iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 30/09/2026

Hey so, this was in the mail today. Original postage is from 7/27/06, just made it to the mailbox today. Looked like this when I got it. If you know Jessica Metrick from Clearwater, let her know I apparently have her wedding negatives from 20 years ago.

Image of an old envelope with a lot of writing all over it.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 06/08/2026

We decided it was time to let BabyPurrPurr go. She passed at home yesterday in my arms. While we are devastated, this was the best choice for her. Please keep her in your thoughts.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 06/06/2026

Nexus of Worlds: The Escape 🏛️ Cult vibes ☣️ Dystopia colony 🔥 Escape at gunpoint 👨‍👩‍👦 Parents who prioritize their son 👽 Aliens 🧬 Engineered bloodlines 🙏 Theology crisis 🩸Violent secrets 🪐 First contact 🌐 Post scarcity society Read it here: NicholasBallou.com/contents #booksky #scifi #serial

Colorful space scene with the words “Nexus of Worlds: The Escape”

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 27/05/2026

Things are really heating up for The Escape. 20 chapters posted, and the next one posts this Friday: James takes a trip unlike he ever could have imagined. #writing #wip #serial #scifi

The Escape

Premise
In Earth Year 2514, James Moore is doing his best to live his life exactly as his colony expects. Anything less could be death for him, his wife, and even his son. But James knows things others in the colony don’t, things the colony founders wanted forgotten. Now James has a choice: stay and live with his secret knowledge or flee for a chance at a better life.
If he’s wrong about life outside, the colony militia won’t have to kill him… the aliens will.

1. The Intervention (Free)
2. The Cleansing (Free)
3. The Plan (Free)
4. The Induction (Free)
5. The Threat (Free)
6. The Bible (Free for limited time)
7. The Moment (Free for limited time)
8. The Shot (Free for limited time)
9. The Trees (Free for limited time)
10. The Claws (Free for a limited time)
11. The Death (Paid)
12. The Ship (Paid)
13. The Arrival (Paid)
14. The Brother (Paid)
15. The Translation (Paid)
16. The Questions (Paid)
17. The Tests (Paid)
18. The Results (Paid)
19. The Decision ( Paid)
20. The Meeting (Standard and Full Access)
21. The Integrity (Coming Soon!)

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 27/05/2026

All proceeds from Nexus of Worlds for the next four months will go directly to BabyPurrPurr’s chemo treatments. Please consider subscribing, or leaving a small tip. Plus, you get to read some pretty awesome stories! Can’t afford a sub or tip? Please share the story. NicholasBallou.com/contents

Me, smiling and sitting in a desk chair with a beautiful calico cat sitting on the back. I was 21 and she was 1.

Me, sitting in a desk chair with a beautiful calico cat sitting on the back. I was 33 and she was 13.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 25/05/2026

This stuff works way better than Febreze.

Amazon listing for a bottle of Zero Odor Pro

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 23/05/2026

I would love to hear your thoughts on my story. The first 10 chapters are free! Plus, there's bonus content! Give it a quick read and let me know what you think. NicholasBallou.com/contents

Space scene with text that says

The Escape
James could have everything. Money. Power. Respect.

He chooses freedom

If he's wrong about life outside, it would mean death

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 15/05/2026

My oldest, sweetest cat has been diagnosed with cancer. She is the light of my life and truly the reason I got through some very dark times. Please keep her in your thoughts. She has an oncology appointment next week so we will see what they say.

Beautiful calico cat curled up on an open book

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 01/05/2026

Chapter Eighteen of The Escape is up! Catch up today! The Moore family is learning new things in their new living situation, and the have a surprise encounter. #Booksky #writing #WIP NicholasBallou.com/contents

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 25/04/2026

Chapter Seventeen of The Escape is up! Dive right in to chapter one and get caught up. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story. #Writing #WIP www.nicholasballou.com/chapter-one-...

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 15/04/2026

This is not quite the breakdown in countries I would have expected for visitors to my site. Very glad to see I'm reaching people in such interesting places. I like to think my stories have a somewhat universal message. NicholasBallou.com/contents

Breakdown of countries by number of visitors:
United States
People's Republic of China
India
Spain
United Kingdom
Unknown

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 03/04/2026

(1/2) Had a few surprises in my DNA results. I knew my 8th great grandmother was Mexican, but I did not expect Icelandic or Central Asian ancestry to pop up. I know the most recent common ancestor of all humans lived 2000-5000 years ago, probably along the silk road.

