Remote

Dilman Dila

@dilmandila@mograph.social

mastodon 4.7.3

I Write. I make films. Transmedia artist. My blog @dilman is about my works and life. I daydream a lot and want to be paid for it. Been creating #sff #scifi for long but only recently was BSFA + Nommo Awards + PKD Awards 2024 finalist!

My films #DilmanShortFilms

#fedi22 #filmmaking #writing #writingcommunity #film #writer #filmmaker #solarpunk

East Africa

Avatar: A black-and-white portrait of me smiling like an idiot at the camera. Header: comic page of a woman holding a baby

2219 Followers

993 Following

50 Posts

Joined December 18, 2022

Website:

https://www.dilmandila.com/

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/dilstories

Ko-fi:

https://ko-fi.com/dilmandila

PeerTube:

@dilmandila@tv.dilstories.com

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 1w ago

RE: https://bookstodon.com/@ododopress/117324471061537506 So here is my third collection, and unlike the first two where the publishers largely picked the stories, I selected these, opting for a horror theme as I have a large stockpile of stories in that genre waiting to see the light of day. A lot are my earliest works so it will be exciting to revisit those ideas. There is a sample story that will open the book, on this page, where you can also pre-order. https://www.ododopress.com/short-story-collection/eater-of-happiness/#amwriting #AmWritingSFF #books #bookstodon #sff #horror #art

Quoting

@ododopress@bookstodon.com

Cover reveal! I'm working on a new collection of short stories, which is on pre-order and will release on 1st January 27. They are mostly horror stories, some with familiar creatures like vampires and zombies, others with stuff you will perhaps be reading about for the first time. Most of the stories will be published for the very first time. https://www.ododopress.com/blog/cover-reveal-the-eater-of-happiness/ #book #books #bookstodon #sff #Horror #writing #writingcommunity #blog #art

Open quoted post

Ododo Press (@ododopress@bookstodon.com)

Ododo Press (@ododopress@bookstodon.com)

Attached: 1 image Cover reveal! I'm working on a new collection of short stories, which is on pre-order and will release on 1st January 27. They are mostly horror stories, some with familiar creatures like vampires and zombies, others with stuff you will perhaps be reading about for the first time. Most of the stories will be published for the very first time. https://www.ododopress.com/blog/cover-reveal-the-eater-of-happiness/ #book #books #bookstodon #sff #Horror #writing #writingcommunity

11

0

14

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 1mo ago

Boosted by @MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social

Of recent the amount of scam emails, from scammers posing as publishers or agents or book marketers, has grown tremendously, almost two or three a day. But what gives them away is that they are very long and tend to describe my works in too much with vague details, and are full of praise. Editors who approached me previously keep their "praise", and emails, very short. "I liked your story in this place and want your stuff in my place." No flowery language. #writingcommunity #writing

26

0

18

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

Boosted by @trending@homestead.social

Free Book Alert! So my book is on promotion on Kobo, discounted to $0 from 3rd to 9th August, but I think it's only available in these locations: CA, US, UK, AU, NZ. It's being featured on the Free Page of Diverse Stories, so hoping it gets some more attention. Help spread the word! Here is a link to get it. https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree-1 #books #bookstodon #solarpunk #sff #book

34

9

93

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 4mo ago

In about three weeks, I'll launch my new novella, about an old woman with social anxiety who finds herself organising the defence of a decentralised nation when colonisers invade to steal the tech that makes her village a #solarpunk utopia. It is available for pre-order in all major stores (I think), but you can also get it from my small press, and there is a sample chapter available. https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #books #bookstodon #book #SolarPunkSunday #scifi

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

A solarpunk novella about a grandmother who has to coordinate the defense of her decentralized nation when a colonizer invades. Available in ebook, audiobook, and print.

