About me and my work
A bit of background:
I have a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism. I was gravely ill for many years, being almost entirely bed-bound for over ten years and spending more time in hospital, including intensive treatment/care stays, than at home. I still have the same rare autoimmune disease and it is a constant battle to manage it. However, I am with new specialists and have been on medications that help enough to greatly improve my life and allow me the opportunity to pursue my writing career.
There has been a fair amount of press coverage about my journey, my health battles, and my subsequent achievements.
Here are some links if you would like to know more:
Lancashire Evening Post – How an aspiring Preston author battled back from brink of suicide
BBC News Story – author overcomes decades of pain to write book
Blog Preston: Award-winning Preston author to launch new book at city’s Waterstones
Blog Preston – Award winning Preston crime writer inspires pupils at her former secondary school
Agency representation and publishers:
I am represented by Northbank Talent Management. I won the inaugural Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour in 2021, the announcement was made on the front cover of The Bookseller. An Audible prize was later added to the Joffe Books Prize making it Britains biggest crime writing prize. The Audible prize was backdated to me, making me the first beneficiary. Joffe Books published my first book, The Raven’s Mark, in 2022. It was book one in The Preston Murders Series. The second book, The Ordinary Man, was published in 2024. Both received high praise from authors, bloggers, reviewers, and readers.
Quote from the judges of The Joffe Books Prize Competition: “Christie has written an enormously promising, immediately immersive police procedural with a fantastically hooky opening scene followed by twist after twist. Detective Beth Fellows is the refreshing female lead, whose identity as a gay, mixed-race officer struggling to separate her professional and personal lives is wholly identifiable. This novel has excellent series potential, and we can see readers eagerly devouring the pages.”
Link to the Joffe Books announcement of the prize
Excerpt from the above website:
The results are in and we’re absolutely delighted to announce the winner of the first-ever Joffe Books Prize for crime writers of colour: Christie J. Newport!
Although competition was fierce, the decision, made by literary agent Susan Yearwood, bestselling author Dorothy Koomson, Joffe Books editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh and publisher Jasper Joffe, was unanimous.
In other book news:
I am currently working with Claire Bord at Storm Publishing on an Historical Psychological Crime Thriller set in 1952 and 1995 and loosely based on Whittingham Asylum.
Claire Bord said: “Christie writes emotional and unputdownable twist-filled stories. What really stands out about Christie’s novels is that she has rooted them in real-life events, exploring themes and stories that give a voice to those afraid to speak out. She’s a hugely talented writer, and I can’t wait to bring Christie’s novels to readers in 2024.”
Appearances:
I have appeared at crime writing festivals and events around the UK. Notably – Capital Crime Writing Festival in London. Bloody Scotland in Stirling. Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Stirling, Scotland. Bute Noir on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. Alnwick Storyfest in Alnwick, Northumberland. Newcastle Noir in Newcastle. CrimeFest in Bristol – I won the Bursary for writers of colour for the 2024 festival. And many more events.
Praise for The Raven’s Mark:
‘The most assured crime debut I have ever read.’ #1 bestselling author Lisa Jewell
’The writing is so assured, the characterizations so rich and believable, the twisty storyline so gripping and unexpected. Christie Newport is definitely a star on the rise!’ Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author of The Last House on the Street
‘Taut, pacy and gritty story that kept me guessing the whole way through.’ Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and I’ll Never Tell
‘A propulsive thriller with a flawed protagonist, a diabolical villain and enough procedural detail to make the setting life-like.’ Douglas Skelton
‘Taut and compelling. Christie Newport has written a pacy police procedural with a compelling new heroine.’ Andrea Carter
‘I tore through this dark, shocking and brilliantly executed police procedural peppered with eye-popping twists galore.’ A.A. Chaudhuri
‘The plot is gritty, deliciously dark and fast-paced with a host of colourful characters who keep the pages turning.’ Kate Bendelow
‘Twisty, tense and authentic — a compelling police procedural with real heart.’ Marion Todd
‘An utterly compelling and propulsive thriller that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go!’ Awais Khan
‘Vivid, gripping and authentic.’ Alison Belsham
Praise for The Ordinary Man:
‘Gripping, twisty, rapid-fire.’ Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author of The Last House on the Street
’A pacy cracker of a crime thriller from one heck of a talent!’ A.A. Chaudhuri, author of The Abduction
‘Gut-wrenching and compelling.’ Awais Khan, author of No Honour
‘I’d saved this to read it on holiday but made the mistake of starting it at the airport. I finished it before we landed. Gripping and propulsive.’ David Beckler, author of A Long Shadow
‘Christie Newport goes from fabulous to brilliant.’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad for Good
‘Enthralling, exhilarating and utterly compelling.’ Joy Wood, author of Who’s Smiling Now?
‘This book grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let up until the end.’ Jackie Baldwin, author of Murder by the Seaside
‘Buckle up! This is a dark and twisty ride that you won’t forget!’ Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour