Z1NZ0L1N has been published by Anthony Nelzin-Santos since January 2025.

Who?

Hi! My name is Anthony Nelzin-Santos. I’m a recovering tech journalist who’s trying to make it as a bookbinder. I’m married to the only woman who could put up with my collection of half-repaired typewriters and half-empty fountain pens, my tendency to wander in search of old shopfronts, my discordant noodling on the piano, and my pathological need to buy more books than I can read.

What?

‘Zinzolin’ is a shade of purple that’s not quite as blue as lavender fields but not quite as red as crushed blackberries. If you believe the medieval Italians, it comes from jujube fruits (giuggiolino), but if they still existed, the Mozarabs would tell you that it comes from sesame seeds (djoudjolân). Whatever the case, it’s my favourite colour, in part because it sounds like my name.

When?

I was born before the world wide web was invented, but I grew up surrounded by computers. I’ve been publishing content online for a quarter of a century – I published my first website in 2000, developed my first web application in 2002, launched my first blog in 2004, recorded my first podcast in 2005, uploaded my first video in 2006 and earned my first salary as a web journalist in 2007. Overwhelmed by the daily grind of writing in French for a living, I decided to switch things up and rebooted my blog as an English-first publication in 2025.

Where?

Since 2010, I have been living in Lyon, France’s third-largest city after Paris and Marseille. I’ve made it a goal to visit – and write in – each of the 320 French arrondissements and every country in Europe. Z1NZ0L1N is hosted by Infomaniak Network SA near Geneva (Switzerland), a mere 115 kilometres from my home, in a state-of-the-art facility entirely powered by renewable energy.

How?

I wouldn’t want to live in a world without notebooks, which is why i make (and sell) my own. I usually write with one of my many fountain pens inked with one of my many purple inks, but in a pinch, i don’t mind using a Zebra Sarasa Clip rollerball or a Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint. I use Ulysses to put my thoughts in order and Antidote to proofread them. Much to my surprise, i write more and more directly in WordPress’s native editor. Should my wife enquire, tell her my expensive mechanical keyboards are a preventative measure against future health issues.

How much?

Z1NZ0L1N is ad-free. However, i use affiliate links to offset the cost of hosting (€5/month) and domain registration (€15/year). If you enjoy my writing and want to support me, I’d be grateful if you bought me a cup of coffee.

Why?

I write to forget it now; i publish to remember it later.

You can keep up with Z1NZ0L1N through your RSS reader of choice, on Bluesky, or on Mastodon. Want to know more? Feel free to get in touch at <anthony@nelzin.fr>.