iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#BookQW It's Book Quote Wednesday and today's word is #treat Kai's band has arrived in Munich - but where are Jake and Lotte? The show must go on, and hope for the best. Last day for ebook deal @ $0.99 teardownbook.co.uk/#where

But tonight, Neale was in his element. Yeah, this was the guy who helped teach Jake to play guitar. This was blistering, paint-stripping power in slow blues. Dom picked up the vocal and prowled the stage. She drove down to the bottom of her vocal range, then flew high in a Daltrey-esque scream, into which Neale’s guitar blended. Her voice dropped away, and Neale’s solo teetered around the madness and the anguish of woman-treated-you-so-bad. Serves you right to suffer, yeah.

011

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It's Book Quote Wednesday and today's word is #know Jake has a reputation for tech-naïveté, so how's he going to find a fresh gig for the band? - but Kai just didn't know the right question to ask… #bookqw #lgbtqreads

My preconceptions shattered. Little fragments of assumptions rolled around the floor and disappeared under the kitchen cupboards.
I began a sentence, hoping the ending would come to me. “Yes, but what if you, you know…”
“Get hooked again? I don’t think so. I’m not a child anymore. That kid is gone, and the urge to surf is gone with him. But I remember everything he used to do.”

032

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#bookqw It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is #tree Kai and the band are getting ready to rehearse for their upcoming German tour, when singer Clay drops a resignation bombshell: #lgbtqreads

“Put it on hold. We can put the band on hold, can’t we?”
“How long for?” I asked him.
“I don’t f***ing know! I’ll be flying over to the US quite a bit. And there’s a bunch of guys in Japan I’ll need to work with. Six months, maybe?”
And then it hit me. I knew why Clay couldn’t meet my eye.
“The Cherry Tree. You must have known about this last night, and you didn’t say a f***ing word. We’re already in the Last Chance Saloon. This is Boot-f***ing-Hill.”

022

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Today's #BookQW word is #DRIP. Kai and the band have reached Berlin. And as singer Dom says: “There’s still a dark side to Berlin, as with all the great, old cities. It changes people.” Especially when the people have been in each other's company for a bit too long... #lgbtqreads #booksky

Inside, the water had pooled underneath the leak, soaking Neale’s sleeping bag. But some had trickled around the edge of the tent, and nobody’s kit had wholly escaped.
“Get in, you stupid bugger, and close the f---ing door.”
Stupid bugger was me, standing dumbly outside in my wet jeans with mud all over my arse. Four whiskies inside me, I had no idea how I was going to get to my own sleeping bag without dripping all over everyone else on the way. Neale bundled up his own useless sleeping bag and pushed past me, radiating anger fit to fry an egg.

030

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is 'question'. From bit.ly/TeardownBook - When their singer quits two weeks before their Germany tour, Kai and the band take a chance on an unknown singer, Dominque, whom they've never met. After the first gig: #BookQW #LGBTQreads

With her talent, she could have snapped her fingers to get a backing band. So why us? It was the question I should have asked when we did the video call, but I didn’t. How had John Doe’s Blues from Marden Combe suddenly won the Dominique-the-singer lottery on muzomart.com? Where did she even come from? A singer that good should leave tracks. But I couldn’t find her, and believe me, I’d tried. Of course, there were singers called Dominique around, but none of them was our Dominique. So, it seemed Dominique wasn’t her usual singing name. Why was she using an alias? Was she some famous French chanteuse, slumming it on a whim, and she just picked us?

021

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The #WIPSnips word is 'horizon'. Driving through the night after a gig wasn't quite the plan, but events left little choice. Kai is just relieved to have stopped moving. #lgbtqreads 🌈📚💙📚🥁🎶📚 bit.ly/TeardownBook

Fulda. Or at least, a café in a village a few miles outside, serving breakfast.
No coffee, please. I want sleep, I really do. Food first though. Sausages, onions. Senf. Mustard. A weak tea, a Lipton tea bag left to drown in tepid, milky water. But it’s liquid and that’s enough.
*
We found a park, still wreathed in coiling tendrils of morning mist. Scant warmth in the day yet, the sun struggling up from the eastern horizon, fighting through patchy grey clouds that promised rain later.

