I need to tell you about something that happened recently that has me feeling all the feelings.
You know that thing where you pour your heart into a book, send it out into the world, and wonder if anyone will truly get what you were trying to say? And then someone does. Not just someone, but a fellow author who understands the craft, who sees the layers, who connects with the heart of the story in a way that makes you feel like every late night and every revision was worth it.
That just happened to me, and I'm still processing.
The Beginning: A Book Signing and a Connection
Back in September, I had the incredible opportunity to share a signing table at Mad Red Books with Brian Rouff, a Las Vegas author whose work I deeply respect. We spent the afternoon chatting between book sales, talking craft and community and what it means to be a writer in this wild literary landscape we're all navigating.
Before he left, I gave him a signed copy of The Connectivity Hypothesis. Not with any expectation, you understand. Just author to author, one storyteller to another, the way we do in this community.
And then I kind of forgot about it. Life happened. I kept writing. I threw myself into my Las Vegas book tour, started planning my Colorado events, finished my eighth novel. You know, the usual Moore chaos.
The Email That Changed Everything
A few weeks ago, an email landed in my inbox. Brian had finished The Connectivity Hypothesis.
His initial message was kind, thoughtful, and specific in ways that told me he'd really engaged with the story. But it was one line that stopped me in my tracks:
"I especially liked the last fifty pages or so, beginning when the galactic council held its hearing and passed judgment on the humans. Thanks to your skills, I was able to project myself right into that scene."
That galactic council scene. The one I rewrote four times because I couldn't get the stakes right. The one where I wanted readers to feel the weight of humanity's future hanging in the balance. The one that matters most to the whole thesis of the book.
He got it. He really got it.
The Ask (And Why It Terrified Me)
Here's the thing about asking for testimonials: it's vulnerable as hell. You're basically saying, "Hey, did you like my work enough to publicly endorse it?" What if they say no? What if they thought it was just okay? What if they regret agreeing?
But I've learned something about building this creative universe of mine: sometimes you have to be brave enough to ask for what you need. So I sent Brian a follow-up email, explained that I'd love a testimonial if he was willing, and tried not to hold my breath while I waited for his response.
His reply? "It would be my pleasure (and honor) to provide a testimonial."
I sent him questions about the book. About the themes. About what resonated. About his experience reading it. And then I waited again, this time genuinely nervous about what he might say.
The Response That Made Me Cry
Today, his answers came through, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I sat at my desk and cried. The good kind of crying. The kind where you realize someone saw exactly what you were trying to create and found value in it.
Let me share some of what Brian wrote:
"With the ongoing emphasis on neurodivergent individuals in the media and in real life, I'm certain the thought has occurred to many people that maybe this is a new form of evolutionary development, something that will ultimately be good for the human species and our world. Author Mariah Tyler Moore has taken that big idea and run with it, carrying it to its logical conclusion in the near (and far) future."
That right there? That's everything. The whole point of The Connectivity Hypothesis is to reframe neurodivergence not as deficit but as evolutionary advantage. Not as something to fix but as something that might literally save humanity. Brian got it. He understood the thesis.
But then he said something that hit even deeper:
"As the grandfather of two neurodivergent grandchildren, I was able to easily relate to Lila, our protagonist, as well as Dot, her step-grandmother, and Dr. Tanaka, Lila's mentor. I especially loved the way the main characters worked together in an attempt to prevail against the longest odds."
This! This is why I write. Not for the sales numbers (though I won't pretend they don't matter). Not for the bestseller rankings (though that #1 spot for The Spaces Between Us felt pretty damn good). I write to create connection. To help people feel less alone. To offer representation and hope and a vision of a world where our differences are our strengths.
Brian's grandchildren. His personal connection to the themes. The fact that this story resonated with him not just as a reader or as a fellow author, but as someone who loves neurodivergent people and wants to see them reflected in hopeful, powerful ways.
I'm crying again just writing about it.
The Comparison That Still Has Me Shook
And then Brian wrote this, and I genuinely had to read it three times to believe it was real:
"I would recommend this book to any fan of old school speculative fiction, such as those drawn to Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land or Clarke's Childhood's End."
Heinlein. Clarke. Two titans of the genre. Two authors whose work shaped modern science fiction. And Brian sees The Connectivity Hypothesis in conversation with their legacy.
I don't even know what to do with that level of validation. Frame it? Tattoo it? Print it on business cards?
I'm probably going to do all three.
