top of the page!

Thank you for your continued interest in my Invention Is a Mother adventure!

Invention Is a Mother is Complete! (mostly)

A Mother of an Update
I'm happy to let everyone know that Invention Is a Mother's cover art, cover text, and interior design are finished! I'll review proof copies in the upcoming weeks and then it's time to order books to share with my Kickstarter supporters! Any remaining punctuation or spelling errors will henceforth be referred to as "creative intent."

In the near future, I'll reveal the cover design developed by artist Carlo Giambarresi and graphic designer Jude May. Check out their work, they've both been incredibly inspiring to work with!

Merch
I'm also pleased to report that all the Kickstarter merch (T-shirts, beanies, engraved straws, kitchen towels) is in my possession and ready to be shipped along with the books, once they are ready. Photographic evidence will be forthcoming.

Technology News
Early this year, I had a conversation with Sung Kim, the owner of Function Engineering, and I commented that power wheelchairs were way behind in technology — they have less intelligence and fewer safety features than factory robots and even consumer gizmos we have helped design. Though I haven't verified it, I don't believe my wheelchair would prevent me from driving off the top of a flight of steps. I can verify that it drives over the feet of caregivers without warning.

Sung generously reached out to industry contacts and I'm pleased to report that Function is in discussions with Team Gleason and other groups developing technology for the disabled. We are still figuring out how to fit into that landscape, but I'm optimistic that Function will be able to contribute expertise.

Stay Tuned!

Thank you for this Kickstarter adventure! Stay tuned…

A huge THANK YOU! for participating in my Invention Is a Mother Kickstarter campaign! We closed at just over $10,000 — four times my original goal! I’m incredibly grateful for your support and I hope to reward you with laughter once I get the book in your hands.

Additional thanks to everyone who donated to my Team Gleason ALS fundraiser. We collectively contributed over $11,000 and it will be put to good use, providing technology and support to people like me who are living with ALS.

Special thanks to Alessandor Earnest for floating the Kickstarter idea and for providing invaluable support with its execution.

I’m busy regrouping after the campaigns and will provide regular updates on our publication journey. In the coming weeks please keep an eye out for emails. I will be asking for additional information to ensure accurate fulfillment.

I am humbled by your generosity. I can't say it enough: thank you!

Urgent update from Syllaballistics HQ

Good news!

My Team Gleason fundraiser broke $10,000! I can't believe it! Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

There's more… I received feedback from one more author this week.

“Invention Is a Mother is a sharp, wickedly funny look at science, fiction, life, death, pitch meetings, insane flights of fancy and technology that will either kill you or save you but you’ll never know unless we can sell it. It made me laugh in despair and laugh in joy, which are the best two ways to laugh. I loved it.”

—Will Leitch, author of How Lucky

My Kickstarter and ALS fundraiser both end this Sunday, June 19. Don't miss out.

You still have time to preorder Invention Is a Mother and to donate to ALS charity Team Gleason, but the clock is ticking!

Final week to preorder Invention Is a Mother and to donate to Team Gleason!

If you're the kind of person who works best under pressure, your moment is now! Please donate to Team Gleason and preorder your copy of Invention Is a Mother on Kickstarter while you still have the chance! Both campaigns end this Sunday, June 19, and I'd love to see a strong finish in the final week.

161 copies of Invention Is a Mother have been preordered so far, and the Team Gleason fundraiser sits at $8,728. Finishing with 200 copies sold and $10,000 for Team Gleason would be amazing, and we are incredibly close!

Remember! If you donate $100 and also preorder a copy of my book, you'll get your name listed in the acknowledgments. If thirteen more people generously donate $100 this week, we'll hit $10k! Who wants to be immortalized for a good deed?

All donations, no matter the size, are a huge help to someone living with ALS. Here are some examples of what your contribution could mean:

• $7 covers a smart switch for home automation.

• $30 buys a headset microphone, which is used to record and digitize the voice of someone with ALS while they are still able to speak.

• $50 funds approximately 2 hours of respite care.

• $100 pays for home automation software.

• $350 is enough for an iPad that will help a patient with ALS to communicate when they have difficulty speaking.

• $500 purchases a Surface Pro that can be mounted to a wheelchair and controlled by eye movement.

• $1,000 buys a wheelchair mount for a communication device.

• $2,000 provides an iLevel seat elevator for a wheelchair.

• $5,000 enables a bucket-list adventure.

Your individual contributions will help people living with ALS, and our combined giving can have a life-changing effect. Team Gleason helped me personally by funding my wheelchair seat elevator. They funded my digital voice so I can continue to communicate with my loved ones and bark commands at my caregivers. ALS can try, but with Team Gleason's help, it won't take that away from me!

If you've already donated or are uncomfortable donating to charities, you can still help by sharing my campaigns with a friend or posting on social media, it would mean a lot to me.

Thank you again to everyone for your amazing support of Invention Is a Mother and my Team Gleason ALS fundraiser! It's been a wild ride.

More exciting news from Syllaballistics HQ!

Thank you to everyone who has backed my Kickstarter campaign and my ALS fundraiser. I'm overwhelmed by your support!

I'm excited to report that Bill Burnett, author of Designing Your Life, graciously read an advance copy of Invention Is a Mother and provided an endorsement!

“Fans of oddball science fiction are going to love Rob Brownell’s new novel, Invention Is a Mother. Starting with a quirky cast, an unlikely hero, and a bunch of superfluous technology, Rob crafts a romp through startup land that is fun and moves fast. Invention Is a Mother is potentially the new Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—be the first one on your block to back the project on Kickstarter and get a copy ahead of what I predict will be a legion of readers.”