Map of the world with shaded regions showing my DNA heritage: Central Asia, Mexico, Iceland, the UK, and parts of wester Europe.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 20/03/2026

Chapter twelve of THE ESCAPE posted. James and his family encounter humans outside the colony for the first time. Are they the evil monsters they learned about? Or something else entirely. Read to find out! 🎇 👱🏻👱🏼👱🏽👱🏾👱🏿 #writing #sci-fi #serialfiction www.nicholasballou.com/the-escape-c...

Space image with stars, green and purple nebulas, a satellite, and a planet

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 18/03/2026

My wife thinks my Goodwill find is haunted. But, how could I not get it? $5 is a steal.

Painted portrait of a goat in a 19th century pink dress. I am not kidding.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 16/03/2026

It’s Monday! That means a bonus content chapter premieres today, exclusive to my website. This chapter will be free for a limited time, so now’s a great time to dive in! And check out The Escape while you’re there. NicholasBallou.com/contents #scifi #writing #booksky

Space scene with a planet and nebulas and the text “Nexus of Worlds: The Escape”

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 10/03/2026

Sometimes continuing to write when it feels like no one is reading can be hard. Thinking our writing may not be that great or no one will ever read it really sucks. Just remember that putting words on paper already makes you more successful than those who don't even try. #writing

THE MAN IN THE ARENA IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLES, OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA, WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD; WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY; WHO ERRS, WHO COMES SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE IS NO EFFORT WITHOUT ERROR AND SHORTCOMING;
BUT WHO DOES ACTUALLY STRIVE TO DO THE DEEDS, WHO KNOWS GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTIONS; WHO SPENDS HIMSELF IN A WORTHY CAUSE; WHO AT THE BEST KNOWS IN THE END THE TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHO AT THE WORST, IF HE FAILS, AT LEAST FAILS WHILE DARING GREATLY, SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO NEITHER KNOW VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.
~ THEODORE ROOSEVELT

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 27/02/2026

Me five minutes ago: Heck yeah I'll publish! Me now:

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 26/02/2026

The Escape deals largely with escaping fascism and theocracy while embracing the ideas of compassion and diversity. Read now to follow James as he discovers life beyond the colony walls. Check out the discounted Celebration price! #booksky #sci-fi #writing reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...

Space scene with the text:
Nexus of Worlds
The Escape
Nicholas Ballou

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 23/02/2026

PS: I know not everyone approves of Substack. I am working on building my own website to host my work, but that will take time. Until then, enjoy discounted pricing for subscriptions on Ream, available until 2/28/26: reamstories.com/nicholasballou

Image of space in red, blue, and black, with green letters spelling: Nexus of Worlds

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 23/02/2026

Did you know that The Escape has bonus content? Most of it is available free right now. Side stories to the main narrative, but mostly standalone as well. #writing #booksky #serial reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...

Text on a space background. Text reads:

Nexus of Worlds
The Escape
Bonus Content
Nicholas Ballou

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 23/02/2026

Today is my birthday 🎉 To celebrate, I've discounted the price for Standard Access to Nexus of Worlds! Now $2.99/mo (disc. runs 7 days or 100 subs) Early access to the narrative and most of bonus content, both of which update weekly! #writing #scifi #serial #Ream reamstories.com/creator-hub/...

Colorful fireworks launching into the night sky with a satellite in the top left corner

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 21/02/2026

Hey there, #booksky I'm publishing a serial sci-fi story over on Ream. I'd love if you gave it a read and let me know what you think so far. The first five chapters are free to everyone🎉 I think you'll enjoy it, and can't wait to hear your thoughts reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...

Colorful space scene with the words:

"The year is 2514
In New Covent Colony
Hate. Misogyny. Bigotry. Fear.

They told James he is superior to everyone around him. In line to inherit the most powerful position in the colony, James questions everything.

Now James has to choose between power and freedom."

