Meet the Author: Christie Beckwith

Get to know our newest author, Christie Beckwith. She wrote Split Ends in the Apocalypse. Hear about her life, writing, and journey to publishing!

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My first name, Christie, is actually my great grandmother’s last name. Many times people think it’s a shortened version of Christine, but Christie is my full name. 

What inspired you to write your book?

I’ve been writing poems since I was a little girl. My grandmother used to recite them to me from memory and as I grew older, I found writing to be a great outlet for my feelings. I wrote this book during my four years as a travel EEG technician for an Alzheimer’s research study. I found out after the job began that me and planes were not always copacetic. 

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

I live in Massachusetts so I’ve been to the graves of e.e. Cummings and Anne Sexton. Edgar Allen Poe lived in MA at some point and there is a festival here celebrating that. I was a huge fan of his poem “Lov’d Alone” growing up. 

What is the first book that made you cry?

Honestly, I’m a not a cryer, but Song of Achilles has made me cry several times during reads and rereads. The writing is divine. 

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing is an emotional outlet. Sometimes I have heavy emotions that get lighter with writing and sometimes I won’t be able to find my way through writing which exhausts me.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

I can’t imagine what it’s like to not feel emotions strongly. If you don’t feel them that way, I’m sure you could sling some sentences in an instructional booklet.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Reading and editing are your best friend if you want to write well. 

What’s your writing process?

I don’t have a strict practice but I do have the notes app on my phone. Reading good writing inspires me the most to write. Poetry workshops are my next go to for getting words on the page. I’m currently trying to practice reading books on craft then creating for a while. My favorite practice in writing is allowing myself to be messy and play around. 

What is the most difficult part of your process?

Editing, but it’s also the part I love the most. Staring at a word for twenty minutes until it loses its meaning is the hardest part for me. 

What was the easiest and most difficult part of publishing?

The easiest part is writing. The hardest part is justifying why someone should spend money on your thoughts. 

Did you always want to write a book? If not, why now?

I’ve wanted to publish a book of poems for over ten years. I hoped to have one before my grandmother passed away but that didn’t happen. I have been submitting my writing for publication for over ten years. Once I received my first acceptance from an indie press, I had the legitimacy I was seeking for my writing and then chose Meraki because of their alignment with the goals I had for this book.

What poets do you read when you need inspiration?

The best in the game I have access to. Ada Limón, Andrea Gibson, Louis Glück, Padraig O Tuama, and more. Sometimes I pick a poet whose voice I want to aspire to and read them alongside my writing. Anything that will give me a goal to stretch towards. 

This isn’t your first book. Tell us about your first book.

I wrote a Children's book called Ellie The Elephant Has a Sleep Study and curated an anthology called Boaz’s Barley and other borrowed stories. 

What was different from self-publishing to publishing with Meraki?

The team at Meraki cares immensely about their authors so I could do what I do best and they bridged the gap from the words on the page to the finish line of having my own book in hand.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone who wants to write a book?

Send what you have, a pitch, and idea, your journal entries, your story- Meraki knows how to spin thread into gold. 

Where can readers find your other works?

The easiest way to find my writing is via my instagram page @thehardwaypoems I have links to my Wordpress page and highlight reels of poetry acceptances

Where can people find your book?

Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, Waterstone, etc

Thank you, Christie, for sharing your time and insights with us!

If you would like to follow along with her book and further updates, you can find her on social media.

You can order her book here.

Available everywhere July 24th, 2026!

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