iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 23/04/2025

Preparing for my bookstore reading this Saturday! Alex is hunting surveillance bugs in his apartment… (I’m in the basement because my wife has a conference call upstairs—I hope they can’t hear me!) #booksky

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 27/01/2025

Yarry, an interactive short story. Those with kids may identify. Those without kids may identify why they don’t have kids. #ExistentialTerror

zachary-dillon.itch.io

YARRY by Zachary Dillon

What's in a name?

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 17/01/2025

Dear Gen Z, You would love “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.” Sincerely, A millennial who wants an easy way to watch it with my son when he’s older

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 25/03/2024

By “film” do you mean “tabletop RPG”? This is my favorite JSRPG: gshowitt.itch.io/jason-statha...

gshowitt.itch.io

Jason Statham's Big Vacation by gshowitt

Make sure he has a good time, okay? Please.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 15/03/2024

This explains why I found “Four Weddings and a Funeral” so bizarre.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/03/2024

Hip Harp! I love the Ashby sketch.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/03/2024

It’s an incredible game, and the voices, sound, and music are fantastic. Great work. And cool fact about Murmur!

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 22/02/2024

I read an excerpt from my novel in a kitchen cupboard. Don’t worry, it makes sense. www.instagram.com/reel/C3neeXr... #indieauthor #mentalillness #paranoia #BookRecommendations

A still from a video of me (white, glasses, shaggy brown hair and beard—maybe exactly the look you’d expect of someone like me) looking a bit spooked while reading from my novel with a flashlight in a cramped kitchen cupboard, with the title text, “Kitchen Cupboard Story Time.”

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 20/02/2024

The charm of this plays counter to the creepy French name for toes: doigts de pieds, or “foot fingers.”

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 20/02/2024

I’m astonished to not see “Thermae Romae Novae” mentioned. Ancient Roman bathhouse architect unwittingly zaps through time and space, stealing ideas from modern Japanese bathing equipment and comforts. And the creator appears at the end of each ep, touring Japanese baths!

A still from anime “Thermae Romae Novae” showing two shirtless men in a tiled bathroom. One is a Japanese man wearing a green bathing visor. The other is an accidental time traveler from Ancient Rome, who is startled by the Japanese man and modern bathroom.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 13/02/2024

I asked ChatGPT to suggest titles for my novel based on a summary: "A man suffers persecution from auditory hallucinations he believes are his neighbors." The two best suggestions were: 1. The Sound of Silence 2. The Phantom Menace The robots will replace us with ourselves.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 13/02/2024

I once saw Ray Wise on a plane from Seattle (coincidence?), and in the terminal I said, "So sorry to hear about your Laura." He shook my hand and gave his evil laugh. It was a fun celebrity run-in, but after that interaction I felt weirdly complicit. A testament to the impact of Laura's story.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 13/02/2024

Not weird at all, this was a fascinating discussion of a fascinating movie.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 12/02/2024

Happy birthday! I’ve followed your work for a long time, so I know this is huge. I’m so happy for you.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 12/02/2024

That cover art is gorgeous! Even if the ad hadn’t featured the cat, this goes in my to-read. But don’t tell her that.

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Jane @fightingpride93.bsky.social · 24/07/2023

I'm a black trans woman fighting poverty and homelessness. To support myself, I set up a patreon where you can get access to all my recipes, poetry, artwork and photography for just £5. Something new EVERY SINGLE DAY. You won't regret it. patreon.com/fightingpride93

Hot dog with caramelised onions and cheese

Pasta with sliced hot dogs in a tomato sauce

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Reposted by Zachary Dillon

mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

I think the historical context on this is really important to understand and promote because the reality is that there's no inherent aversion to trans people in our culture, it's one that's been cultivated by explicit right wing propaganda as another way to divide the working class against itself

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Agreed! Though I’ve still got some Demme landmarks to catch up on. Swimming to Cambodia is really special.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Just found out there’s something called the “Cognitive Science Movie Index,” which is rad.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Whatever it is, it’s working. That album is incredible.

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Angela Woods @literarti.bsky.social · 28/10/2023

“We discuss why and how the experience of inner speech in neurodivergent groups has often been assumed rather than investigated, making it an important opportunity for researchers to develop innovative future work that integrates participatory insights with cognitive methodology.” 👌🏻

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Boak & Bailey (Jess & Ray) @boakandbailey.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

Fascinated by the sheer matter-of-factness of this story buried on page 8 of The Liverpool Daily Post, 29 March 1937 – “Ellen the barmaid is now Alan the barman.” Please update your address books. Now, what’ll you have?