—Bill Burnett, Co-Author of Designing Your Life and Designing Your New Work Life

Bill is the executive director of Stanford University's Life Design Lab and is an adjunct professor.

Check out the Merch

Our crack quality assurance team is putting our InAction!! beanies through their paces. You too can be ahead of the style curve! Check out our fantastic gold color offering…

My ALS fundraiser on Team Gleason, my Kickstarter campaign, and your opportunity to preorder Invention Is a Mother all close on June 19 — Lou Gehrig's birthday and Father's Day. Please support my fundraiser and publishing effort.

News from Syllaballistics HQ

Great news from our bustling Syllaballistics HQ (my porch)!

I’m starting to receive comments from authors who have read advance copies of Invention Is a Mother. Here’s the first “blurb” that I will proudly display on the back of the novel:

“Rob Brownell’s sharply-written Invention Is a Mother somehow manages to be witty, absurd, playful, imaginative, cynical, sad, compelling, heartfelt, and darkly hilarious all in one. Full of boozy wormholes, sentient appliances, multiple Jesuses, automated buffets, and many other colorful sci-fi abstractions, this book will not only make you think and feel, but also smile.”

— Dan Marshall, author of Home Is Burning

Campaign update…

Many thanks for following Invention Is a Mother and my Team Gleason ALS campaign. The book launch has exceeded 300% of my initial goal and the team Gleason fundraiser is closing in on 300%! Both campaigns run until June 19 and there’s still time to get in on the action if you’ve been on vacation.

More updates to beguile you!

To mark the occasion of reaching 300% of our Kickstarter goal, on Monday, June 6, we’ll be making 25 “signed” copies of the paperback available for preorder. We quickly sold out of the signed hardback limited run, so we’re expecting this new reward tier to go quickly.

On Monday we are also releasing a T-shirt design pulled from the text of the novel. Professional artist Jack Thorne designed the graphics.

Is there more you can do to help?

Yes, please share a link to my Kickstarter campaign on your social media of choice: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robbrownell/invention-is-a-mother

Thank you for your amazing support!

Wow! I reached my funding goals in the first day! Here’s me and my sisters looking surprised in an outtake of our dramatic reenactment of hearing the good news.

I think we can all agree that it’s a fine line between looking surprised and looking horrified.

I’m truly touched by the outpouring of support for my book and Team Gleason. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and generosity, not to mention the speed with which you responded. You are amazing!

Since we zoomed past my overly-cautious Kickstarter goal, I’m seriously curious to see how wide an audience my book can reach. If you haven't already, it's a great time to grab your own copy. We can print as many copies of Invention Is a Mother as you order!

Thank you especially for your generous support of my Team Gleason fundraiser! It goes without saying that people living with ALS will benefit from all donations to Team Gleason, regardless of my initial goal.

Alessandor (my editor and fundraising collaborator) says that if we can reach $5000 on Kickstarter and $6000 for Team Gleason, she'll film herself doing something embarrassing a la the Ice Bucket Challenge. I’m taking suggestions.

And just a reminder that if you donate at least $100 to Team Gleason and preorder a book, I’ll list your name in the book’s acknowledgments.

Thank you once again! It’s incredibly exciting for me to see this project bloom.

INVENTION IS A MOTHER is now available for preorder on Kickstarter!

Thank you for joining my book launch/fundraiser! I’m excited to let you know that my novel, INVENTION IS A MOTHER, is now available for preorder on Kickstarter!

TAKE ME TO KICKSTARTER NOW!

I am running a concurrent fundraising campaign for Team Gleason, a nonprofit focused on providing technology to people living with ALS. The fundraiser is separate from the Kickstarter project so that you can get a tax deduction for your direct donations and so that the tax man doesn’t come knocking at my door.

After you preorder your book on Kickstarter, please donate to my campaign at Team Gleason. You’ll find instructions and a link on my Kickstarter page, or you can follow the link below.

TAKE ME TO THE TEAM GLEASON CAMPAIGN NOW!

My editor will be throwing a Launch Party from 3-5 PM EDT on May 25 in conjunction with Towel Day, which celebrates the legacy of Douglas Adams. Remember to BYOT (bring your own towel)! You can RSVP on Eventbrite at the link below.

TAKE ME TO PARTY PLANET NOW!

Be sure to check out the ad-on offerings available for purchase along with the book on Kickstarter. New items will be added each week, so stay tuned!
During the first week, we’ll have:

• INVENTION IS A MOTHER in paperback, hardcover, and ebook format!

• Early Bird Special: Get $10 off the hardcover edition if you buy it within the first week of launch!

• If you make a $100 donation to Team Gleason AND preorder the novel on Kickstarter, your name will be listed in the acknowledgements section of the book.

• TUCKERIZATION! For $150, you could have a minor character named after you! Only two available until May 27, so hurry!

• May 25 Launch Party Exclusive: Custom Embroidered Towel

• A set of three reusable steel drinking straws engraved with ALS SUCKS AND SO CAN YOU! It’s the last straw you’ll ever need unless you leave it behind at a restaurant! Good thing there are three in a pack.

Both campaigns run until June 19. For the symbolically minded, May is ALS Awareness Month, May 25 is Towel Day, June 2 is Lou Gehrig Day recognized by MLB, and June 19 is Lou Gehrig’s birthday. This June also marks the fifth anniversary of my ALS diagnosis.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!