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Lucy Hounsom: Author

Also writing as Lucy Holland

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Meet the Author

Author, SFF podcaster, book merchant Read More…

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silvanhistorian

May this moody shot of me on my way to visit a Neo

May this moody shot of me on my way to visit a Neolithic burial chamber in Wales be a gentle reminder that I have an event tomorrow – with @alix.e.harrow no less!

We'll be talking bookish things, sisterhood, folklore, myths, retellings, intersectional feminism, magic etc – all the good stuff.

ET = 2pm | BST = 7pm. If you follow the link in my bio to my events page, there's a crowdcast sign up link there. Bring your questions! Looking forward to hanging out tomorrow 😊

#orbitbooksus #crowdcast #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #igreads #instareads #bookishfeatures #onlineevent #fantasy #speculativefiction #historicalfantasy #2021books

Dinefwr Castle was once the seat of Lord Rhys, rul

Dinefwr Castle was once the seat of Lord Rhys, ruler of the ancient kingdom of Deheubarth in South Wales. His peaceful rule which ushered in an era of cultural creativity and growth didn't survive his death in 1197.

After many more years of strife where the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English, Dinefwr fell into English hands in 1287.

We were so lucky with the weather. It stopped raining and the strong winds churned up the clouds so that everything was haze and god light. I managed to take about 60 photos and videos trying to capture the ambiance.

🏰

#dinefwr #dinefwrcastle #lordrhys #wales #southwales #12thcentury #welshprince #welshhistory #medieval #medievalhistory #castle #castles #castlecore #medievalbuilding #medievalarchitecture

Just a handful of the photos I've been tagged in b

Just a handful of the photos I've been tagged in by the wonderful booksellers of @barnesandnoble. Bowled over by the sight of my book on so many gorgeous tables, it really is an author's dream come true.

Sistersong is the Discover pick until the end of October 🎃 Thank you to everyone who has been handselling the book all month and finding it a new home with readers, I am so grateful ☺️

#Sistersong #orbitbooksus
#orbit21 #redhookbooks #sistersong #lucyholland #speculativefiction #fantasybooks #bookstagram #bookish #instabook #bookaholic #bookphotography #booksofinstagram #booksofig #igreads #booksellers #bookselling #barnesandnoble #bndiscover

Narqelion (Autumn) Ai lintulind(ov)a Lasselanta P

Narqelion (Autumn)

Ai lintulind(ov)a Lasselanta
Piliningwe súyer nallar qanta
Kuluvai ya karnevalinar
V'ematte sinqi Eldamar.

Oh! Fall with its many swallows,
the airs are so full of golden feathers,
and orange-red ones too,
that they call to mind the gems of Elven-home. — trans Chris Gilson

Some Elvish from Tolkien in honour of my shiny new LOTR edition 😊

🍂

#tolkien #elvish #poem #autumn #fallcolors #fall #bookstagram #middleearth #instareads #lotr #lordoftherings #fantasy #devon #woodland #river

Excited to be going castle hunting in Wales on the

Excited to be going castle hunting in Wales on the weekend, this time to the south! Be sure to let me know if there is anything around Caerphilly which is not to be missed 🥰

Here's a photo from my last trip – autumned up a little to suit the season.

#wales #dysynnivalley #beautifulwales #woodland #cadairidris #forest #welshcastles #weekendaway

𝘓𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘱𝘢 𝘥𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰

Introducing the beautiful Spanish language edition of Sistersong which is out today! This is the first book of mine ever translated into Spanish – heartfelt thanks to @leonelteti and @umbrieleditores for bringing it to new readers. And not forgetting my hardworking translator @xavier__beltran 🥰

I learned a lot while researching and writing this story, not just about a historical period but more importantly a lived experience that differs from my own.

I hope you enjoy meeting the three protagonists of Sistersong, whose hopes and dreams are so similar to ours, despite the years that separate us.

More thanks to @pepperdinecreations for the real life bone* harp!

*may not actually be bone

💀

#umbrieleditores #sistersong #labaladadelarpadehueso #publicationday #bookish #booksbooksbooks #lgbtqia #spanishtranslation #translatedbooks #bookstagram #instareads #historicalfantasy #historicalfiction #booklove #bookishfeatures #crafting #visualstorytelling #boneharp #thetwosisters #murderballad

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦-𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨-𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬.

🍁

#tolkien #tolkienquotes #lotr #thehobbit #waterfall #river #woodland #woodlandscene #autumniscoming #favbooks #bookstagram #fantasy #fairycore #faerie #devon #visitdevon #canonteignfalls #forest

𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆

𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉...