There is a small book in the lower right corner with a space scene on the cover and the words:

"Nexus of Worlds
The Escape"

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 21/02/2026

Chapter Eight is up for Standard and Full Access tiers! Follow James as his journey takes a little turn. Reality hurts sometimes. Ream is a platform for serial fiction, created by authors. Go ahead and check it out, it's awesome! #writing #scifi #fiction reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...

Image of space with blues and purple, with a partial view of a green planet on the right, a satellite in the top left corner, and centered words that say:

Nexus of Worlds
The Escape
Nicholas Ballou

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 21/02/2026

Some of the books I've read for background while writing The Escape. I have really enjoyed this excuse to read a ton of books! What kind of reading do you do for your writing? #writing #scifi #reading

Horizontal stack of 7 books:
-Ready Player One
-Stranger in a Strange Land
-Cultish
-The Survival Handbook
-Cults: Faith, Healing, and Coercion
-Cults: Inside the world's most notorious groups and understanding the people who joined them
-The Religions Book

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 20/02/2026

Where do you do your writing? Word? Docs? Scrivener? I type in Word, and then transfer it to OneNote, where I keep my story bible. Super great for organization of characters/places/outlines Anyone know any solid alternatives for MS products? Preferably that can sync from desktop to phone #writing

Screencap of a OneNote notebook labeled Nexus of Worlds, with tabs for Drafts, Characters, Plot, Species, Planets, Tech, Organizations, Events, Vessels, and Reference

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 19/02/2026

THE ESCAPE is a story about overcoming childhood indoctrination. Think HANDMAID'S TALE meets THE GIVER and turns into STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. James Moore is tired of hate and racism. He wants to meet aliens. Find it on Ream: reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...

Picture of space, in purples and blues, with a close up of a green planet on the right half (it's actually Earth!) and a satellite in the top left corner. The text says:

Nexus of Worlds
The Escape
Nicholas Ballou

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 17/02/2026

This is Ginger Minj. She is four years old. We found her abandoned in a parking lot when she was 4 months old. She ran into my arms and then wouldn’t let me put her down. She’s one of the loveliest cats I have ever met.

Cute orange cat holding on to the top of me head and cuddling my blond hair.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 08/02/2026

At nearly 34yo, my biggest accomplishment is 3M+ views on FFN 😂 Just logged on for the first time in years. I will not be reading these stories. #fanfiction

Screencap of an FFN stats page.

One story has 3,088,675 views

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 31/01/2026

THE ESCAPE centers on 22yo James Moore, raised in a theocratic colony and trained to fear and kill Satan's aliens, as the Bible commands. But James thinks the colony is wrong about what life is like outside the gates, and he plans to see for himself. #writing #scifi

Square image, rectangle on top of colorful space image with the words "Nexus of Worlds: The Escape"

Dark green square on bottom with white text:

Earth Year 2514
“Die, alien! Bang!”

I fell to the ground, grabbing my gut and making dramatic death sounds. My five-year-old son’s laughter filled the cavernous living room as he came fully out of the alcove clutching the toy gun I’d carved for him.

My wife Alaina emerged from the kitchen. “JJ, breakfast.” She looked down at me with her hazel eyes. “Are you prepared?”

“Yes.”

JJ did his best to help me up, and I let him think he really contributed, before he made his way to the kitchen.

Breakfast was fast and silent. Sunday mornings were tense for us. It would not do to be caught outside the church after the sermon began. Virtue Squads, specially trained groups from the militia, patrolled looking for just such people. My status as a militia officer was not guaranteed to exempt me. Less so, given who my father was.

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 27/01/2026

Not a reach. www.nbcnews.com/think/opinio...

Screencap of an article reading:

Many argue that the pervasive nature of antisemitic tropes means the Gringotts goblins and their ilk do no harm. Most children watching the “Harry Potter” films wouldn’t have picked up on the reference. The British charity Campaign Against Antisemitism, for example, tweeted a statement arguing that there are “centuries of association of Jews with grotesque and malevolent creatures in folklore” and that “those who continue to use such representations are often not thinking of Jews at all” but are innocently thinking “of how readers or viewers will imagine goblins to look.”

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Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.com · 13/01/2026

Do not diss the very valid Chonk Chart

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