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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

HBD to my favourite queen, Margaret of Anjou. 🔥 Her mother, Isabelle Duchess of Lorraine, showed her how a woman rules (alongside her formidable grandmother Yolande of Aragon). Here is a poem from Daughter of Fire (Yaffle Press 2025) from Isabelle's viewpoint. Visit my profile for website link.

A poem by Lucy Heuschen from her Jerwood Prize nominated debut collection Daughter of Fire.

Maman
Isabelle, Duchess of Lorraine (1410 – 1453)

Viens, Marguerite, shoulders back.
One last inspection, before I kiss you
into the safekeeping of strangers.

You are old enough to understand
the life of a queen, her path
of crushed roses, salt and honey.

It is God’s will; noble work.
Listen to your body; feel His love
working through you, for you

and if He is silent, work harder.
After all, how can you say
this is my desire, my ambition

if you blanch at the price?
I bled for you, Marguerite. Paid
for you, over and over. My body

clenched, split and spilled
for you—

then you sang
in the small hour
and I had my reward.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Tonight at 7pm! The window to register closes at 12 noon UK time... Want an audience ticket for this Zoom event of powerful poetry and prose celebrating women's voices? Email DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com #Poetry #WomensWriting

Flyer for Daughters of Fire, an evening of poetry and fiction celebrating women's voices. 17th March 2026 at 7pm UK time. Last chance to register via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Went too fast yesterday and paid the price. Apologies to Rachael for the typo in her name. Here is the correct line-up!

Daughters of Fire - An online reading celebrating women's voices in poetry and prose. Online via Zoom. 17 March 2026. 7pm UK time. Free entry. Please reserve your place by email: DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com.
This flyer lists the names of all the readers at this event: Rosie Jackson, Rachael Clyne, Mari Ellis Dunning, Kymm Coveney, Jenny Robb, Charlene V. Smith, Vic Pickup, Gill Connors, Faye Marshall, Saraswati Nagpal, Sue Butler and host Lucy Heuschen.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Completing the line-up for 🔥Daughters of Fire 🔥on 17th March: The wonderful poet and accomplished translator Kymm Coveney @kymminbarcelona.bsky.social 💗I'll also be reading poems from my debut poetry collection - an evening inspired by strong, vocal women through the ages! #OnlinePoetry #WomenPoets

Kymm Coveney - reading at Daughters of Fire on 17th March, online! Tickets via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

Kymm Coveney has lived in Spain since the 1982 World Cup. History of Milk, her translation of award-wunning novelist Monica Ojeda's poetry collection, will be published by Coffee House Press in 2027. Her most recent poem publications are in Lyrical Somerville (US) and Atrium (UK).

Lucy Heuschen - hosting & reading at Daughters of Fire on 17th March, online! Tickets via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

Lucy Heuschen is a Jerwood and Pushcart Prize nominated poet and author of two pamphlets. Her debut collection Daughter of Fire from Yaffle Press, 2025, centres the experiences of wayward women from antiquity to the present day, celebrating their wild, messy, beautiful resilience.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

More #DaughtersOfFire poets reading - 17th March! Delighted that @rachaelclyne.bsky.social and @saraswatinagpal.bsky.social are joining us. Exploring female experience & self-acceptance with creativity, authenticity & resilience. Free tickets available by emailing me: DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

Rachael Clyne - reading at Daughters of Fire online on 17th March! Please reserve your audience place via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

Saraswati Nagpal - reading at Daughters of Fire online on 17th March! Please reserve your audience place via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Lovely to be longlisted for Cheltenham Poetry Festival's competition! Congrats to the winners and all the shortlisted and longlisted poets. Only 15 selected. What an honour to be there with you. Many thanks to the CPF team and judge Gregory Leadbetter. @annasaund.bsky.social @zoebrooks.bsky.social

Cheltenham Poetry Festival winner, 2nd place, 3rd place.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

More #DaughtersOfFire poets reading on 17th March! Introducing @gillcresearch.bsky.social and Vic Pickup. Gill and Vic's poetry gives voice to female experience in a way I have long admired. #PoetryReading Free tickets exclusively available by emailing me: DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Announcing more #poetry readers for 17th March: @jirobb.bsky.social Jenny Robb and Faye Marshall are two of the many fabulous poets published by Yaffle Press (led by the brilliant Gill Connors and Mark Connors who are also the publishers of my debut collection Daughter of Fire). Email to register!

