Christine Weimer didn’t choose writing. Writing chose her.

When Christine was eight years old, someone suggested that she keep a journal to write down her feelings. At that moment she fell in with writing and a dream was born.

“There was no question in my mind that I wanted to be a writer. Maybe I would teach it. Maybe it was going to be another realm, but writing was what it was. Then I became an adult.”

And with adulthood came social stigmas that shattered her dream. Even though the New York native was offered a full scholarship for journalism, she decided to go to community college to pursue a more practical career.

“The starving artist syndrome and this idea that art and creative doesn’t pay the bills rang in my ear. So, when it was time for me to pursue writing as a career, I was too scared.”

Christine made a living by working in bookkeeping and accounting, giving up writing altogether. But a planned pregnancy with her long-term partner followed by revelations of infidelity and a break-up led writing back to her in 2018.

Ashamed and heartbroken, plagued with feelings of guilt over the idea that she “couldn’t keep her man,” Christine put pen to paper and what came out was a collection of 400 poems. Of those, 115 became her first book, Tainted Lionheart.

“The book was my way of coming out to my family. This was my truth. I was going through raising my daughter alone.”

The birth of her daughter, Adalyn, gave birth to Tainted Lionheart, which gave birth to Our Galaxy Publishing, a press (and more) that Christine runs with her best friend, Lindsay Tisi. The press, which is more like a one-stop shop for creatives looking to build their brand, came to be after Christine’s struggle with finding a publisher for her book. Because the volume of poems was so personal, she didn’t feel comfortable signing with a traditional press, since doing so would mean giving up her integrity and any branding decisions, amongst other reasons like a minuscule royalty percentage.

Christine’s story, the way she dealt with it, and the way she got it out into the world became an inspiration for other female creatives. Before she knew it, women were reaching out asking for her help, and Christine began signing them to her press.  

“Our Galaxy came to be because of the other women, not even because of me.”

Our Galaxy works in all mediums of publishing, has higher royalty rates, and they leave the final say to the creative. Currently, there are 15 women signed to the press, but Christine makes most of her money consulting and helping women start up their business. And Christine considers books businesses, so if you’re an author, you’re also an entrepreneur.

“It is stated in my contract that I would rather put something out there that I did not approve but that they did, for the sake of them upholding that integrity.”

What’s more empowering than giving up your own power so that someone else could maintain theirs?

Because Christine goes where the needs of the women are, she is hoping to one day switch from becoming a press to promoting self-published authors full-time.

“There’s something about being tied to someone else’s brand that doesn’t quite align with me.”

In addition to the work she does, Christine preaches a powerful message: we are each in charge of our perspective through awareness. It was advice passed down to her from a mentor, which she also believes everyone should have.

“We have the ability to sit with ourselves and get aware of what our truth is and what our desires are. Then, it is up to us to make the choice of how we live our lives. We have the power to create our lives based on that awareness and choice.”

The galaxy that Christine has created has a tremendous impact, but she credits it all to the little human, Adalyn.

“I would’ve never pursued putting my words into a book and sharing my truth if I didn’t owe it to my daughter to do that. I asked, do I want my daughter to feel disempowered by someone’s disloyalty or do I want her to figure out how to learn a lesson and rise above? There is a way to turn any of your darkness into light. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t become a mother.”

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Support Christine and Our Galaxy Publishing by purchasing merch or a book or following her on Instagram and Goodreads.