76

2

110

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Last night at a film festival in Kampala the audience was treated to my film, The Night Dancer, and it was the first public screening in Uganda, where everyone knows stories of this type of character, but glad they enjoyed it. They laughed heartily, and they said they were scared and laughing at the same time. Which was a good thing. You can watch the film here https://tv.dilstories.com/w/pvjR9o3oNJMBLHHUm9kpqW #film #mythology

tv.dilstories.com

54

6

51

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

It's #SolarPunkSunday so here is a screenshot of a pedal + solar powered bus I'm creating for my new short film. #WindShortFilm Still a work in progress and just today I realized I have to create dozens of cars, because it is a future without capitalism and so no factories, since everything is 3d printed in the backyard, no two cars can be alike. And the shapes have to be funky and fun and outlandish... Whew. I foresee sleepless nights to chun them out #b3d #blender #solarpunk

40

9

15

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

This #SolarPunkSunday my book is on sell in smashwords as part of the summer sale. It is the story of a 70yr old woman who has to coordinate the defense of her decentralized nation when a colonizee invades to steal the tech that makes them a #solarpunk utopia. Get it here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1977090 #books #book #bookstodon #sff

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

Adita is struggling to fit in because her village has a very tight sense of community, and she is a seventy year old woman who is anxious around people. So to avoid coming off as anti-social, she accepts to chair the committee for national defense for it is easier for her to interact with other people over work. The job is simple as she only has to coordinate responses to the climate crisis, but then, a superpower attacks. The invader wants to steal the technology that makes her nation a solarpu

22

3

27

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 4mo ago

Boosted by @trending@homestead.social

"...the hottest thing in AI these days is hiring humans, because they're getting to be cheaper than AI — and are needed for quality control on AI's output anyway. " The AI vibe shift is real: Why the backlash is growing | Mashable https://mashable.com/tech/ai-backlash-vibe-shift

32

4

52

1

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

Boosted by @GroupNebula563@mastodon.social

Yesterday, proofs came of my new novella, The Blossoming of the Big Tree, and it got me a bit excited. I have got print copies of my books before, but not one I designed from scratch. I was worried about how the cover would look like, and also because I used LibreWriter for typesetting, if the font was the right one, etc, but it all looks nice and cute. Proud of myself. 😊 Get the ebook or pre-order print here https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #books #bookstodon #writingcommunity #sff #scif

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

A solarpunk novella about a grandmother who has to coordinate the defense of her decentralized nation when a colonizer invades. Available in ebook, audiobook, and print.

15

5

16

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

"This was a very interesting novella. Science fiction that presents a new world always is.... If Dilman Dila’s goal was to create an interesting and engaging world, then he definitely succeeded."

Review: The Blossoming of the Big Tree – Dilman Dila – Liminal Fiction
https://www.limfic.com/2026/07/05/review-the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree-dilman-dila/

More kind words about my new novella, which you can read a sample chapter and buy from here
https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/

#review #bookreview #book #bookstodon #books #solarpunk #sff #scifi

13

0

8

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 4mo ago

People who can read #finnish here is an article featuring me and three other writers from Uganda.

https://kirjailijalehti.fi/henkilokuvat/ugandassa-kirjailijoiden-sananvapautta-rajoittavat-lait-kustantajat-ja-lantinen-katse/

#writing #writingcommunity #finland

28

2

50

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

A largely positive review of my coming soon novella, contains mild spoilers, but the reviewer does get the essence of the book, about power and decentralized governance. "The Blossoming of the Big Tree is a genuinely absorbing read, funny and serious in equal measure, and Adita is one of the most quietly original protagonists I have encountered in the genre in some time." https://vector-bsfa.com/2026/06/25/no-one-at-the-centre-reading-dilman-dilas-the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ Pre-Order https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #review #bookreview #books #bookstodon #sff #writingcommunity

vector-bsfa.com

13

0

19

1

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Today, my new book comes out, marking my official entry into publishing. Here after I'll put out a book every month. I wrote this novella to reward those who supported #WindShortFilm but it took a life of its own since the main character, an old woman with social anxiety, has a lot to deal with. She has to coordinate the defense of her tight knit community when a coloniser invades. Read a sample chapter. https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #solarpunk #books #bookstodon #writingcommunity #sff #scifi

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

The Blossoming of the Big Tree

A solarpunk novella about a grandmother who has to coordinate the defense of her decentralized nation when a colonizer invades. Available in ebook, audiobook, and print.