I met Faye at the in-person launch of Daughter of Fire last year, when she blew me away with a poem about Joan of Arc in the open mic. Her debut pamphlet from Yaffle's Nest is "Throwing Sugar on the Fire". Salena Godden has called Faye "an accomplished poet both on stage and page" (and, of course, Zoom room!). FREE EVENT. Please reserve your place by email to: DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

I've known Jenny since I rediscovered my love of poetry after my cancer diagnosis going back some years now. She was my first poetry mentor and it's been wonderful to receive her support as well as seeing her own poetry flourish. Jenny has two full collections in the world so far: The Doll's Hospital (2022) and Hear The World Explode (2024). Her words have the power to make her readers laugh with delight, cry and scream with rage, sometimes all at once. FREE EVENT. Register for a ticket via email: DaughtersPoetry@gmail.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

My next readers at Daughters of Fire, 17th March: Charlene V. Smith & Sue Butler. Charlene is a talented writer, director, scholar, actor & audio narrator. Sue is an amazing poet whose poetry collection is soon to be pub'd by Yaffle @yaffles-nest.bsky.social DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com for tickets!

Charlene V. Smith - reading at Daughters of Fire on 17th March! Reserve your audience place via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

Sue Butler - reading at Daughters of Fire on 17th March! Reserve your audience place via email to DaughtersPoetry@hotmail.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

🔥Celebrating women's voices in poetry and prose on 17th March! I'll be sharing my fantastic 10 readers and their writing here over the coming days. Every woman I've invited is someone who has inspired me. Sign up & let them inspire you too! First up: Rosie Jackson and @mariellisdunning.bsky.social

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

On 17th March I'll be hosting Daughters of Fire - an online reading celebrating women's voices in poetry and prose! Nine fabulous poets and authors writing at the top of their game, from myth and antiquity to modern portraits of women's lives. Free entry, tickets via email. Deets soon! #PoetryEvent

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The @poetrysociety.org.uk Stanza Comp 2025 results are in & I'm honoured to be commended for the second year in a row! Judge Jonathan Edwards has chosen beautiful poems that play with the theme of "play". 💗Congratulations to Marilyn, Nairn, Jack and all the commended poets too! #NationalPoetryDay

POPCORN
By Lucy Heuschen
Commended in the Poetry Society's Stanza Competition 2025

The first time he calls me popcorn I take it like a compliment.
A little caramel, a little salt. Enough sweetness to make me
open my mouth. Popcorn is not served at the club like port
and cigars. He tries hard to show me, make me understand.
It takes years for me to understand. To fashion a dolly, first
she must be stripped. I yield. String myself light as Christmas
trim. I am (of course I am) popcorn. I deserve to be popcorn.
Will never be anything more. Cheap as poor man’s cocaine,
thrilling on the tongue. A sugar rush, consumed in the dark
long before the credits roll. I forget. I forget my kernel, the wild
grass I stem from. How to green myself with rain, stretching
my fingers skyward. I forget my spikelets, my silk, my tassels,
my gold. How to cocoon, how to butterfly. Swelling, scorched, splitting like a wound, I rise— strike my hellish racket—
bangbangbang— into his speechless face, that sweet, livid O!
I’ve let them think I’m popcorn ever since. If it serves me,
I wear it. Popcorn still pulls them in. At night I unzip my skin,
shrug it off, step from its folds, clean. If I can’t sleep, can’t sleep,
can’t sleep, I count all the men, all the mouths I’ve burned.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

