Christine Betts is an Australian writer based in the Northern Rivers. Christine trained in education and the visual arts. She spent many years creating Australian-made gift ware and art for interior design projects. Writing took centre-stage in 2017 when she left her management position with a market-leading art-seller and packed up her brushes.
AWARDS 2021/2022
- Death of a Show Princess, Shortlisted for the Scarlet Stiletto Awards (Highly Commended)
- Tough Crowd, Winner – Queensland Writers Centre RightLeftWrite competition, November 2021
- How I Got this Tattoo, Winner – The Tasmanian Writers Prize for 2022
- Southbank, Shortlisted -the Brisbane Writers Festival First Date at Southbank competition
- Undetected, Published co-authored with Kate Kelsen. Rainforest Writing Retreat Anthology 2021 Anthologies available here (Amazon)
- A Tale of Twin Towns – Published – Eastern Regional Library (Vic) Anthology Tales of the Pandemic
- Fancy Meeting You Here – Honorable Mention – Queensland Writers Centre RightLeftWrite competition, August 2022
Her 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.
‘Place’ is central to Christine Betts’ work. Each story grows out of a setting or location. Christine left her heart in Paris years ago and her first two novels and a collection of short stories are all set in France. Current works in progress are set in California, England, and, because we’ve all mostly been grounded over the past few years, Australia.
Media
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
She 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
come over and say hi…
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