What This Means (Beyond My Feelings)
Look, I know testimonials are marketing tools. I know they serve a practical purpose in helping potential readers decide whether to take a chance on a book. I know this is "content" and "brand building" and all those industry buzzwords.
But this testimonial is more than that to me.
It's validation that my approach to building this creative universe matters. That refusing to fit into neat little boxes and instead writing across genres, creating music, developing workshops, and building community is actually working. Brian said it himself:
"Today's declining readership and ultra-competitive marketing environment means it's not enough to simply be a good author. I believe anything that helps a writer establish their market position and rise above the crowd is essential for moving books and establishing a lasting brand identity and Mariah's approach to building her creative universe does exactly that."
It's confirmation that the themes I'm exploring resonate beyond my own experience. That stories about neurodivergence as strength, about found family, about the Wounded Healer archetype have an audience that spans generations and perspectives.
It's proof that authentic vulnerability in storytelling creates real connections. That writing from the rawest, most honest parts of yourself isn't self-indulgent... it's necessary.
An Invitation
If you've been curious about The Connectivity Hypothesis but haven't taken the plunge yet, maybe Brian's words will nudge you over the edge.
This book is for you if:
- You love old school speculative fiction
- You're looking for hopeful sci-fi that wrestles with big questions about humanity's future
- You want to see neurodivergence portrayed as evolutionary advantage rather than deficit
- You're drawn to stories about found family and characters working together against impossible odds
You can grab it on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. And if you do read it, please let me know what you think. Send me an email. Leave a review. Tag me on social media. I genuinely want to hear from you.
Because that's what this is all about, isn't it? Connection. Community. Building bridges between our different minds and hearts and experiences through the power of story.
A Thank You
Brian, if you're reading this: thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read my work. Thank you for seeing what I was trying to create. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and your generosity and your willingness to share your perspective. Thank you for being the kind of fellow author who lifts others up.
And to everyone who's supported my work, who's shown up at book signings, who's bought my books or listened to my music or joined my Found Family: thank you. You're the reason I keep creating. You're the reason I believe in the power of art to help us feel less alone.
What's Next
I'm gearing up for the November release of my eighth novel, Sweet Little Unforgettable Thing (yes, it's an erotic romantasy, and yes, it's completely different from The Connectivity Hypothesis, and yes, that's exactly the point). I'm finishing up my Las Vegas book tour. I'm planning my Q1 2026 Colorado bookstore tour. I'm pitching my Radical Resilience workshop to all 25 branches of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.
And I'm doing it all with a little more confidence today, thanks to Brian's words reminding me why this work matters.
Let's keep building this community together. Let's keep telling stories that matter. Let's keep creating space for all kinds of minds and hearts and experiences.
Want to read Brian's complete testimonial? Here it is in all its glory:
TESTIMONIAL FOR THE CONNECTIVITY HYPOTHESIS
By Brian Rouff, Author
"With the ongoing emphasis on neurodivergent individuals in the media and in real life, I'm certain the thought has occurred to many people that maybe this is a new form of evolutionary development, something that will ultimately be good for the human species and our world. Author Mariah Tyler Moore has taken that big idea and run with it, carrying it to its logical conclusion in the near (and far) future.I found the galactic council scene near the end of the story—in which a cadre of watchful alien representatives vote on the future of humanity—to be particularly compelling. The author paints the picture with skill, empathy, and compassion, enabling me as the reader to project myself right into the drama and imagine how I would act in a similar situation.As the grandfather of two neurodivergent grandchildren, I was able to easily relate to Lila, our protagonist, as well as Dot, her step-grandmother, and Dr. Tanaka, Lila's mentor. I especially loved the way the main characters worked together in an attempt to prevail against the longest odds.I would recommend this book to any fan of old school speculative fiction, such as those drawn to Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land or Clarke's Childhood's End. It's a well-written cutting edge story with relatable characters and a positive message."— Brian Rouff, Author
About the Author
Mariah Tyler Moore is a multi-genre author and lyricist operating under the "Radical Resilience" brand. She has published eight novels spanning contemporary romance, dark fantasy, science fiction, and self-help, plus over 115 songs across streaming platforms. Her work explores themes of found family, neurodiversity as strength, and the Wounded Healer archetype. She is currently based between central Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada, where she works as a Staff Writer for the Sanpete Messenger and continues her West Coast book tour.
Connect with Mariah
- Website: www.mariahtylermoore.com
- Email: mooremariaht@gmail.com
- Phone: (435) 262-9327
- Books: Amazon Author Page
- Music: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music