Christine Betts is a novelist, author of award-winning short stories, and teaches creative writing workshops. In February 2025, her manuscript Homecoming (working title) was long listed in the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize, and Christine is a committee member for the inaugural Currumbin Crime Writers Festival, held August 15-16, 2025. Planning for the 2026 festival is underway.
Christine has been a member of the Gold Coast Writers’ Association since 2018 and served on the committee as newsletter editor (2021-23) and speaker coordinator (2023-24). Christine is the creator of the popular Write and Sip fundraising events and patron/judge of the GCWA Short Story Competition (2022-23) and creator of the GCWA members Critique Groups.
A firm believer that creativity will save the world, she writes daily and encourages everyone around her to join in. She lives and works on Bundjalung country with her family and two spoiled cats but spends as much time traveling as she can.
Read my blog on creativity here and my Substack on Critique for Creatives here.
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- Winner – Romance Writers of Australia Flash Fiction ‘Spring’ competition for The New Gardener. Published in Hearts Talk magazine.
- Workshop Manager – Currumbin Crime Writers Festival, Currumbin, Queensland. Moderator, panel with Hayley Scrivenor and Dinuka McKenzie.
- Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize – Longlist, February 2025. Shortlist announced March 2025, winner announced April 2025.
- The Art of the Title Competition – Winner, SelfPubCon, 2023
- 2023 Gold Coast Writers’ Association Andrew McDermott Annual Achievement Award – Winner
- Fancy Meeting You Here–Honorable Mention–Queensland Writers Centre RightLeftWrite competition, August 2022
- Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Masterclass, July 2022
- A Tale of Twin Towns–Published–Eastern Regional Library (Vic) Anthology Tales of the Pandemic
- How I Got this Tattoo, Winner–The Tasmanian Writers Prize for 2022
- Death of a Show Princess, Shortlisted for the Scarlet Stiletto Awards 2021 (Highly Commended)
- Southbank, Shortlisted -the Brisbane Writers Festival First Date at Southbank competition
- Delete World – Published (co-authored) Rainforest Writing Retreat Anthology 2022
- Tough Crowd, Winner–Queensland Writers Centre RightLeftWrite competition, November 2021
- Undetected, Published (co-authored) Rainforest Writing Retreat Anthology 2021 available here
Events, Interviews and In Conversation Events
2026 – Coming Soon
2026 Art Write Now Workshops at HOTA, Gold Coast
March 2026 – Women Writers Queensland – Writing Workshop
April – Art Inspired Writing Workshop for City of Boroondara, Victoria
Committee – 2026 Currumbin Crime Writers Festival, 15-16 August, Currumbin Beach, Queensland
November 2025 – The Art Inspired Write & Sip for Gold Coast Writers’ Association
August to November 2025 – Presenter Art Write Now Creative writing workshops HOTA Gold Coast
Committee – 2025 Currumbin Crime Writers Festival, 15-16 August, Currumbin Beach, Queensland
May 2025 – Presenter at Logan City Writers – Speaking on feedback and critique for authors
February to July 2025 – Presenter Art Write Now Creative writing workshops HOTA Gold Coast
November 2024 – In Conversation with Benjamin Stevenson – Richmond Tweed Libraries, Tweed Heads November 2024 – Ekphrastic Writing Workshop – HOTA Art Gallery
July 2024 – Ekphrastic Writing Workshop – HOTA Art Gallery
September 2024 – Ekphrastic Writing Workshop – HOTA Art Gallery
October 2024 – Ekphrastic Writing Workshop – HOTA Art Gallery
July 2024 – Writing Essentials Workshop – Helensvale Writers’ Group- Generating ideas for your stories
June 2024 – Ekphrastic Writing Workshop – HOTA Art Gallery
June 2024 – In Conversation with Nikki Mottram Killarney at Richmond-Tweed Library, Kingscliff
June 2024 – Writing Essentials Workshop – GCWA – Starting Writing – Generating Ideas for your stories
March 2024 – In Conversation with Dinuka McKenzie Tipping Point at Richmond Tweed Libraries, Tweed Heads
February 2024 – In Conversation with Michelle Upton Emergency Exit Only at Gold Coast Libraries, Elanora.
November 2023 – In Conversation with Sonya Leeding Blue Widow at Gold Coast Libraries, Southport
August 2023 – In Conversation with Clare Fletcher Love Match at Richmond-Tweed Library, Tweed Heads
March 2023 –In Conversation with Nikki Mottram Crow’s Nest at Richmond-Tweed Library, Kingscliff
June 2023 – Presenter Rainforest Writing Retreat – Write What You Love
May 2023 – August 2024 – Speaker Liaison Gold Coast Writers’ Association
July 2022 – In Conversation with Clare Fletcher Five Bush Weddings at Richmond-Tweed Library, Tweed Heads
July 2022 to Present – Host and facilitator of the popular Write and Sip fundraising events for the GCWA
2022 and 2023 – Judge and Patron of the GCWA Short Story Competition
May 2021 to May 2023 – Newsletter Editor for the Gold Coast Writers’ Association
Christine is grateful to the original storytellers and Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, the Yugambeh people and family groups within and the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung country in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Media
Christine’s long-time internet handle, WriterPainter, is also the name of her blog on creativity, writing, art, meditation, and potential. She believes everyone is creative, and it is through our act of creating that we find our purpose and meaning in life.
You can read an interview with me on the wonderful website But You Are In France Madame.
I had the fortune of being interviewed on La Vie Creative with Krystal Kenney recently. We talked about creativity, about Paris, about self-actualisation through meditation and creative work and much more. I love love love talking about these thing
You can listen to me swoon about all things French on Loulabelle’s Francofiles podcast.
Review: If you’re like me you can use a bit of an escape these days. Take a look at Christine Betts’ new novel, Alia Henry and the Ghost Writer. I was honored to be able to read an advance copy and I have to tell you I loved it! Plunging into life in an old chateau in the Loire Valley, the lives of these interesting characters and a captivating mystery was the perfect antidote to today’s messy state of affairs. Lady Thalia Henry, spoiled heiress, social media star and wild child is “imprisoned” in a battered and warn Loire Valley chateau in the midst of a renovation and finds herself undergoing a personal renovation of her own. Forced to honor a writing commitment she embarks on nightly time travels, a la Midnight in Paris. Are these dreams? Are they ghost stories? Whatever they are they are lovely and soul changing. So well written, this book was so delicious I was sorry for it to end. 5 Stars – Katherine Watt
Her first novel Hotel Déjà vu (Time Step Press, 2018) encompasses her obsessions: Paris, art, time travel and strong female characters. Edith Piaf may have had no regrets, but those who make their way to the Hotel Déjà vu seem to have a few.
‘If you love Paris, read this book!’
~Danielle Rodriguez
Christine can sometimes be found beside a pool with book and a cocktail. She is a work in progress. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram by searching @ParisTimeTravel or @writerpainter
come over and say hi…
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