About
Personal Profile
BETTY CORACAS is a Cypriot born Australian WRITER, POET, CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR and self-taught ARTIST. She migrated with her family as a child and lives in Melbourne with her husband, family and beloved pet Shih Tsu dog, Leo. Betty enjoys travelling overseas regularly, especially to Europe and the Greek Islands. Her frequent travels enable her to paint on location and also collect research material for her writing.
Her historical novel, ‘DAUGHTER OF VENICE’, written under the pen name, Donna Raven, was first published in 2003. The 2nd edition will be published in her own name with the new title, ‘CATERINA – THE LAST QUEEN OF CYPRUS’.
‘ALIEN IN PARIS’ is a World War 2 novel based on a 19 year old Australian-French woman’s experience during internment, first, in horrific conditions at the Citadel of Besançon and then at the unique model internment camp of Vittel. The powerful story, based on true events, is one of love, courage, endurance, resilience and survival.
Soon to be published will be fictional novel, ‘STOLEN’ as well as memoir, ‘A REBEL’S REDEMPTION’.
The Author will soon publish her First Readers series, ‘THE BILLABONG’, written and illustrated by her. The Verse stories have Australian outback themes.
Also soon to be published will be a 6 book illustrated children’s series, ‘THE GARDEN SERIES’. The books were written by Australian Author Chantelle Stieghan and illustrated by Betty Coracas.
The Author has amassed a collection of short stories, as well as numerous children’s stories, which are being prepared for publication. Her collection of poetry and songs also continues to grow as it provides her with distractions from some of the mundane life stresses.
***
Betty’s passion to create began during her childhood when, as a twelve-year-old, she won a children’s television contest on The Tarax Show. The prize was a large set of paints, brushes and coloured Derwent pencils. Her love of drawing and painting developed over the years, only to be joined by an equal love of creating with the written word.
She studied Commerce at university and has a Diploma of Writing. While Art began as her prominent first passion, as an adult, it was soon equalled by her passion for writing, particularly poetry. Writing poems was always a cathartic way of navigating through life’s stresses. When challenged by life-threatening illness, the Author used her writing and art to channel positivity into her life. Her art and writing equipment went everywhere with her.
She has entered several art exhibitions and has had two of her own exhibitions at the Galleria Plaza in Melbourne, where she was the unofficial artist in residence. Twice she entered the Archibald portrait awards, first with a portrait of Cancer Researcher, Prof Vasso Apostolopoulos and the Director of the Cancer Council of Victoria, Prof Robert Burton. The second time she entered with a portrait of the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, the much-loved Victorian Philanthropist and mother of media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
The Author has also used her art as a way to raise funds for the Cancer Council of Victoria, including painting the ‘Field of Daffodils’ and the ‘Daffodil Banner’. The Cancer Council of Victoria created the Betty Coracas Research Award in appreciation of her fundraising efforts. She continues to draw and paint intermittently, sharing her creative time with her writing.
