About Christine

Christine Beck holds an MFA from Southern Connecticut State University and is the author of four books of poetry -- Blinding Light (Grayson Books 2013), I’m Dating Myself, (Dancing Girl Press 2015) Stirred, Not Shaken (Five Oaks Press 2016), and Given Time: a Mother-Daughter Cancer Memoir (Finishing Line Press, 2025).

She has also written a book of poetry and prompts for writers in 12-step recovery called Beneath the Steps. Christine Beck has taught creative writing and literature at The University of Hartford and in private workshops.

Her essays have appeared in Dreamers, Far Villages, and the anthology Home. Christine writes a weekly essay on Substack called Beck and Call, about reading, writing, and real life at christinebeck.substack.com. Her essays begin with a book review and then broaden to issues of general interest. 

From 2017 to 2019, Christine was selected as the Poet Laureate of West Hartford, where she hosted a local television show called Poetry Around Town. She is a former president of the Connecticut Poetry Society, and she created its flagship poetry education program, Poets on Poetry, which she hosted initially at the Hartford Public Library and then in surrounding town libraries. During the pandemic, the program moved to Zoom and was hosted by other members of Connecticut Poetry Society. 

Beginning in January 2026, Christine will return to the Avon Public Library with a monthly in-person session in which she will present a well-known poet and offer simple poetry prompts to help unlock everyone’s poetry potential. She has also presented programs at the annual convention of The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), including one on the ethics of writing about real people and events.