080

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Today's #WIPSnips word is 'sniff'. Blind Peter is a regular on Constable Hallett's beat. A Waterloo veteran, he claimed. But too many beggars played that game. But Blind Peter bothered no-one, except when a passer-by was overgenerous. Then Blind Peter would buy himself gin... #HistoricalCrime

Two grey urchins accosted Hallett, tugging his sleeve.
“Found a stiff, cons’able. Blind Peter.”
They escorted him to the statue of the Duke of Kent, on Park Crescent, where Peter sat propped against the plinth of the statue, a bottle at his side. Admixed vomit and blood covered his chin and stained his coat. His face was screwed tight with the agony of his final convulsion.
Hallett bent down, picked up the bottle and sniffed.
“Good God!” he cried, recoiling and almost dropping the bottle.
It was gin—of a sort. He knew the smell of gin, but this reeked of other substances. He recognised turpentine—but there was an acrid stench there, too. Oil of Vitriol?

060

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today's #WIPSnips word is 'heartbreak'. In 1830s London Constable Hallett has to break tragic news.

There is nothing an onlooker can do at such moments. There is no word to ease the pain. No gentle touch, no sweet song, no ancient wisdom nor clever science to diminish the shock of the heart ripped from a living body.
Arthur Hallett had seen death aplenty in the Peninsula—had seen comrades die on the field of battle in all the bloody ways men can kill one another—so many times he believed death itself could wring no more tears from him. Yet this death, this death of hope was a new thing to Hallett. It tore at his own heart, and taught him that there was yet one little thing he could do. Hallett wept.
Even tears of heartbreak cease eventually.

080

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

After a day in the 1830s researching my next novel, I return to #BookQW with my band-on-the-road romance with a 'jolt'. The band has met up with their new singer en route to their first gig. In the confinement of the van, trust is building. #lgbtqreads

Behind me, Dom and Jamie also slept. Their arms had become somewhat entwined, Jamie’s head resting on her shoulder and her head was against his.
Dom stirred as the van jolted over a pothole. Her eyes opened, and she took in her situation, Jamie’s warmth against her. Her lips quirked a what-can-you-do smile at me, but she made no move to push him away. The van was pretty cold, and Jamie hadn’t taken any liberties. He was indeed being ‘a gentleman whom I trust’. Take your warmth where you find it, Dom. As I had been happy to do.

000

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is PASS. The Clayton Paul Blues Band is poised for stardom - a tour of Germany, a recording session on their return. But then Clay makes an announcement... #BookQW #BookSky #LGBTQreads

“That’s just it, Kai. This is a huge project. It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ll be in right at the ground floor. I need to be there. I’ve promised them I’ll be there.”
Ah. This is goodbye, then.
“So what happens to the Clayton Paul Blues Band? What happens to the tour? Köln, Aachen, Berlin? All those German punters waiting to see us two weeks from now?”
Clay wouldn’t meet my eye.
“I can’t pass this up, Kai. It’s a dream opportunity for me.”
“And you can’t wait?”
“They won’t wait. I aced that interview, but there’s a bunch of guys almost as good, ready to start tomorrow. White guys.”

022

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

It's Book Quote Wednesday ad the word is RIDE. Kai and the band have arrived in Berlin, the gig has gone well and the band are relaxing - perhaps a little too much… #BookQW

021

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Then I went for a walk. Away from her, away from the band. Out into the alley behind the Club Lorelei. Out into the chill night of the death of my dreams. TEARDOWN is half price when you use the code SSW50: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #lgbtreads #booksky #bands #music #blues #lgbtqbooks

Book cover: a white van with 3 of the band in the back. The van is driving towards a distant city - Berlin - with several landmarks visible.
Text: Smashwords Ebook Week Sale! Use code: SSW50

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

It's Book Quote Wednesday & the word is decide/decision. After their lead singer quits, drummer Kai is determined to be the new voice of the band. But brother Jamie has other ideas... #BookSky #BookQW #lgbtqbooks

He huffed. “Leave it alone, Kai. I am what I am. And you are what you are. I happen to like pretty, sexy girls. But I desire that voice. I want that voice to front our band.”
“And what if she’s neither?” “Huh?”
“The world is full of women who aren’t pretty or sexy, who aren’t big-Black-momma. They’re just plain Jane, flat-chested, more banjo clock than hourglass, all the way to princess-Fiona-looking and beyond. Do you still want that voice if the face or the body doesn’t match the dream?”
Jamie made a face as though I’d broken his favourite toy. I wondered if I’d gone too far.
“Fair challenge,” he said at last. “It would make a difference. I can’t pretend it wouldn’t. But she’s got a hell of a voice. And she’s the bird in the hand. We’ve got four days to the first gig. Princess Fiona is hired.”
“Hang on. What about the rest of the band?”
“They aren’t here. We need to make a decision now.”
“What about me…” I began.
I glanced at Jamie, who wasn’t saying anything. He was looking I-want-this right back at me. Maybe I could push Jamie on this, but was I willing to pay the price?

