William Campbell Powell

@willcampowell

Author of TEARDOWN🌈📚 (NineStar), EXPIRATION DAY (YA/SF, Tor), also writes short SFF, long SFF/HF/Crime/contemporary. Software engineer (retired). Politics Green #FBPE bit.ly/TeardownBook He/him

2034 Siguiendo1984 Seguidores847 Publicaciones

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William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 5d

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 6d

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?

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 7d

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 8d

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 15d

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.”

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 22d

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 22d

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· 28d

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?

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Mar 4

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Jan 29

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...

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Dec 24

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...

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Dec 11

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Sep 13

You can now pre-order The Best of MetaStellar Year 4 at books2read.com/u/4jdgOD - DRM-free where the platform permits. #SpeculativeFiction #Fantasy #ScienceFiction #ShortStories #Anthology #ComingSoon #MetaStellar #HumansAreMagic #HumanStoriesByHumanAuthors #Culture #Reading

Cover image of The Best of MetaStellar Year 4, listing (some) author names and with a medieval-themed graphic of an armoured foot pressing down on a wounded goblin. Nice!

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Sep 9

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Aug 31

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Aug 25

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Jul 13

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."

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Jun 23

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)

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· Jun 11

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 23

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 21

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 21

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 21

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 20

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

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 19

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 16

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)

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 15

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 14

@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social says it well

I lay in bed
hardly able to breathe
but there were people to sedate me,
pump air into me
calm me down when I thrashed around
hold my hand and reassure me
play me songs my family sent in
turn me over to help my lungs
shave me, wash me, feed me
check my medication
perform the tracheostomy
people on this ‘island of strangers’
from China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland
India, USA, Nigeria and Greece.
I sat on the edge of my bed
and four people came with
a frame and supported me
or took me to a gym
where they taught me how
to walk between parallel bars
or kick a balloon
sat me in a wheel chair
taught me how to use the exercise bike
how to walk with a stick
how to walk without a stick
people on this ‘island of strangers’
from China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland
India, USA, Nigeria and Greece.
If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 13

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.

William Campbell Powell@willcampowell· May 12

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