The second print run of Daughter of Fire - my debut poetry collection starring Margaret of Anjou - has arrived! Visit www.lucyheuschen.co.uk to grab a signed copy! What a journey she's taken me on 🔥💕❤️

Photo of a box of poetry books - Daughter of Fire by Lucy Heuschen. Margaret of Anjou glares from the cover, depicted in bold warm reds, dark blues and devilish greens.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

#OTD in 1482, Margaret of Anjou died. She was just 52. Her final years in exile, after being in the thick of intrigue and battle her entire adult life, must have been hard. Lonely. But she likely had one last opponent - the menopause - without modern medicine to explain and mitigate it. Hard relate.

End of days

Did your lady report to the priest: sheets unblemished as laundry day. Did the apothecary whisper about pent-up humours, the souring of bile. Did the waves hit suddenly, did they seep, or did you rattle like a shipwreck. Did you negotiate the small luxury of cooled water. Did someone fan a sea-breeze on your skin as matins came and went. Could you summon your old red rage for this fight and if so, who were you fighting for. Did your faith lapse in droplets. Did you consider one last, crazy escape. Did you ache like a penitent. Did lost ones circle, circle, rising and falling in a great song. Did you make peace with the apocalypse. Did your lady cross herself as she left you asleep: Be our advocate, O Sweet Lady, before your own Son of your Womb.

Lucy Heuschen
from her debut collection
"Daughter of Fire"
(Yaffle Press, 2025)
For signed copies visit: www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

How's your Saturday going? I've brought my copy of Gallop, @abrackenbury.bsky.social's selected poems from @carcanet.bsky.social, out to the garden. Many of these poems feel like they should be read and enjoyed in a green space. History and horses, two of my favourite poetry themes.

A copy of Alison Brackenbury's selected poems, "Gallop", with a big cup of coffee and a pair of glasses on a garden table.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Writing my poetry collection about Margaret of Anjou, there were certain items that had to be included. A thread. 1. A small medieval dog (OK, multiple dogs). 2. A banquet where no food arrived (no one had paid the victualler)... 3. @historylauren.bsky.social's article about H.VI's sex coach .../

Full cover design for Lucy Heuschen's poetry collection about Margaret of Anjou, entitled Daughter of Fire. Nominated for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection 2025. Signed copies available at www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

I'm visiting UK family in the first few days in June, so I'm offering FREE UK SHIPPING on orders of my poetry books while I am over. The code to enter at checkout is SHIPPING. Offer available for orders placed on my website before midnight on 6th June: www.lucyheuschen.co.uk/books-for-sale Thanks!

Cover image of Lucy Heuschen's poetry collection about the medieval queen consort of England, Margaret of Anjou - "Daughter Of Fire" - with praise from Sharon Bennett Connolly and Dr. Edwin Stockdale. Signed copies available at www.lucyheuschen.co.uk/books-for-sale and there is a special offer until midnight on 6th June of FREE UK SHIPPING.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

That's today's listening, thanks Natalie & @historylauren.bsky.social! Maybe images like this one at the NPG London have led to the idea of MB as a severe, joyless figure. I overheard a couple standing next to this portrait discussing her & their conclusion was: "Reckon she's definitely a nun".

Lucy Heuschen and the fabulous not-a-nun Margaret Beaufort (portrait at the National Portrait Gallery London).

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Thinking of King Henry VI, Mr Margaret of Anjou, today on the anniversary of his death. An unworldly man, a man of books and prayer, not suited to medieval kingship. Luckily for him, his wife absolutely was. This poem from Daughter of Fire was inspired by an article by @jllaynesmith.bsky.social 👏

Poem by Lucy Heuschen from her debut collection Daughter of Fire, about the life and legacy of Margaret of Anjou.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

It was lovely to meet my "poetry dad" Ian at Cheltenham Poetry Festival last week! Ian and my dad could be brothers, they look so similar. A reassuring presence in the front row of opening night, when I was so nervous and excited to read for everyone.