12

0

15

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

A while back, I was asked to contribute to a special on remarkable sci-fi films of the millennium, for Sigh and Sounds, the BFI magazine. They'd suggested I review District 9, but I instead suggested to them a little known micro budget film, Beti and Amare, by Andy Siege, shot in Ethiopia. Seeing Neill has gone full AI, I'm so glad I didn't review his film. Link to issue https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/news/sight-sound-summer-2026-issue?lid=hlwgvxc3ldsi&utm_canvas= Watch Beti and Amare here, it's awesome! https://youtu.be/6uhhUCKhLqw #scifi #film #review #movies

7

0

5

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 4mo ago

Replying to

@NewsDesk@flipboard.social @NBCNews@flipboard.com I thought we stopped calling viruses after places following the Corona outbreak, or does this only apply to powerful countries like China? Bundibugyo is a district in Uganda. To have headlines like this is very troublesome. Nowhere in this article do I see the clarification that the virus was names after a district.

19

1

22

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

#silentsunday #cow #nature

19

0

3

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

What is happening to The Guardian? Seems like they want to start selling data to advertisers, otherwise I wouldn't know why this is important.

6

0

3

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

RE: @mythologymonday@wandering.shop

I made a film based on dance in mythology, after one of the most popular characters in the myths of people around East Africa, the night dancer, who come to your house at night and dance around to bewitch you, or just to be a nuisance.

https://tv.dilstories.com/w/pvjR9o3oNJMBLHHUm9kpqW

#Mythology #MythologyMonday #film #dance #horror #sff

16

0

19

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TheBreadmonkey@beige.party You are describing what goes on in my head, so either you are a psychic alien from the Miwnalokekeka planet or we are in this together.

3

0

1

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

I'm a prophet! A friend sent me this link, as it reminded her of the bio-metal in my new book, where scientists hack a worm so it produces metal instead of silk. I thought this was from my wildest fantasies, a plot device to enable a #solarpunk future without capitalism, governments, or military, but it is an actual science, and it also involves a worm. So fngers crossed for other predictions to come true. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2579072-hard-but-lightweight-bio-metal-material-discovered-in-sea-worm-jaws/ Get the book https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #books #book #bookstodon

newscientist.com

4

0

2

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

It's #SolarPunkSunday so a reminder that my novella, The Blossoming of the Big Tree, is on Pre-Order (out on 1st July)

It's the story of a 70yr old woman with social anxiety, who has to coordinate the defense of her decentralized nation when a superpower attacks, yet her people have no weapons, no army, and live in a country with no centralized systems, and no capitalism. But they have flying bikes!

Read a sample https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/
#book #books #bookstodon #sff #solarpunk #scifi #writing

12

0

14

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

How do I eat this thing? I got it from some kind of party, and the host said its name and how to eat it, but I forget it all. They said its like a cucumber, but it has a sappy taste...

5

0

5

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@benroyce@mastodon.social @_kit@fosstodon.org I giggled when the keepers couldn't decide if they should hold the ball, or which one should. 😊

5

1

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

A video doing the rounds in Ugandan social media, from a secondary school debate (looks like it, but could be a primary school) on the theme AI Should Replace Teachers.
#ai

10

6

3

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Scam alert!

"Ugandan scammers have realised just how popular dogs are in Europe, North America and Australia, and how easily social media's obsession with dogs can be converted into cash."

Mityana dog scam: BBC uncovers the Ugandans exploiting animals to elicit donations for shelters
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9l74wvd7o

#dogsofmastodon #dogs #dog

Mityana dog scam: BBC uncovers the Ugandans exploiting animals to elicit donations for shelters

Mityana dog scam: BBC uncovers the Ugandans exploiting animals to elicit donations for shelters

Unwitting donors hand over money to save suffering animals but Ugandan con artists pocket the cash.

