Cresswell worked for many years as a science editor, including ten years as editor of the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and later as an editor for scientists at the
Department of Conservation. Her science background infuses her poetry, which is characterised by frequent references to the natural world, "mov[ing] between people, science and nature"[7] and demonstrating "a strong sense of respect for natural settings and features".[8]
Her poetry is notable for a focus on form, including rhyme. It often explores lesser-known formats such as
ghazals, glossas,
centos as well as more well-known forms such as the
sonnet. She acknowledges the influence of the poets
Kay Ryan,
Paul Muldoon, and
Thom Gunn on her work.[3] In 2000 she came third in the New Zealand Poetry Society's International Poetry Competition for her poem "Observations Made in Passing",[9][10] and in 2008 was highly commended in an annual poetry competition run by the journal Bravado.[11] Her 2011 collection Trace Fossils was runner-up for the Kathleen Grattan Award.[2] Her poems have been published in New Zealand, Australian, Canadian, American and British literary journals, including Best New Zealand Poems (2005) and Best of Best New Zealand Poems (2011).[12][2]
Publications
Millionaire's Shortbread, with Mary-Jane Duffy, Mary Macpherson and Kerry Hines (2003, Otago University Press)[13]
Nearest and Dearest (2009, Steele Roberts)
Trace Fossils (2011, Steele Roberts)
Fish Stories (2015, Canterbury University Press)[14][15]