Poets Ian Parker-Dodds and Lucy Heuschen at Cheltenham Poetry Festival.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

A short video of Daughter of Fire on her travels. Thank you to everyone who has shared the love on your socials! www.lucyheuschen.co.uk is the place to go to order your signed copy and be in with a chance to be Lucky Number 100 - this person will receive a special secret gift with their order... 💝

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

After days of upload gremlins, here it is: my poem "Aubade with Tiercel", from my collection Daughter of Fire. Filmed in the Garden of Remembrance at Tewkesbury Abbey to mark the anniversary of the battle on 4th May. I imagine the parting conversation between Margaret of Anjou and her beloved son. 💔

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Thank you Anna, Zoe & the @cheltpoetfest.bsky.social team for an amazing opening night! An honour to witness @ruthpadel.bsky.social's stunning reading from "Girl". @patwelshpoolpoetry.bsky.social cast her keen eye over Marys of religion, myth and history. Monica Piersky, fascinating folkloric poems.

Ruth Padel reading from Girl, Lucy Heuschen reading from Daughter of Fire, Pat Edwards reading from Hail Marys and Monica Piercey reading poems of Polish folklore.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Enjoying the new GLOW: The City At Night #Anthology from @brokenspinearts.bsky.social. Alan takes such care of poems and poets. How these two poems speak across the pages! I love it and am so proud to be part of this book. #PoetsOnBluesky #Poetry

The cover of the poetry anthology Glow by The Broken Spine. A night scene, a figure viewed walking away from camera on a rainy street, back-lit by street lights and buildings. Cover design: MidJourney / Andrew James Lloyd.

Two poems from the Broken Spine's GLOW anthology:

1. When the passengers take hold of the steering wheel by Emma Lee

2. Hello by Lucy Heuschen

All rights reserved.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Delighted to have a poem of anticipatory, empty-nest grief in this lovely #poetry anthology from Sidhe Press. What a glorious book, filled with #poems of "grief across a galaxy of stars, lands, and the oceans, through the shivering leaves of trees, to the heartbeats of loved ones" (Teresa Pilgrim).

Three copies of the new poetry anthology from Sídhe Press, "To Lay Sun Into A Forest: Poems About Grief". Available at www.sidhe-press.eu/books/

Breakfast with the eldest boy
by Lucy Heuschen
from the Sidhe Press Anthology "To Lay Sun In A Forest".

It can be something simple
that sets me off

like a blue milk carton
on the counter

our shadows touching
the far wall

you, reaching out
a giant hand

and the glass you fetched
from the high shelf

not smashing
or spilling white

but for a moment
full to the brim.

Copyright: Lucy Heuschen 2025. All rights reserved.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

There is a scam Amazon listing of my book. My publisher @yaffles-nest.bsky.social and myself have NOT made or authorised this listing. It bears the hallmarks of a scam (high price, long delivery date, poor quality image). DON'T FALL FOR IT! 🙏 Legit copies only from www.lucyheuschen.co.uk or Yaffle.

Snapshot of a scam listing of Daughter of Fire by Lucy Heuschen. This listing has not been made or authorised by Lucy Heuschen or Yaffle Press and it appears to be a scam. Please don't fall for it! The book is available for sale on Lucy's official website www.lucyheuschen.co.uk and on Yaffle Press's website.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

As my journey across Yorkshire & Northumberland draws to a close, I'm enjoying memories created on this visit. Not least, the beautiful launch of Daughter of Fire with @yaffles-nest.bsky.social. Here I am with @gillcresearch.bsky.social unboxing the book. #Poetry Link to order is in the comments:

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Popped into Collected bookshop in Durham UK to show the shop to my husband - and found Daughter of Fire front and centre on their poetry pew! Margaret of Anjou is in fine company here! #IndieBookshop #poetry #MedievalWomen

Lucy Heuschen and her poetry collection Daughter of Fire about queen Margaret of Anjou, her life and legacy, proudly displayed at Collected bookshop in Durham, UK.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

A happy and tired poet back at her hotel yesterday evening!