030

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Teardown - like Expiration Day before it - is a book about being in a band. There's more to both, of course, but how do you convey the music and the experience of being in a band? Here's my take on it at wordslayered.wordpress.com/2026/03/04/w... #lgbtreads #bands #music #blues #berlin #lgbtqbooks

On the road to music fame, desires and dreams collide.
Smashwords Ebook Week Sale!
Use code: EBW50
https://bit.ly/TeardownAndSmash

030

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

How do you escape from a dead-end, Thames Valley town like Marden Combe? Drummer Kai plans to take the band to Germany - well, it worked for the Beatles! Then their singer quits… Follow Kai and the band on the road to Berlin, as desires and dreams collide. bit.ly/TeardownAndS... #lgbtreads #booksky

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

As my Revise & Resubmit approaches its conclusion I've blogged on the approach I've taken in Pass 3. Pass 3 brings the focus back to the scene level, something that works well with #Scrivener. Other #editing and drafting tools are available. wordslayered.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/r...

120

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Need a cosy holiday read? It's the End of Year Sale on Smashwords (ends Jan 1st 2026). TEARDOWN is half price when you use the code SEY50: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

2025 is nearly done, and it's the End of Year Sale on Smashwords (ends Jan 1st 2026). TEARDOWN is half price when you use the code SEY50: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #lgbtreads #booksky #bands #music #blues #berlin #lgbtqbooks #EOYSale25 #Smashwords #HolidayReading

042

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Me again, posting about The Best of MetaStellar Year 4. This isn't just about me. Here are some teasers for other stories in the volume. #SpeculativeFiction #Fantasy #ScienceFiction #ShortStories #Anthology #ComingSoon #MetaStellar #HumansAreMagic #HumanStoriesByHumanAuthors #Culture #Reading

Broken hearts can become games of shadows on the ballroom
floor….
— “The Power We Give” by Larina Warnock

The perfect alien planet for human life might not be all it's
cracked up to be....
— “Dream Planet” by Jordan Maison

Sometimes, androids will do anything for a hot cup of coffee….
— “Coffee Robot” by Bryce Paradis

Front cover of 'The Best of MetaStellar Year 4' as paperback, on tablet and on smartphone, against a backdrop of a whitewashed brick wall, with a picture frame, a white mug and an artists' wooden posable mannequin.

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I love working with MetaStellar - both as a writer and as a first reader - having first sold a story (The Box) to them in 2021. Their upcoming anthology "The Best Of MetaStellar Year Four" contains 54 original tales across science fiction, fantasy and horror. Bargain, if you ask me.

3 copies of 'The Best Of MetaStellar Year Four' standing on a wooden chest.

041

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

As I resume work on this WIP after 5 months hold, 'reptile' finds the aftermath of a rhinuffalo stampede. The rhinuffalo is native to this parallel world, to which project manager Jessica has crossed, to revenge her murdered mother, and take back the Ruby Throne. #WIPSnips #PortalFantasy #witches

The drizzle stopped about two hours before sundown, and a moderate breeze began to dispel the remaining mists.
Night fell.
Across the valley floor the earth was everywhere churned into mud by hundreds — thousands — of hooves. Dotted here and there were the broken mounds of rhinuffalo that had stumbled and fallen under those same hooves.
It was feast time for many, though. Avians, mammals and reptiles drawn down from the high rocks and the neighbouring valleys — all came to share in the banquet of shattered flesh across the valley floor.
And where the mud gave way to mostly un-trampled grass, a boy lay, battered and bloodied, beyond hope, sobbing with his last strength after all tears had failed.

