Christie Watson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christie Watson
Watson in 2022
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of East Anglia
Occupation	Writer
Notable work	Tiny Sunbirds Far Away (2011) The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story (2018)
Awards	Costa First Novel Award

Christie Watson is a British writer and a professor. She teaches about medicine and people at the University of East Anglia. Before becoming a writer, she worked as a nurse for more than twenty years.

She has written six books. Her first novel, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away (2011), won the Costa First Novel Award. Her first memoir, The Language of Kindness (2018), was a number-one bestseller in The Sunday Times. Her books have been translated into 23 languages. Some of her work has even been turned into plays for the theatre. Her newest book, Moral Injuries, is now being made into a television series.

Christie Watson's Career

Christie Watson had a long career as a nurse. She worked in several famous hospitals. These included Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is known for treating children. She also worked at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington and Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital.

She received a special award called the Malcolm Bradbury Bursary. This award helped her study creative writing. She earned her master's degree from the University of East Anglia in 2009.

Her Award-Winning Books

Her first novel, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, was published in 2011. It won the Costa First Novel Award in the 2011 Costa Book Awards. This was a big achievement for her first book.

Her second novel, Where Women Are Kings, came out in 2014. This book also received excellent reviews. It has been translated into many different languages around the world.

In 2018, Christie Watson published her memoir, The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story. A memoir is a book about a person's own life experiences. This book was featured on BBC Radio 4 as Book of the Week. It stayed on The Sunday Times Top-Ten Bestseller list for over five months. Many newspapers and groups named it a "Book of the Year" in 2018. These included The Guardian, Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Times.

Watson has also published two other memoirs. These are The Courage to Care and Quilt on Fire. Both of these books also received very positive reviews.

Her publisher, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, has bought three more novels from her. The first of these, Moral Injuries, was published in 2024. It has received good reviews, with some calling it one of the best new thrillers. As mentioned, this book is currently being developed into a television series.

Public Appearances

Christie Watson lives in London, England. She often writes for newspapers and magazines. These include The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The New York Times.

She has also been a guest on many radio and television shows. You might have heard her on BBC Radio 4 or BBC Radio 2. She has also appeared on BBC News, Sky News, and The Lorraine Show.

Watson gives speeches across the UK. She gave a main speech at the Royal College of Nursing Conference. She also spoke at TedX, which is known for sharing "ideas worth spreading."

She often attends literary festivals. These are events where authors meet readers and talk about books. Some of the festivals she has attended include Hay, Southbank, and Edinburgh.

Awards and Recognition

Christie Watson has received several awards and honors throughout her career.

Christie Watson is also a Patron of the Royal College of Nursing Foundation. This means she supports their important work.