Lucy Heuschen with her new book Daughter of Fire.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

I love beautiful coincidences. One of the poetry inspirations for Daughter of Fire, my poetry collection about Margaret of Anjou, was @ruthpadel.bsky.social. I recently found a copy of Ruth's 1993 collection Angel & its bookplate was from a library in Angers (Margaret country)! #Poetry #MedievalSky

Cover of Angel, a poetry collection by Ruth Padel.

Bookplate from the American Library, Angers, France

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Feel invited to the launch of my debut #poetry collection, Daughter of Fire! When: 13th April 2025, 2 to 5pm BST, Where: City Library, Bradford. To book your seat, please go to my website: www.lucyheuschen.co.uk Pre-orders are open on the same link! #PoetsOnBluesky Praise from advance reviewers:

Launching in... one week! Golden writing on a background of red, velvety rose petals. Lucy Heuschen's debut #poetry collection, Daughter of Fire, launches on 13th April 2025 with an in-person reading at City Library, Bradford. To attend please contact Lucy via her website: www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

Margaret of Anjou Medieval Women Feisty Females Women Of History Women's Poetry

Advance Praise from Anna Saunders, director and founder of Cheltenham Poetry Festival. Cover design: Nick Steel. Image: agsandrew/Shutterstock.com

Advance praise from Charlene V. Smith, Actor, director, scholar. Lover of Shakespeare and Margaret of Anjou. Formerly artistic director of @bravespiritstheatre.

Advance praise from Dr. Edwin Stockdale, Author; PhD Creative Writing @LeedsTrinity; MA Creative Writing (high 1:1) @unibirmingham; Publisher @RedSquirrelPress

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Are you based in Yorkshire? Love #poetry? Come along to the launch of my first, @forwardprizes.bsky.social nominated collection, Daughter of Fire, Bradford UK, 13th April 2-5 pm. Guest readers, open mic, signed copies available! #MedievalWomen ##MedievalSky #PoetsOnBluesky www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

Lucy Heuschen reading poetry at an event.

Daughter of Fire the first collection from Lucy Heuschen has been nominated for the Forward prize for best first collection. Join Lucy in 13th April in Bradford, UK to hear the stories and voices of Margaret of Anjou and other wayward women from medieval times to today. www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI and Lord Talbot, from the Shrewsbury Talbot Manuscript, British Library

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

What fresh hell is this? Can anyone pls explain this less-than-helpful message I'm getting on my #Microsoft account? Seems to be about use of my data. The statement "The publisher has not provided links to their terms for you to review" does not exactly make me want to click Accept.

Unhelpful message from Microsoft about "AugLoop.All (TEST Augmentation Loop MSIT) - The publisher has not provided links to their terms for you to review". The only options are Cancel (and the error message continues to show up on my account) or Accept (with no explanation at all about what that would mean for me or my data).

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Reading alongside me at the launch of Daughter of Fire will be the Forward Prize nominated #poet Jenny Robb. You can read more about Jenny and her poetry below. I am thrilled she is able to attend and read a set of her brilliant, dynamic poetry! Register to attend with this link: fb.me/e/7cvZarF67

Reading alongside me at the launch of Daughter of Fire will be the wonderful, Forward Prize nominated poet Jenny Robb. You can read more about Jenny and her poetry below. Jenny was my first poetry mentor and has supported me every step of the way, including with this collection. I am thrilled she is able to attend and read a set of her brilliant, dynamic poetry.
Register to attend with this link: https://fb.me/e/7cvZarF67