Mum and I had a lovely walk at Canonteign Falls this afternoon. Some delicious cake in the cafe, a wander through the wood, and then a climb up the 90 steps of tree roots and mossy rocks to reach the top. Pic of the view in my story.

October is such a wonderful month. Woodsmoke on the air, chill mornings that mellow into cool afternoons, phoenix feather trees... It has none of the sadness of September when you can feel summer fading. Even though it heralds darker days. No wonder festivals like Samhain are celebrated this month. Liminality has power.

✿

#canonteignfalls #devon #visitdevon #autumncolour #fallcolors #rustic #cottagecore #afternoonwalk #westcountry #southwestengland #samhain #autumnishere #octoberdays

🏰 Raglan Castle 🏰 2021 has turned into a bi

🏰 Raglan Castle 🏰

2021 has turned into a bit of a castle-visiting year. Tintagel in April, Raglan and Castell y Bere in June, and Caerphilly + whatever others we find nearby later this month. Bonus Tintern Abbey in September.

@drvictoriajames suggested we stopped at Hay en route to Wales, but then I stumbled across Raglan and we were both wowed by its sheer size – more like a citadel. If you're in the area, do visit. It's glorious.

➳

#raglancastle #raglan #castlesofbritain #wales #renaissance #tudor #ruinedcastle #castlecore #romanticruins #history #oldarchitecture #oldbuildings #historicalbuildings #scenicbritain

I am so thrilled that Sistersong is @barnesandnobl

I am so thrilled that Sistersong is @barnesandnoble's October Discover Pick!

For a little known author, it's been wonderful seeing my book in so many shops and table displays – swipe for one courtesy of the lovely folks at @bn_whiteplains.

I said I loved being tagged in books-in-the-wild pics and you have taken me at my word! I am really enjoying seeing them all and your stores too ❤

Huge love to everyone who is handselling and recommending Sistersong to readers – I can't thank you enough for helping it find its feet over there 🥰

#sistersong #barnesandnoble #bndiscover #orbitbooksus #orbit21 #redhookbooks #sistersong #lucyholland #speculativefiction
#fantasybooks #bookstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #instabook #bibliophile
#bookphotography #booksofinstagram #igreads #instareads #booksinnature #autumnreads #fallbooks

❝I know of the leafy paths that the witches take

❝I know of the leafy paths that the witches take
Who come with their crowns of pearl and their spindles of wool,
And their secret smile, out of the depths of the lake;

I know where a dim moon drifts, where the Danaan kind
Wind and unwind their dances when the light grows cool
On the island lawns, their feet where the pale foam gleams.

No boughs have withered because of the wintry wind;
The boughs have withered because I have told them my dreams.❞

✿

From 'The Withering of the Boughs' – some Yeats (one of my favourite poets) for National Poetry Day

#nationalpoetryday #yeats #wbyeats #irishpoetry #irishfolklore #irishmyth #folklorethursday #autummtrees #fall #autumncolours #woodland #glade #fairycore #faerierealm
#baretrees #tuathadedanann #devon

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅

𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯, 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦, 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦.
𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 . . . 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩.

𝘔𝘺𝘳𝘥𝘩𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘭, 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. ‘𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶,’ 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴.

✿

I am in awe of @pepperdinecreations! The bone harp was a collaborative project which I only contributed some words and a vision to and Becky merged that with her own vision and extreme crafting skills to bring the bone harp from Sistersong to life. It is enormously more creepy seeing this in reality than simply imagining it. And it did make me reflect on *that* scene...

Do go check out Becky's page for more incredible creations. Sistersong is published in the US on Tuesday! (Link in bio)

✿

#orbitbooksus #orbit21 #redhookbooks #sistersong #lucyholland #speculativefiction #historicalfantasy #fantasybooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #igreads #instareads #crafting #boneharp
#folktale #folkballad #murderballad #harp

𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖔 𝕾𝖆𝖝𝖔𝖓 𝕶𝖎

𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖔 𝕾𝖆𝖝𝖔𝖓 𝕶𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖉𝖔𝖒𝖘

It was a toss up between this map and one of Roman Britain, also drawn by the brilliant @manuscriptmaps. The detail is stunning.

For those interested in the world of Sistersong, here is Dumnonia in relation to the rest of Britain. The Celtic Britons were pushed ever further west into Wales and Cornwall, but held out for many years against the English, who referred to all natives as Welshmen. (Welsh being derived from Wælisc meaning "foreigner"). Pretty insulting considering they were the ones invading...

The words British and English now tend to be used interchangeably alongside being 'from the UK', but the formation of this national identity was a complex process where peoples, religions and cultures violently collided. And I haven't even mentioned the Vikings or Normans...

