Nicholas Ballou
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Nicholas Ballou
@nicholasballou.bsky.social
21 followers 18 following 85 posts
Sci-fi writer. Creator of Nexus of Worlds. On Substack and Ream, where The Escape posts every Friday.
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nicholasballou.bsky.social
Nicholas Ballou @nicholasballou.bsky.social · 7d
Update on chapter access for Nexus of Worlds!

First five chapters are free across platforms.

#writing #serial #scifi
Square image with blue/starry background reading: Subscriptions Ream Basic Access: $3 Full narrative, some bonus content Standard Access: $5 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Full Access: $10 Early access to full narrative, all bonus content Substack Monthly: $5 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Annual: $50 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Nexus Watch: $100/year Early access to full narrative, all bonus content, physical completed book
nicholasballou.bsky.social
So when are Uber and Lyft going to ban these from their platforms? I'm cancelling any ride if it pops up as a Tesla.
February 5, 2026 at 6:36 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Europeans: haha, stupid Americans never travel haha I travel all the time.

Me, an American: I used all of PTO last year for medical leave. My wife has to use a year of PTO to get her hysterectomy next month. We’ve never been on vacation.

Sooo, there’s that.
February 4, 2026 at 10:33 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I feel like people spend a lot of time creating false “us vs them” groups when it comes to politics. It really sounds like people are making up meanings for things for no reason.

We do not need a fancy name for every single stance.
February 4, 2026 at 10:00 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Do not let a single authority figure, mayor, council member, congressperson, senator or anyone else get away with any sort of “we didn’t know” defense.

They know. Everyone knows.
azrww.bsky.social Arizona Right Watch @azrww.bsky.social · 2d
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
February 4, 2026 at 5:45 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Not to be divisive but Elliot Stabler is a very bad cop.
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 AM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I have spent way more time driving a forklift than a regular car in my life, and it is never more obvious than when I try to reverse a car.

Because I turn on the left blinker.

Every time.
February 3, 2026 at 11:58 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
THE ESCAPE is sci-fi, despite what the first 10 or so chapters suggest.

It is the first entry in the Nexus of Planets universe, which will span centuries.

Enjoy getting lost in a new world filled with background and little details? Give it a read:

reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...
February 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I wonder if Republicans think Democrats make politicians their entire personality like Republicans tend to, and therefore think Democrats would be upset to see Bill Clinton imprisoned.

Meanwhile, only like 15% or something of people alive today even voted Bill Clinton for President.
February 3, 2026 at 6:57 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I am building the family tree for my MC and let me tell you. Since this colony is pronatalist, this is a huge number of people.

Can't decide if I should work top down or bottom up. Any genealogists want to weigh in? 😂 It's currently 25 generations.

#writing
February 3, 2026 at 6:28 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I started posting my writing, fanfiction at the time, way back in 2004, when I was 12.

Discovering serial publishing for my original work has been awesome! This is how I write best. Really enjoying it.

#writing #serial #scifi
February 3, 2026 at 5:59 AM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
I worked at Starbucks 2011-2013. It was quite the experience.

The discrepancy between the real working experience and the experience the company claimed was absolutely wild.
sbworkersunited.org Starbucks Workers United @sbworkersunited.org · 3d
If Starbucks won’t respect workers at the bargaining table, they don’t deserve our clicks or orders.

Our call to action is simple:

📱 Delete the Starbucks app. #DeleteTheApp

bit.ly/deletetheapp
IMAGE: a stylized cell phone with flames coming out of it. TEXT: Delete the Starbucks app off your phone. Seriously. Starbucks is the biggest violator of labor law in modern history. We have the power to tell them union-busting is bad for business. Don't shop at Starbucks until they do better by their baristas!
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 AM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
When questioning hate is illegal, compassion is radical.

How far would you go to escape tyranny?

#writing #scifI #NoW:TheEscape

Read on Substack: substack.com/@nicholasbal...

Read on Ream Stories: reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...
White text on space background. Small book in the lower right corner with “Nexus of Worlds: The Escape” and a space and planet background on the cover. Main text says: The year is 2514 In New Covenant Colony James learned 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.
February 3, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Ballou
nicholasballou.bsky.social
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.
January 31, 2026 at 4:37 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Bonus story LEGACY is posted on Substack.

Marcus Moore contemplates his father's faith.

#writing #scifi #NexusOfWorlds

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
Moore family tree in a wood frame. Faded tree image behind the images of the family. Mark Moore married Ada Moore. They had Marcus Moore, who married Chrstine Bly. They had James Moore, who married Alaina Hart
February 2, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ballou
katmabu.bsky.social
CHICAGOANS!!!!

Voting is open for the annual snowplow naming contest. And “Abolish Ice” is one of the options.

You know what to do (vote): chicagoshovels.org
February 1, 2026 at 6:55 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Nexus of Worlds, especially the New Covenant Colony, has some very specific terminology. Here's a glossary of terms!

I'll keep updating as the story progresses.

Let me know what you think!

#writing #scifi

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
Glossary
In-universe terms for reference
open.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:43 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
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.
January 31, 2026 at 4:37 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
New free bonus story is up on Ream!

The Thraqian Incident

14-year-old James encounters an alien.

#writing #serial #scifi #NoW:TheEscape

reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...
Ream
A membership platform built by authors for authors.
reamstories.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:23 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
New bonus story up on Substack!

The Thraqian Incident

14-year-old James encounters an alien.

#writing #serial #scifi #NoW:TheEscape

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
The Thraqian Incident
James encounters an alien
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:07 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Chapter Six is up on Substack! Things are heating up and it’s going to get very serious.

This chapter has a free preview, but is paywalled.

Keep an eye out for the bonus story, The Thraqian Incident, later today. Free to everyone!

#writing #serial #scifi

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
The Escape: Chapter Six: The Bible
In a rush, I explained everything my father said.
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:48 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Chapter Six is up on Ream! The journey is getting dangerous.

This chapter is available to subscribers, but the first five chapters are free to all.

Keep any eye out for the next free bonus story, The Thraqian Incident, later to day!

#writing #serial #scifi

reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...
Ream
A membership platform built by authors for authors.
reamstories.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:46 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Update on chapter access for Nexus of Worlds!

First five chapters are free across platforms.

#writing #serial #scifi
Square image with blue/starry background reading: Subscriptions Ream Basic Access: $3 Full narrative, some bonus content Standard Access: $5 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Full Access: $10 Early access to full narrative, all bonus content Substack Monthly: $5 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Annual: $50 Early access to full narrative, most bonus content Nexus Watch: $100/year Early access to full narrative, all bonus content, physical completed book
January 29, 2026 at 7:32 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
The Escape is now live on Ream. The first two chapters are up and free!

#writing #serial

reamstories.com/page/mkyh5g9...
Ream
A membership platform built by authors for authors.
reamstories.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:55 AM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
The Escape begins in the New Covenant Colony, a closed society where the Bible is law and the enemy is the alien horde. Beginning with a carefully selected group of humans, New Covenant was meant to be a safe haven for humanity.

Or was it?

#writing

nicholasballou.substack.com/p/introducti...
Introduction: The Escape
Premise and Table of Contents
nicholasballou.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:46 PM
nicholasballou.bsky.social
Chapter 5 is live.

James has endured a lot in his life in New Covenant. He's planned his escape for years.

Now is the moment to act.

#writing

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
The Escape: Chapter Five: The Threat
Marcus Moore makes a demand.
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:36 PM