Author bio:
Jenny Robb has been writing poetry since retiring from a social work/management career in children’s and mental health services. Since 2020 she’s been published widely in online and print magazines and in anthologies. Her debut collection is The Doll’s Hospital, (Yaffle Press 2022.) Her second collection, Hear the World Explode, (Yaffle Press 2024), has been nominated for the Forward Prize for Best Collection. Jenny has been shortlisted and highly commended in numerous competitions. She lives in Liverpool with her partner and the
family cat and has one grown up daughter.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Here's my #poem "Towton Archer", from my new collection Daughter of Fire. Sharing this to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Towton today. A bloody and brutal battle, but not the last. Inspired by a poem by my friend the brilliant poet @jumpingjulespoetry.bsky.social (thank you!). NO MORE WAR.

Lucy Heuschen's poem "Towton Archer" from her debut poetry collection, Daughter of Fire. Due out from Yaffle Press 13 April 2025. Signed copies available: www.lucyheuschen.co.uk

Towton archer
after “Earthquake” by Julie Stevens

His torso is a tight-pulled string,
his mouth a firm anchor point
and his neck is the flex of English yew,
his face a red fletch of skin

His tongue is a flag frozen to the pike,
his eye a bodkin looking for a face
and his skin is a river frozen to crust,
his lashes, stalks of salted wheat

His fingers are a brace of stiffening carp,
his arms a long-abandoned forge
and his breath is a horse’s blown lung,
his mind, bean-straw in a barn

And his own arrows sent flying back
are a winter storm that breaks the soil
and he is just another nameless man
and Towton field, just a scrap of land.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

The cover artwork for Daughter of Fire is here! Many thanks to Gill Connors and Nick Steel at Yaffle Press & @annasaund.bsky.social for your praise for the book! Launching 13th April in Bradford UK, message me to reserve a seat. #MargaretOfAnjou #MedievalWomen #Poetry #PoetsOnBluesky

Cover art for Lucy Heuschen's debut poetry collection DAUGHTER OF FIRE. Due out 13th April from Yaffle Press. Anna Saunders calls Daughter of Fire "a book of immense heat and power, not 'just' in the subject matter, but in the fierce and searing voice of a gifted and courageous ppet. This is extraordinary writing and a must-read book."

Cover design: Nick Steel. Image credit: agsandrew/Shutterstock.com

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Hi Rosanna, Thanks for asking! I've had flu, so resting up, but I have been enjoying a couple of much-loved journals publishing my work in the past few weeks. Here's one of them (full poem also in Alt-Text). This poem "Fantasy Women" will be in my upcoming debut collection from Yaffle Press #Poetry

Cover image of issue 50 of Dream Catcher magazine.

Fantasy women
for Lena Headey

by Lucy Heuschen
Poem published in Dream Catcher Issue 50

We begin like Venus:
soft curves and golden hair.
Sometimes we’re witches.
Often we’re fucking someone
who—spoiler— is not our husband.
We bury betrayals and setbacks
with our murdered children
in deep, haunted vaults.
Our words are a finger-snap,
we are infinitely meme-able
especially when the smallfolk
accost us in the street,
strip us, stone us, call us whores.
Oh, writers, we are bored of it.
So we’ll keep on refusing to die,
bare-breasted, shameless.
We will not repent. We bask
in wild green fire,
we tumble men like cities.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

MORE copilot BS. Just found out that MS365 users on Android and iPhone need to change those settings separately. Switching off Copilot and so-called Connected Experiences (data harvesting for AI) in Windows, or presumably also Mac, doesn't do it universally! 🤬 here's the info I got on MS website

Notes from Microsoft's website about policy settings for Connected Experiences. It needs to be switched off on every app and every operating system separately. E.g. switching off connected experiences in your MS products in Windows won't switch it off if you use Microsoft apps on your phone.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I'm here for this. Listening now and will be commenting on the draw - praying Margaret of Anjou isn't in a group of death with the (surely frontrunners) Tudor consorts and especially the brilliant Yee-Hah Katherine Parr... @rexfactor.bsky.social

