Sick Note Launch
Description
Hi, just following up on my prior email... :)
Celebrate the launch of Olivia De Zilva's debut poetry collection, Sick Note (Pink Shorts Press) as part of the NO WAVE reading series.
An office party (with a twist), enjoy readings from local writers Carissa Fischer (of rewind poetry) and Katerina Bryant (Hysteria) on the theme of work, corp-core and imbibing / dissociating at daycare for adults. In keeping with the work theme, legendary Australian poet Ken Bolton will share a few words and some work from Moya Costello, whose posthumous novel, The Office as a Boat, was recently released through Pink Shorts Press.
Then, hear from Olivia and Walter Marsh (Young Rupert, The Butterfly Thief) as they discuss the collection, the wider ramifications of work culture, being chronically ill / online and why wearing peplum and power blazers to the club have been sadly phased out by modern capitalism. The two will touch on themes of hauntologies, colloquial poetry and why stream-of-consciousness stanzas adhere to the digital-enshitification of expression, culture and morality.
Wear your shoulder pads (name tags will be provided) and enjoy this mandatory team bonding exercise with company-catered food and drink.
About Sick Note:
‘Patient is seeking support for work-related stress and has engaged employee support. She is exhibiting delusions of grandeur (proclaiming to be the Jennifer Lawrence of the office) and experiencing major fatigue (using paid lunch breaks to aura farm at the vending machine).’
Is this book:
a) An ode to the G10 bus line and Li-Shang from Mulan?
b) A lament on employment, capitalism and chronic health issues?
c) A precise, hilarious and original collection of poetry from Olivia De Zilva, author of Plastic Budgie and Eggshell?
d) All of the above?
‘De Zilva has the native talent of the true writer.’ Declan Fry, ABC Best Books of 2025
‘An impressive new voice.’ Hellai Gul, Meanjin
‘Achingly funny and cleverly inventive.’ The Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Bold, bright and steeped in complicated nostalgia.’ Books+Publishing
‘Sick Note is a confident debut that dreams of something beyond late-stage capitalism. This collection may attract readers who might not otherwise consider poetry.’ Books+Publishing
All ticket sales will go towards Hutt St Centre's life saving support and service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in South Australia.
Lineup
Olivia De Zilva
Olivia De Zilva is a writer based in Kaurna Yerta. She is the author of three books, Plastic Budgie, Eggshell and Sick Note. Her writing has been published widely in Australia. Sick Note is her first poetry collection. Olivia is a die-hard fan of the Adelaide 36ers.
Walter Marsh
Walter Marsh is a journalist and editor based in Tarntanya/Adelaide, and the author of Young Rupert: the making of the Murdoch empire (Scribe 2023) and The Butterfly Thief (Scribe 2026). A former staff writer and editor at The Adelaide Review and Rip It Up, his writing has also appeared in The Guardian, The Monthly, The Saturday Paper, Crikey, The Age, and InDaily.
Katerina Bryant
Katerina Bryant is a writer based on Kaurna Yerta. Her first book, Hysteria: A Memoir of Illness, Strength and Women’s Stories Throughout History (NewSouth), was published in 2020. Katerina’s work has appeared in The Guardian, Meanjin, Griffith Review and Kill Your Darlings, amongst others. Her essays have been shortlisted for the 2016 Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers, 2018 Feminartsy Memoir Prize, 2019 The Lifted Brow and non/fictionLab Prize for Experimental Nonfiction and the 2022 Hardie Grant and RMIT Spark Prize.
Carissa Fischer
Carissa Fischer is a poet and public menace based on unceded Kaurna Yerta. They are committee member of Spoken Word SA and host of rewind poetry.
Ken Bolton
Ken Bolton is an Australian poet, editor, art critic, and publisher. Ken has published more than 20 poetry collections and has appeared in many journals in Australia and internationally. Ken will be celebrating the life and work of Moya Costello who's recent book, The Office as a Boat, was republished through Pink Shorts Press.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
