Callie ANN Atkinson

Growing up on a small farm in Belfry, Montana, I spent my childhood outdoors, inspired by my biologist parents. Family trips involved field surveys and visits to Yellowstone, fostering my love for nature. And farm life taught me about the balance of joy and heartache. This upbringing has largely influenced my writing. I've always dreamed of being an author, fascinated by the magic of words from before I could even write. Writing is something I cannot imagine not being a part of my life. 

As the middle of three sisters, family is crucial to me, and after college I moved back to the farm I grew up on, where I built a tiny house next door to my parents. Two English Shepherds, Missy and Brydie, and a cat, Dingle, share my home. On the farm, I raise Paints and Quarter Horses, and Galloway cattle, and have a nosy Dutch Belted milk cow, Zyzy, who follows me everywhere. Hiking and running are my other passions, and I'm a semi-competitive ultramarathoner. I also love cooking and baking, always eager to try new recipes.

I hold a MFA in Poetry from Spalding University and a MFA in Fiction from University of Montana. Currently I teach English at Joliet High School, Montana. My work has appeared in Farming Magazine, The Small Farmers Journal, The Whitefish Review, The Best Emerging Poets (Z Publishing), and The Louisville Review.