Screen grab of the Rex Factor podcast Play Offs episode.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

rosiehadden.bsky.social @rosiegarlandwriter.bsky.social @dawnpoet.bsky.social @wavelace.bsky.social @mrjohnmccullough.bsky.social (no idea if any of my five today are qualified to fly an aeroplane, but all are very fine poets)

#PoetsOnBluesky - share five poets' Bluesky accounts, include this hashtag in your post, add this hashtag to "My Feeds" to refine what you see in your Bluesky timeline!

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Before my #TheWhiskeyTree #poem appears, here's an earlier offering. A love-letter to my home river and its rich history, inspired by my years walking to work along the Thames. 1st published in FEED Litmag. Full poem in the link: feedlitmag.com/tag/1-20/

The starting stanzas of a poem by Lucy Heuschen, entitled Mudlarks. Please visit the FEED Litmag website for the full poem by clicking this link:
https://feedlitmag.com/tag/1-20/

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Hello Simon 👋 Glad you enjoyed it. I was there in late Oct for 2 perfect days. Margaret of Anjou inspiration galore!

The poet Lucy Heuschen, a white woman in her 40s, with brown, bobbed hair, wearing a medieval shawl and standing by the skull of a Barbary Lion said to belong to Margaret of Anjou, part of the British Library's Medieval Women In Their Own Words exhibition.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Pausing to rest & reflect. 2024 has been (mostly) kind: my @brokenspinearts.bsky.social #poetry chapbook Loggerheads, a @poetrysociety.bsky.social Stanza Comp commendation & some dream acceptances. 2025 will see my debut collection published. What are your dreams for the year ahead? #PoetsOnBluesky

A snowy street of traditional half-timber houses or shops, their windows warmly lit, their balconies and facades festooned with lights and holly. The sky behind the houses is dark blue and gentle snow is falling. In the sky and on the white, snow-covered ground, a message appears: "Festive greetings! Wishing you a happy and peaceful festive season and a great start to 2025!"

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Could not be happier to be a part of Wave 2 of #TheWhiskeyTree an #poetry anthology series from @brokenspinearts.bsky.social. Follow for details of the brilliant poets collaborating in this project in the coming days.... ✨️ #PoetsOnBluesky #PoetryCommunity

An open doorway surrounded by flames, representing Untamed Nature. A poetry anthology series #TheWhiskeyTree by The Broken Spine. Over the image are the words My work is being published - coming January 2025.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

My review of the new #PoetryCollection by @helenivory.bsky.social. Alt text available too. Get yourself or a loved one a copy of this book! You're welcome 💜

(Five Stars)

Women "shooting their mouths off"

Reviewed in Germany on 2 December 2024

A tour de force from a mistress of her poetic, witchy craft. Helen Ivory shows us the monstering of women for any number of reasons, in poems that reach into the dark heart of misogyny. From the cracking opening poem onwards, this is a collection that wears its gothically decorated heart on its sleeve. It inspires and terrifies. There are also wonderful flights of fantasy in the form of shadow-box illustrations by the author. I'll be returning to it often. 100% buy recommendation.

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Lucy Heuschen (she/her) @petitecreature1.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Hi! Here for the poetry? Try the #PoetsOnBluesky way: Tag 5 poets you 💙. Follow others' lists of 5. Slowly and carefully build your Bsky network. Repeat! My 5 today: @ruthpadel.bsky.social @kellyd.bsky.social @bethbpoet.bsky.social @josephfasano.bsky.social @rgethin.bsky.social Pass it on...

#Poetsonbluesky, a hashtag to connect poets joining Bluesky, simply by searching this hashtag, following and sharing 5 names, and adding the hashtag to "My Feeds." Now available as a regularly updated List

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