10

1

11

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Cleaning up my emails and came across this from 2017, 9years ago, sent at the height of the Crypto craze, and sharing to remind people that #AI looks to be a similar case. Buzz created, not because of demand for the tech, but because one or two people thought they can make a lot of money from it.

10

0

4

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Here is a new review of my #solarpunk novella, The Blossoming of the Big Tree, and hope it can nudge you to make a purchase. “I enjoyed this novella. It has a delightful and satisfying ending, a main character that I wholly enjoyed meeting, and a lot of different points for discussion if read as a group.” From Holly's Reading Escapades https://hollysreadingescapades.blogspot.com/2026/06/book-review-blossoming-of-big-tree-by.html To read a sample chapter and for links to buy the book, go here https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/ #review #books #book #bookstodon #sff #scifi

hollysreadingescapades.blogspot.com

4

0

6

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Danish journalist held in Uganda "The arrest appears heavily tied to Thymann's environmental activism. During a 2012 expedition, Thymann photographed Rwenzori’s shrinking peaks alongside UWA rangers. When his updated findings on the receding glaciers were published internationally last year, they drew fierce backlash from the Ugandan government, which publicly denied the climate crisis, claiming the melting was merely a "normal seasonal pattern." " https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/denmark-s-klaus-thymann-detained-in-uganda-over-rwenzori-glacier-reports-5513570#story #climate #climatechange

4

0

3

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

RE: @susankayequinn@wandering.shop

Sue has some kind words for my novella, which is now on pre-order, The Blossoming of the Big Tree, saying it is "delightful -- wonderful worldbuilding with a thoughtfully-constructed solarpunk vision as well as a compelling story that hooks you in!"

#solarpunk #books #bookstodon #writing #writingcommunity

7

0

9

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Anyone has an idea what's going on here? Or how to fix this? I installed WritingTools as an extension for @libreoffice@fosstodon.org and though everything seems to be checked, I can't use it. I get the error message LO is busy, or that I have not installed it. I've tried unchecking every other box and leaving only that of WritingTools, but nope, not working. I'm using Linux Mint.

Edit: looks like a system reboot fixed it.

6

6

7

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@PeachMcD@union.place @pacific06@mastodon.social @econetwork@mas.to The only time I ever made any comment about you was when you posted poverty porn. Read about what it is here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_porn That shit makes me mad. I worked with all types of NGOs before becoming a fulltime artist. I know they are largely responsible for the negative stereotypes about us. If you are showing pictures of children you support, but are in vulnerable situations, have the courtesy of blurring their faces, and seek their guardian's consent.

en.wikipedia.org

3

0

2

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

In the hunt for reviewers, an ARC of my #solarpunk novella is now on NetGalley via @SFWA@wandering.shop This is the story of a country that decentralizes power, getting rid of presidents, politicians, ministers, and authoritarians. Instead, every citizen actively participates in running the country in a direct democracy. And there's no capitalism. Help me spread my idea of the future, get it on netgalley or send me a DM. https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/837516 #books #bookstodon #sff #scifi #writing #writingcommunity

6

0

36

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@onipa It looks to be working now. Thanks, not sure how I didn't think of that!

3

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@potterybyosa Ha, not sure. The one lady I know who was a producer and approachable moved back to Kenya, but let me ask around and see. Watched it and loved it! Beautifully made. But perhaps @Trenton_Hoshiko and @JourneysInFilm @taraprice might have ideas. I think they are all involved in film and based in the US?

3

8

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@internetsdairy @FediThing I keep wondering just how many films and videos have MacLeod's music, and if he might be the most famous musician who has never known real fame.