0172

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

July is nearly over, but it's STILL Sale Month on Smashwords (1-31 July 2025), and TEARDOWN is half price when you use the code SSW50: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #lgbtreads #booksky #bands #music #blues #berlin #lgbtqbooks

020

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Today is International Non-binary People's Day - so I'm posting about my novel TEARDOWN and its #nonbinary main character, Kai. On sale at -50% with code SSW50 at www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #nonbinaryawarenessweek #nonbinarypeoplesday #nonbinarypride #pride Also #music #bands 📚🌈📚💙📚🥁📚🎶📚🎸📚

Picture: Teardown book cover - white van driving towards Berlin skyline
Text: Smashwords July Sale! Use code:SSW50

031

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

From Thaumatist - an alternate present in which Spain conquered England and Shakespeare is banned... #WIPSnips #AltHistory #Fantasy

"The Securidad would have a field day here," said Sally, holding up book.
Sam looked at the spine, but the title meant nothing.
"What's special about this?" he asked. "Is it a banned book?"
"Oh yes, Sam, this one alone will get you twenty-five years hard labour. It's Holinshed. It's his ‘Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland’, written before the Pax Hispanica."
She looked around, scanning the books.
"There's about a thousand years of hard labour on these shelves."
She opened the book in her hand, at random.
"We had kings, once."
"And a queen," Sam replied. "The Painted Tyrant, they called her."
"She had another name. Elizabeth Gloriana. She's not in this book - it was written before she came to the throne. But she wasn't the only queen. There was Matilda. And Æthelflæd. And - long ago - Boudicca, who led a revolt against the Romans."

171

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

It's Sale Month on Smashwords (1-31 July 2025), and TEARDOWN is half price when you use the code SSW50: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #lgbtreads #booksky #bands #music #blues #berlin #lgbtqbooks

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

It's Pride Month (June 2025) and TEARDOWN is 40% off when you use the code Pride2025 at: ninestarpress.com/product/tear... #lgbtreads #booksky #bands #music #blues #berlin #lgbtqbooks (ebook only) 📚🌈📚💙📚🎶📚

40% Off!
bit.ly/TeardownBook
Use code: Pride2025
(Pride Month 2025 only, ebook only)

020

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Awww, diddums. The good news is that it's not hallucinating.

From my notifications:
Google reports
Trending: Chat GPT not working
ChatGPT has been down for several hours due to an OpenAI outage.

110

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

In my interview for "It's Raining Books" bit.ly/3ShPZyM I discuss writing in genre and how that impacts my research. @goddessfish.bsky.social bit.ly/TeardownBook bit.ly/BuyTeardown

6 books in three rows of 2:
Writing Short Stories vs Write A Novel
Crime and Thriller Writing vs Writing Science Fiction
Save the Cat! Writes A Novel vs The Heroine's Journey

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

In my guest post at buff.ly/MnUxYKj I write about #BooksWithBands with examples past and present. Why, yes, that is my very own #ExpirationDay as well as TEARDOWN in the picture. @goddessfish.bsky.social bit.ly/TeardownMusic

Six books from top left, clockwise:
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Expiration Day by William Campbell Powell
Knife Edge by Malorie Blackman
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
Teardown by William Campbell Powell
Espedair Street by Iain Banks

011

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

The voice of Dom, of course, would be the late, much missed Eva Cassidy, several of whose recordings I include on the TEARDOWN Spotify playlist at open.spotify.com/playlist/0Nh... #music

Eva Cassidy, one of the great voices of the 20th century

011

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

"Two bodies, no closer than Sun and the moon."

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Who are these actors? My star choices for Dom, Lars, Kai (and Dom again) - interview at buff.ly/BmkFOEP and match the names to the faces. 📚🌈📚💙📚🎶📚

Stock photo of woman singer at a microphone

010

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Who is this mystery man? What part does he play in Kai's story? And how did he become more than a moment of comedy relief in one scene of TEARDOWN? @goddessfish.bsky.social buff.ly/YeYAlxy #PartyBore #HatsAndRockAndRoll

Surrounded by partying figures, a man wearing an orange fedora and sporting a slight beard is engaged in earnest discussion with an off-picture character.

001

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

5 days of book tour done. My thanks to all the hosts, and to all participants in the blog chats/Q&A. 2 days break now, then Tour Week 2 starts on Monday. If you've missed any stops, the link is williamcampbellpowell.com#vbt Thanx 2 @goddessfish.bsky.social for all the hard work. bit.ly/BuyTeardown

Teardown book cover (white van driving towards Berlin) advertising:
Book Tour Sale!
US: $0.99
UK: £0.99
May 12-25, 2025
(bit.ly/BuyTeardown - ebookonly)

153

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

TEARDOWN started with a guitar... Sadly, that guitar went to meet its luthier long ago, but the bass I built at uni still survives, as do a few pictures of those early gigs - this one at Nottingham University. 📚🌈📚💙📚🎶📚 lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-... @goddessfish.bsky.social #romance #music

At the right of the picture, author William Campbell Powell is pictured playing his self-built bass guitar.
Also pictured are two of the original band members who also toured Germany - the drummer and the lead singer/harmonica player.

