Shantell Powell
LightNews LightNews
banner
shanmonster.bsky.social
Shantell Powell
@shanmonster.bsky.social
1.8K followers 880 following 2K posts
Author, artist, poet, & Indigiqueer swamp hag. Grew up on the land & off the grid. Work appears in The Deadlands, Augur Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, Strange Horizons, On Spec, etc. Aurora finalist and total weirdo.
shanmonster.dreamwidth.org
Posts Replies Media Videos
shanmonster.bsky.social
And then there was the time I had possibly the most unflattering photo of me in existence taken with Henry Rollins.
I'm standing next to Henry Rollins. He looks cool, calm, and collected. I look like I'm trying to pull my head back into my body while making a crazed expression and failing at giving him bunny ears.
November 20, 2025 at 2:56 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I have another public reading coming up next month, and you can come check it out online! Https://womenwhosubmitlit.org
Women who Submit presents Published Online. Celebrating 2025 publications from 10 writers from WWS chapters around the world. Sunday, December 7, 2025 11:00 AM Pacific, 1:00 PM Central, 2:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 PM Central European. On Zoom. Hosted by Lucy Rodriguez-Hanley & Thea Pueschel Features Cristina Adams Sara Bawany Jennifer Blackledge Augustine Blaisdell Barbara Diggs Kelly Fordon Shantell Powell Ariel Joy So Dilys Wyndham Thomas Jasmine Vallejo-Love
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
There's a snoot in my shirt.
A person with glasses smiles at the camera while sitting on a couch. They wear a black shirt with a Lovecraftian elder sign design, and a chinchilla's nose is poking out from the shirt's neckline.
November 16, 2025 at 9:38 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Without downloading any new pics, describe your gender
Painting of an Elizabethan era man with a dog. Text says, " A guy asked me if I wanted to pet his Cocker Spaniel. Feel kinda weird about it now. I should have chosen the Spaniel."
November 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Beaches I've been to.
Beach on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland. Beach on Lake Ontario, I think. Beach in Costa Rica Beach in Algonquin park, Ontario
November 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
The bathroom is one of the few places where I can let my chinchillas run around without worrying about them chewing on power cords. But today, Biscuit pretended to be a cat and spent his energies knocking things off the edge of the tub.
An innocent-looking chinchilla snoozing inside a critter cave while using a poptart stuffy as a pillow.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I remember when this was a trend. My grandmother knitted dresses for individual toilet paper roll to wear, contributing to the festiveness.
A toilet is covered is quilted blue satin covers trimmed with ruffles and lace. Even the seat is covered this way.
November 12, 2025 at 12:55 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
First snowfall of the season.
A close-up of vibrant red maple leaves, some dusted with white snow, contrasting against a light sky. A pair of black hiking boots are standing on a ground covered with vibrant yellow leaves. The view is from above. A close-up view of snow-dusted sunflowers against a cloudy sky. The flowers display vibrant yellow petals and dark centers, with one bud partially visible below. A gorgeous ombré golden orange maple leaf resting atop a snow-covered bush with dark red leaves.
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Post you from a different era.

Me as a jeweller around 2003.
Casemates open -THE DAILY GLEANER/DAVID SMITH PHOTO NEW TALENT: Shantell Powell, a metal arts student at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, sets up her jewelry at the Rising Artisans boutique at the casemates in the Garrison District in downtown Fredericton on Friday. Many of the seasonal downtown boutiques are scheduled to open this weekend.
November 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Photo of me from 2006. The photographer was not pleasant to work with. He didn't pay my friend that he was also photographing, & he complained about how I didn't know how to pose. At that point, I'd been modeling for 15 years & was a professional dancer. Pretty sure my poses were fine.
An abstract close-up of a nude human torso with a hand resting on a steel stairway, highlighting the curves and shadows. The background appears textured and neutral.
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
A pointillism drawing I did a few years ago. #pointillism #sketchbook #WinterScene
A black and white ink drawing depicting a snowy landscape. The scene features a path winding through the snow, framed by tall, sparse trees and a dense forest in the background. Light speckling suggests falling snow.
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I think this might be my new author photo. What do you think?
A person with long hair, wearing a hooded cloak, is holding a deer skull with antlers. The expression is intense and fierce, conveying a dramatic and eerie atmosphere. The image has a monochromatic filter, enhancing its haunting tone. Witchy AF.