3

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@stereo4x4@techhub.social I hear you. And given that most people aren't engineers, they will likely be recycling designs they get from somewhere without much tinkering. In the past, I believe all ox or horse-drawn carts and wagons looked the same since there were no mass factories... But the challenge is from a storytelling/worldbuilding angle.. the audience, given our experience with the modern world, might think of a factory if they see many similar cars, there's more diversity in home made products

1

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@grant_h@mastodon.social Yeah, there might be people willing to do it, will put out a call in the next few days and see who might how up

1

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@iwein@mas.to @pacific06@mastodon.social @PeachMcD@union.place It's a not a common term these days as the main culprits, that is big corporate NGOs like Care and Oxfam switched tactics and use largely "positive" images in their campaigns, but the trick is now being used by scam artists online, as seen in a recent BBC documentary that highlights a case in Uganda where dogs were being abused so that scammers could generate content... You can read about it here https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9l74wvd7o

Mityana dog scam: BBC uncovers the Ugandans exploiting animals to elicit donations for shelters

Mityana dog scam: BBC uncovers the Ugandans exploiting animals to elicit donations for shelters

Unwitting donors hand over money to save suffering animals but Ugandan con artists pocket the cash.

1

0

6

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@alexglow@chaos.social @kate@aus.social Yep. Its sheer poetry.

2

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 4mo ago

Replying to

@lulawitzescher@lsbt.me I'll set up something on a pod platform like Ingram or Lulu so that option will be there, though it might get a bit pricey. I will print some from here and could price them at under $10 but then international shipping will be murder. I will figure it all out in the next week or so.

1

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Tattooed_Mummy Yes! They are a fine person, they make an effort to interact and make themselves known. The first instance I was on I never knew the admin, yet it was equally small, for they hardly interacted. Then last year someone asked me to create an account on indiefilmmakers.social to help build it, but though I had a name I couldn't find anything about them. After that first interaction they went quiet and server is now dark. Some admins make it easy to know them. Others don't bother.

1

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@mastodonmigration@mastodon.online @Blender@mastodon.social For second qn, early in 2022 someone created a Stable Diffusion plugin for Blender and you could generate stuff (I think it was only textures). I toyed with it for a few days (I believe like every other artist checking out the new fad) but eventually removed it. (This was on user end, though. Not development. But someone could fork blender and use AI..) For the third question BF has no control over user content, or even access to it unless the users send it to them.

1

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Tattooed_Mummy @tully @shlee I think some admins make an effort to interact with their users but some stay hidden. But how do you know an admin before joining? On joinmastodon servers are grouped by geographic area, or interest, and that is the most info a person gets to decide which one to go with. I remember during the fosstodon drama people complaining that they were being penalized for who the admin was yet this info was not available or necessary when they were joining.

0

4

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@ljwrites@writeout.ink @mgmarkel@universeodon.com Recently at a bookclub here in Kampala someone thought I was a Gen Z, though I'm close to 50 😅

0

2

1

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Tattooed_Mummy @tully @shlee Its always visible. I haven't seen a server where it is totally hidden. But on some servers (an example is dot social) there is no "person" as admin. Some just say "administered by admin" and only after you join do you get to put a face to the admins. On some, you might find a person's account, but you won't get to know anything about this person since the bio is scanty or they just use hashtags instead of a bio.

0

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Wintergr33n@lingo.lol @ninawillburger@social.anoxinon.de This happened in many parts of Africa since colonisation wasn't out of violence, or racist ideology, but migrations and intermingling. Like the Luo (South Sudan/Northern Uganda) moved into Bunyoro (Uganda), became the rulers, but lost their language+cultures. Still, each new omukama (like a king) went across the Nile to Luo clans to find a wives, & till today Bunyoro coronation ceremonies involve Luo clans. Also Banyoro praise names are all Luo.

0

1

1

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@compfu@mograph.social Makes me think of The Human Centipede

0

1

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 3mo ago

Replying to

@nileane@nileane.fr I jinxed it for cape verde by going to check ☹️

0

0

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@tully @shlee In most cases people don't join a server because of the admin, but because of what it offers. I may be wrong but I think a vast majority of mastodon users don't know who their admin is. So for the admin to have such thoughts is very strange, and the way they all of a sudden shut down without a word the users means its an ego thing.

0

2

0

0

Dilman Dila @dilmandila@mograph.social

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org The link appears broken to me... But what does a non-techie do to fix the problem?

0

2

0

0