A photographic fiction series inspired by the life of a real rescue cat and told with deadpan literary humor — real photographs, a real rescue story, and original video narrating his own life in the same voice.
"The videos show pieces of my life. The voice carries pieces of my personality. Watch, and you'll see what I see. Listen, and you'll hear how I process it — through eyes, nose, ears, and whiskers, in service of one benevolent Overlord's account of his own experience."
Hi, I'm Zuzu Pazzuzu. I am the Overlord of the East Garden. Join me in my adventures in day-to-day vermin management. You're welcome.
A six-year street stray becomes self-appointed Overlord of a Victoria garden — and narrates the whole thing himself.
This is photographic fiction rooted in Zuzu's real life, not a stock-photo gift book. Original photographs anchor the books, and his voice continues beyond the page: on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook (@zuzu.pazzuzu), he narrates real, unstaged footage of his daily life in the same deadpan register.
Zuzu spent six years as a stray before an injury brought him into the care of the BC SPCA's Nanaimo and District Branch. Each book carries a donation link to the shelter in its back matter.
FrontProvisional print ISBN 979-8-184228-69-3 (subject to change before print publication)
"Before the East Garden, there was the street. Six years of it. Then the injury. Then a shelter that shaved me, removed a broken fang, and assessed my prospects, which were not considered strong."
FrontProvisional print ISBN 979-8-185237-11-3 (subject to change before print publication)
"Six years on the street teaches a cat what to watch for. The second year inside is the work of unlearning which watches still apply. I am not a stray — the realization of what that means."
FrontProvisional print ISBN 979-8-188054-43-4 (subject to change before print publication)
"The third year is not the second year, extended. My universe expanded into other territories. I noted these are less well-managed."
Zuzu Pazzuzu is the Overlord of the East Garden and a resident of Victoria, British Columbia. He is nine years old — six of them on the street before his current appointment, a fact he considers relevant background rather than a subject for extended discussion, except where it serves a narrative purpose.
He is a black longhair of considerable stature and holds strong views on allowing squirrels to make poor decisions until they learn, feeder management, and the importance of drinking water consistently.
He was a stray for six years. He is not a stray now. He considers this the most important fact about him, and still the least interesting thing to dwell on.
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I do not rush at the birds. I have not rushed at the birds. I will tell you that this is a choice I remake every single morning.
There are two new subjects in the East Garden. Their files are already open. One of them watches before she moves. The other one does not. Different notes.
I have been in the East Garden for a year. The hummingbirds dip their beaks into the feeder at my level, in my presence, without adjustment. They do not appear to find this remarkable. I have come to find it remarkable on their behalf.