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Beka Wueste is an author whose debut novel, “The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior,” earned praise as a “deeply introspective and emotionally resonant novel” (-Kirkus Reviews) and “an explosive fictional debut… an emotional rollercoaster,” (-Reader Views) and whose second novel, “Fireflies in a Jar,” was welcomed as, “warm, funny, and quietly heartbreaking.” (-Midwest Book Review).
Her short story collection, “My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death,” received advance praise as, “An inherently fascinating and memorable read from cover to cover.” (-Midwest Book Review) and “lyrical and thoughtful… moving, imaginative, and unforgettable.” (- Readers’ Favorite)
She is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her visual work frequently in regional and national shows.
Born in Texas and raised in Virginia, Beka earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and an M.A. in art history from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
An enthusiastic traveler, avid reader, nature lover, lifelong cinephile, and collector of music on vinyl, Beka lives with her husband and their rescue Shiba Inu in Northern Virginia.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death by Beka Wueste is a haunting collection that examines mortality not as a distant, shadowy figure but as a close and personal companion. This eight-story anthology portrays death in unexpected ways: sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce, but always deeply connected to the living. Wueste combines magical realism, emotional honesty, and philosophical insight to create a narrative universe where death is both a character and a force, present from the first breath to the last. The book opens with an author’s note that sets the tone: death is neither taboo nor a villain but a part of existence, worthy of acknowledgment rather than fear. This lens shapes the stories that follow.
Beka Wueste’s portrayal of death is particularly striking. Instead of a skeletal figure, death is depicted as a glowing being, accompanied by hounds, guides who escort souls. This creative depiction reshapes the common imagery of mortality and emphasizes the main theme: death is not a monster, but a presence that walks alongside life. What elevates the collection is its emotional honesty. Wueste doesn’t hide the pain of loss but gives it a voice, showing how death shapes identities and relationships. Her genre-blending style—part literary fiction, part speculative—is lyrical and thoughtful. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own relationship with mortality, not as a distant endpoint, but as a companion to living fully. My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death is a moving, imaginative, and unforgettable exploration of what it means to live with death present, and to find meaning in the spaces between beginnings and endings.