November 4, 2025 at 10:32 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Happy birthday to my wonderful @daybreakoak.bsky.social
Light-painted photo of a bearded man with veinlike face makeup. Streaks of fire are behind him.
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Meltwilla.
A chocolate brown chinchilla lying all smooshed and flat upon his poptart pillow.
November 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I found some pretty leaves yesterday.
Close-up of maple leaves in vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, contrasting against a tree trunk in the background.
November 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Gorgeous day for a hike. I'm at the Lions Head lookout on the Georgian Bay. #hiking #LionsHead #GeorgianBay
A person sits on a rocky overlook high above a body of water, surrounded by trees and autumn foliage. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and sunlight beams down. A pair of feet in purple hiking shoes rests on a rocky ledge high above a calm lake. The view includes trees with autumn foliage and a cloudy sky, with clear blue water transitioning to shades of green near the shore. A man stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a calm body of water, surrounded by trees. The scene is set against a cloudy sky, with distant land visible across the water. View from inside a glacial pothole looking up, featuring rough, textured stone walls and a circular opening at the top where sunlight and tree branches are visible.
November 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I'm camping in a cabin in the woods next to a crashed drug plane. This is how I do Hallowe'en this year.
A small, abandoned aircraft is sitting in a forest clearing surrounded by trees. The plane is partially covered in leaves and shows signs of wear, including faded paint. A small fire pit made of stones is located nearby. A vintage airplane sits beside a small, modern cabin in a forest clearing, surrounded by fallen leaves and bare trees.
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Embroidery I did a few years ago. I really should get back to it. I enjoy needlework. #embroidery #EmbroideryArt
A delicate circular design featuring intricately embroidered silvery white flowers and leaves, displayed on a black background.
October 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
My new glasses arrived. I like them much better than the plastic pair I tried a few weeks ago. I can actually see with them.
A woman with curly, light gray hair, wearing purple-framed glasses, is featured in a cozy indoor setting. She is dressed in a green turtleneck underneath a dark floral overall featuring pumpkins and flowers. Soft natural light filters through a window behind her.
October 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
Well, that's what I get for trying to wax it. And I was super careful. I didn't overlap my waxing areas, and didn't do the same spot more than once. Now I have a blood moustache.
A woman with gray hair and glasses is looking directly at the camera. She has a slight expression on her face, and visible bright red marks above her lip. . She is wearing a red dress that matches the blood moustache.
October 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
It's pumpkin photoshoot season for my chinchillas. They were not impressed. Putuuqti abandoned ship and jumped off the countertop. #chinchillas #pumpkin #PetPortrait
Putuuqti the freckle-eared chinchilla sits beside a small pumpkin on a colorful, textured blanket. Biscuit the brown chinchilla sits on an orange crocheted blanket, with two pumpkins in the background. His eyes and whiskers have sparkle.
October 13, 2025 at 7:34 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I'm back to my usual no-makeup. Today I'm wearing a shirt that belonged to my grandmother. There aren't many things of hers which fit me. She was much smaller than I am.
A person with shoulder-length, wavy hair is smiling at the camera, wearing glasses and velvet tie-dye shirt in autumn colours. The background includes kitchen elements, with natural light coming from a window.
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
"The Menopaise Chrysalis" is my surreal story about an ageing Two-Spirit person passing through the medical system and the dream world. It is featured in the anthology "Yay all queer free and queer." www.kickstarter.com/projects/ink...
The image features a black-and-white portrait of Shantell Powell striking a pose, alongside a graphic promoting the book "Yay! Free and Queer." The text describes Powell as an award-winning writer who grew up on the land and off the grid.
October 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I rarely wear makeup but decided to do a little eyeliner today.
A person with partially gray hair and light purple highlights is looking directly at the camera. They have purple and black eyeliner on.
October 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
shanmonster.bsky.social
I've had chinchillas for 30 years, & it was only when I got the 2 I have now that I witnessed chinchilla tantrums. When they were babies & got upset, they'd stomp around, shaking their heads while making turkey gobble sounds. It's hilarious. They rarely do it now that they're grown.
Biscuit the chinchilla sits inside a cardboard box with his hands resting on a pop tart stuffy.
October 8, 2025 at 1:33 AM