031

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Singer Wanted for urgent Germany Tour! Clay - the band's now-departed singer - had a bluesy baritone voice with a growl that went up to eleven. He'll take some replacing - but maybe one of the band can step up for vocal duties... Ah... Not gonna work... bit.ly/WillCamPowel... bit.ly/TeardownBook

Three lego figures occupy a stage, bathed in red light. On the left, Jake, the lead guitarist. Centre-back is Kai, the drummer. Jamie, Kai's brother, and the band's bassist occupies the right of the stage. Front and centre is a microphone in a stand.
But there is no singer.

000

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

What a marathon! 12 interviews/blog posts to complete - and out of fairness to the hosts, every one containing some unique content. First stop: lisahaselton.com/2025/05/12/i... 📚🌈📚🎶📚💙📚 #booksky #lgbtqreads @goddessfish.bsky.social

Lego figures representing the TEARDOWN band.
From left to right:
Lead guitar: Jake, playing his beloved stratocaster
Backing vocals: Lotte, front of stage
Drums: Kai, non-binary main character
Lead vocals: Dom, woman of mystery, who joined the band on the way to their first gig
Violin: Neale, also the owner and driver of a rather rickety white van
Bass guitar: Jamie, playing a black Rickenbacker bass. He's Kai's brother.

041

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Last week I have mostly been updating my websites: williamcampbellpowell.com teardownbook.co.uk * list all stops on the tour * where to buy - ebooks and pbooks - US,GB,CA,AU,NZ,IN,Other * show buy links for the user's locale - 170+ lines of JS. * new sale image * show sale prices 12 May for 2 weeks

My workstation - two large monitors, together with music recording equipment (microphone and MIDI controller)

021

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

"Could we have one normal gig? Please?" In parallel with my Virtual Book Tour for TEARDOWN, the ebook is on sale for the next 2 weeks. For tour dates, see williamcampbellpowell.com#vbt At each stop on the tour there will be either an interview or a blog post, featuring exclusive content.

001

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

The good folks doing #WIPSnips are finding references to music today. Even though it's now a (recently-)published novel, I can't resist plugging that TEARDOWN, being all about a band on the road, has 5 original songs, with words and demos over at bit.ly/TeardownMusic

Teardown cover, lilac sky, white van on the road to Berlin, with the band in the back.

The opening chorus and verses to "I Come from the Blues"

I Come from the Blues

Where did I come from? I come from the blues.
Where am I going? I’m going to lose.
Where is my future? I’m sure I have none
Where is my hope? My hope is all gone.

My momma, she loved me, but she loved to fight.
My daddy, he left her, and vanished from sight.
So who can I trust to love me and care?
I’m searching for someone, but nobody’s there

I’m standing alone, and around me is night
The darkness, it closes, it blots out the light
I’m sinking, I’m drowning, I can’t reach the shore
I’m locked in my head, I can’t open the door

072

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

#WIPSnips #AltHistory #Fantasy In Sam and Sally's world, theatre is enhanced by thaum (mineral magic). Theatre is political there - just as here - and the Spanish use it for propaganda. There are other players with a different political point to make, and the night will end in terror. #amediting

The baton descended.
There came a deep sub-bassoon rumble, that settled on Sam’s chest and shook his ribs. Surely no instrument played by human hand could make such a sound? More instruments joined – violins and flutes darting in and out of a cadence of equally-sprightly cornetts. Sam closed his eyes for a moment, letting the music build a picture in his head. An older time, but not a simpler one. Inglaterra, yes, it was definitely Inglaterra, but there was smoke and fire. War lay upon the land, and the people were without hope. Faces, bloody and soot-blackened, sprang up before his eyes. Conquerors marched through streets, and the defeated English dared not lift up their heads but must direct their resentment at the ground. The smoke cleared a little and now Sam smelled fresh air, spring grass. A bell tolled slowly, monotonously, and the last of the Tudors tottered out of her cell, and laid her head upon a block. A roll of drums, an axe swung down - just once - and Elizabeth Gloriana, the Painted Tyrant, was dead.

091

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

#WIPSnips #AltHistory #Fantasy In Thaumatist, the Spanish overlords have brought in Sikh troops to keep order in the province of Inglaterra. After routing an attack by Inglaterran nationalists, a squad of Sikhs pursues the fleeing remnants along the Thames...