Anyway, history is cool. Maps are cool. Please pre-order my book if you're in the US or Canada! Only 5 days to go...

➳

#maps #cartography #ancientmaps #anglosaxon #britishhistory #history #medievalhistory #Sistersong #bookstagram #igreads #instareads #historicalfantasy #2021books #2021reads #bookishfeatures

'𝘖𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨'

My colleague took this photo on his way to work the other day – I just edited it. Peak Dumnonia that made me think of the Jackie Leven song. Any other Jackie fans on here? I really don't know any!

✿

#mist #mistymorning #autumn #autumniscoming #september #dawn #dawnsky #otterystmary #countryside #dumnonia #devon #visitdevon #westcountry #jackieleven #naturephotography #beautifulnature

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬

12 days to go until US publication! Lots of cool things in Sistersong, here are just a few of them 🧡

➳

#historicalfantasy #orbitbooksus #bookishfeatures #bookquote
#orbit21 #redhookbooks #sistersong #lucyholland #speculativefiction
#fantasybooks #bookstagram #bookish #instabook #bibliophile #bookphotography #booksofinstagram #igreads

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐢

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲!

Or is it 101st? I mean how many people get to write that their grandparent is 101?!

Interrupting my writing-castles-nature aesthetic to bring you Grandma Iris, whose birthday we celebrated yesterday. That's her boyfriend, Pat, a scant 92 years old. My grandpa has been gone two decades now so it's quite wonderful to have my grandma still with us. She is such an inspiration. And how great does she look!

🎈

#grandma #grandmother #101years #happybirthday
#family #century #1920

Both times I've dropped by Topsham this summer, th

Both times I've dropped by Topsham this summer, the clouds have been ~dramatic~ think it's Dartmoor's dark work.

☁️

#topsham #exeter #devon #westcountry #visitdevon #clouds #dramaticsky #riverexe #estuary

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨,

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺

(Hadestown is great, right)?

Sistersong publishes in less than 3 weeks and where has the time gone? I have been so engrossed in writing the followup book that the months have just flown by.

Today I am honoured to share another lovely blurb, this time from the phenomenal @hwhittenwrites!

"Sistersong truly reads like a ballad—beautiful and mournful, a melody that sticks in your head. An absolutely stunning book."

—Hannah Whitten, author of For the Wolf

➳

#Sistersong #orbitbooks #orbitbooksus #blurb
#orbit21 #redhookbooks #lucyholland #speculativefiction
#fantasybooks #instareads
#bookstagram #bookish #instabook #bookishfeatures #booksofinstagram
#booksofig #igreads

First draft of the new book sent off to my editor

First draft of the new book sent off to my editor today and I don't know what to do with myself except to say that Sistersong is published in the US 3 weeks tomorrow! Pre-order link is in my bio and as pre-orders are so very vital to authors, please help spread the word however you can 🙏

I know I owe my subscribers a newsletter, I did start to write one 6 weeks ago but the deadline was looming and I really have been working solidly every possible day to meet it. I promise I'll catch up with all the things I let slide! Tonight, however, calls for a glass of wine and an episide of Mo Dao Zu Shi final season 😏

#Sistersong #2021reads #orbitbooks #fantasy #historicalfantasy #fantasybooks #tinternabbey #booksinthewild #orbit21 #redhookbooks #wip #bookstagram #instareads #igreads #igbooks #upcoming #autumnreads

The upside of rain flooding the abbey was amazing

The upside of rain flooding the abbey was amazing reflections. Perhaps if you gaze into the water long enough, you will glimpse a bowed and hooded head, a flash of robe or prayer book, and hear the faint sung strains of a chant...

✥

#tinternabbey #tintern #abbey #ruins #romanticruins
#medievalarchitecture #medieval #medievalbuilding #religiousbuilding #holyhouse #dramaticsky #afterrain #reflections

𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐲

𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐲

You round the final bend and it's just *there* – this incredible building. Sitting in its secluded valley surrounded by the Welsh mists which were out in force when I took this photo. No wonder Wordsworth was so moved to poetry in such a place. So here are a few of his words to start your day.

✿

Therefore let the moon
Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;
And let the misty mountain-winds be free
To blow against thee: and, in after years,
When these wild ecstasies shall be matured
Into a sober pleasure; when thy mind
Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,
Thy memory be as a dwelling-place
For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then,
If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,
Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts
Of tender joy wilt thou remember me...

✿

#tinternabbey #tintern #wordsworth #poetry #nature #oldarchitecture #abbey #cistercian #monks #beautifulbuildings #medievalarchitecture #medieval #wyevalley #wales

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In a magical ancient Britain, bards sing a story of treachery, love and death. This is that story.

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