BARMAID BECOMES BARMAN – GIRL RE-REGISTERED

The re-registration of seventeen-years-old Ellen Caldwell, a Crewe barmaid residing at Martin-street, as a male and her appearance at the hotel where she is employed smartly attired in man’s clothing has brought to a conclusion a remarkable episode of transformation. Last summer she sought medical advice and an operation was performed at Manchester Royal Infirmary. The operation was successful and her father has taken the necessary steps to have her re-registered this time as a male. She has changed her name to Alan and Ellen the barmaid is now Alan the barman.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

@lumpley.bsky.social, I’m starstruck to have you follow me. Your work with @megueyb.bsky.social has been a huge inspiration to me, both as a writer/storyteller and as a human.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Great list! Good call with “Everything, Everywhere…” The Daniels’ other movie “Swiss Army Man” is another beautiful antidote to depression and existential dread.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

When I was in a serious bout of depression, I watched Spalding Gray’s “Swimming to Cambodia” over and over for two weeks. It deals with heavy stuff, but is also funny and insightful. At the time it felt like he was the only other person who “got it,” and he was talking directly to me.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Congratulations! Can’t wait to hear more about it!

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Chantal James @chantalalive.blacksky.app · 16/01/2024

Recently published account of a professional philosopher on his schizophrenia. Subjective accounts of psychosis are vital for those who have & those who haven't experienced it. Note also that until now this author didn't feel free to disclose his diagnosis, as many are forced to live closeted.

academic.oup.com

From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

I am a 55-year-old husband, father, friend, and professional philosopher. In 1992, as a graduate student at Cambridge University, a porter found me amongst the

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

His descriptions of voices and “thought broadcasting” hit home for me. I translated my own experience with voices and paranoia into a novel, called “I Hear You Watching.” Like you, Chantal, I’ve gotten enthusiastic support from readers of my story. Break the stigma! Thanks for sharing.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Funny thing about the playing card shiv, I’ve got something you’ll be interested to see. Emailing you… For anyone else reading this, everything is totally fine.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 11/02/2024

Only a half dozen?! I guess people don’t often peruse bookshelves in the dark…

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John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

Was asked for the best writing advice I've heard: The point of a first draft is to exist. You can't edit and improve what isn't there. Thusly "internal editor" that prevents you from doing the work at all is actually an internal heckler that isn't constructive and doesn't deserve to be listened to.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

I am a proud owner of a physical copy of "Apollo 47" and the "Guide to Depression-Era Soap Carving Competitions." Your work is weird and wonderful. I gave a copy of "Soap Carving" to a friend who's a retired jail psychologist. He found it fascinating.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Here's where I apologize for the spoiler.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Sounds wonderful. Was it tough at first to divide your appreciation for such different takes on your book?

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Both of your covers pull me in and got me to preorder. They're gorgeous. I love the in-your-face wild darkness of the U.S. cover, but there's an ominous promise in those mushrooms on the UK edition... I'm curious, how much approval/input did you have in the cover design?

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Thank you, I agree! You could say Eliott "Blue me away" with their work. On the paperback it's a full wraparound!

Full wraparound book cover. Purple-blue vector illustration of L.A. apartment building at night, one window illuminated yellow through closed blinds. Dark windows show psychedelic swirls and eyes. White novel title "I Hear You Watching" looms over building.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Of course I wasn’t wearing my glasses when I noticed a faint green blur floating in the darkness. My mind considered strange and scary possibilities… Turned on the light, saw what it was, and said OUT LOUD, “Of course it does!”

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

I kept “Thousand Year Old Vampire” on my bedside bookshelf for a year before I discovered that it GLOWS IN THE DARK.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Just happened upon this relevant quote: "To suggest is to create; to describe is to destroy." - Robert Doisneau

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

@tadethompson.bsky.social You don’t know me, but I’m a fan who was sad about (but totally sympathetic to) your departure from the app formerly known as Twitter. Glad to find you here!

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Eliott Blue nailed the loneliness and psychedelic terror of my novel about hearing voices. Eliott’s site: eliott-blue-draws.blogspot.com

Purple-blue vector illustration of L.A. apartment building at night, one window illuminated yellow through closed blinds. White novel title "I Hear You Watching" looms.

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Zachary Dillon @zacharydillon.substack.com · 10/02/2024

Totally! The trick is that by design the footnotes break immersion to draw comparisons to reality (brilliant), so I wish the characters’ stories were deeper and more intimate as counterbalance. I felt like a stone skipping across the surface of the story.

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