Beka Wueste

Beka Wueste is an author whose family drama, “Human of the Year,” earned a Kirkus Star, with the review calling it, “a patiently detailed and heartfelt book about a challenged family and forgiveness.” Her 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). Her second novel, “Fireflies in a Jar,” was welcomed as, “warm, funny, and quietly heartbreaking.” (-Midwest Book Review).

In 2025, Beka’s debut short story collection, “My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death” was a finalist for Short Story Collection of the year in the the Reader Views Reviewer Choice Awards.

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.