“Where are they?”
“Further to the right, havildar,” the naik replied. “Going under the middle arch of the great bridge.”
“It is called Londres Bridge, naik, and it is very famous. There has been a bridge there since the time of the Romans.”
“I have not heard of these Romans. Were they important?”
“They held this land for four centuries. About as long as the Spanish.”
“I do not see why anyone would want to conquer this filthy land. It is cold and wet. And it smells of rotting fish.”
“Do not worry about the smell, naik. Just steer for the middle arch.”
“Yes, havildar.”

072

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

#TimeTravelAuthors - an even day, so I'm posting the diagram I created to make sure all the interleaved timelines were continuous - from my short story 'THE ADVENTURE OF THE TRAVELLER'S BOOTSTRAPS', published in the anthology 'Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of H.G. Wells, Volume 1'

A description of the options for April 2025 #TimeTravelAuthors hashtag, posting about aspects of time travel writing. The relevant one for this post is that it's an even-numbered day, so I can post what I like!

A time travel continuity diagram - I just made up the name - showing the entities in the story that travelled in time. The most-travelled entity is the Time Machine itself which travels in time 7 times. Other travellers include Holmes, the Traveller and a Morlock. Some journeys - where the net effect was simply to move the time machine in space - have been omitted for clarity.

240

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Again from Thaumatist - #AltHistory #Fantasy Sam and Sally are trapped in a blazing warehouse, and their only hope is in their coachman, who's a little too fond of a drop or two from the hip-flask. #WIPSnips

He chose Árvakr. He soothed the poor beast as much as he could, speaking soft words, looking him in the eye. All his skill with horses, all the forgotten love, all returned in that moment.
“Come, Árvakr. Your mistress needs you now. Come, old lady.”
He saw his gentle words working. The horse’s fear began to fade. But not too much. That wouldn’t do at all. He unhitched the mare, led her away from her companion Alsviðr, round and toward the board, knowing that if he made a mistake, if he lost the animal’s trust, Árvakr might cripple him or even kill him.

062

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

From my #AltHistory #Fantasy Thaumatist, currently in critique with my @bsfa.bsky.social crit-group. It should have been easy, breaking up an illegal performance of a play. But two of the playgoers had been armed with thaum, and Cadet Thaumatist Sam had been outmatched.

Sam had stood a while outside the “Queen”, beneath the creaking sign. He felt lousy; his body still ached from the kicking, and the chill spring breeze made him shiver. Those warm fires in the inn behind him...
Maybe he should just head home. The rest would do him good, and maybe his landlady, Mrs Colclough, could be sweet-talked into rustling up some hot soup. She’d complain and tell him that she ought to charge him extra, but she never did. A fierce exterior, but a heart of gold…
He started walking. As he got into his stride, breathing deeper, he began to shrug off the chill. The noonday sun, low as it still was this March day, blessed him with a little warmth. His bruised face throbbed less, and the thaum-weakness left his limbs. He almost felt good.

020

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

#WIPSnips 3/27 Magissa again. In her quest to take back her murdered mother's throne, Jessica has learned to open the ways between the worlds. But some Openings are more dangerous than others... #SFF #PortalFantasy #witches 🌈📚🧙‍♀️

“Make the Opening”, the centaur had said. “Quickly.”
So Jessica had reached, and hands and mind had worked the stuff of between-worlds, which spat sullen fires at her, and which she batted away.
The fires ceased, and now she felt the skin between the worlds pucker and split. Before her appeared the rain-soaked landscape she had left that morning. Behind her…
The centaur sprang through, with Sophona draped over zhir back.
Behind her, the red sun that had been setting was now rising, oddly fast, but Jessica was running through the Opening, fleeing a world gone mad.

051

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

#WIPSnips 3/26 From 'Magissa' Following a failed assassination, Jessica has discovered she's heir to the Witch Throne of Truehome, currently occupied by her usurper aunt. Saved by her cat, Gana -now a 2 metre leonid- she's learning facts about the resistance. #SFF #PortalFantasy #witches #lgbtreads

061

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

When their lead singer quits 2 weeks before their Germany tour, enby drummer Kai needs to find a singer fast. Diva Dom might lead the band to stardom - but she's hiding a dark secret. And Lars? Kai's long-dormant heart is beating double-time on the road to Berlin... 🌈📚💙📚🥁🎶📚 bit.ly/TeardownBook

Now available
Teardown Book cover, showing a white van and band members driving towards the Berlin skyline

13511