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

First five chapters are free across platforms.

#writing #serial #scifi
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
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
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
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.
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
Not to be divisive but Elliot Stabler is a very bad cop.
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 AM
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 AM
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...
February 3, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Ballou
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
January 31, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Bonus story LEGACY is posted on Substack.

Marcus Moore contemplates his father's faith.

#writing #scifi #NexusOfWorlds

open.substack.com/pub/nicholas...
February 2, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ballou
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
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
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
January 31, 2026 at 4:37 PM
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
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
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
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
Update on chapter access for Nexus of Worlds!

First five chapters are free across platforms.

#writing #serial #scifi
January 29, 2026 at 7:32 PM
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
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
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