Chaos Merchants
ABOUT THE SHOW
Sita Walker, Emily Lighezzolo, Josie Shapiro & Naima Brown in conversation with Alex Philp
Idealism and ambition face off in these four incisive and whipsmart novels, whose resourceful and compelling protagonists navigate numerous ethical and emotional minefields. How fragile is first love? Can we ever escape the pull of the past? What’s the ultimate revenge fantasy? And what lies must we tell ourselves to sustain the lives we think we want?
PART OF BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Sita Walker is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and award-winning memoirist whose first book, The God of No Good (Ultimo Press, 2023) was met with critical acclaim. Sita has written for The Guardian and the Griffith Review. In a Common Hour (Ultimo Press, 2026) is her debut novel.
Emily Lighezzolo has worked in Australian publishing for nearly a decade. Life Drawing won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer at the Queensland Literary Awards and is her first book. She lives in Meanjin/Brisbane.
Josie Shapiro is the author of two novels, Good Things Come and Go and Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts. She was a Sargeson Fellow in 2024 and one of 2025’s New Voices of Aotearoa. She lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with her husband and two daughters.
Naima Brown holds degrees in Middle Eastern Studies, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Her non-fiction has appeared in Vogue Australia, the Guardian Australia, and more. She has spent over a decade working in news, current affairs and documentary. She was born and raised in Northern California before living and working in Yemen and Afghanistan, and now lives in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales with her husband and her dog. Naima is the author of The Shot and Mother Tongue.
Alex Philp writes short fiction and screenplays. Her short fiction has recently appeared in Griffith Review, Going Down Swinging, and elsewhere. She was a recipient of Screen Queensland’s The Writers’ Room initiative (2025) and was recently shortlisted for the Peter Carey Short Story Award (2026). She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Griffith University.
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
VENUE
TICKETS
DURATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Suitable for All ages
18 months and under free on the knee; all other ages must hold a valid ticket
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Sita Walker is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and award-winning memoirist whose first book, The God of No Good (Ultimo Press, 2023) was met with critical acclaim. Sita has written for The Guardian and the Griffith Review. In a Common Hour (Ultimo Press, 2026) is her debut novel.
Emily Lighezzolo has worked in Australian publishing for nearly a decade. Life Drawing won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer at the Queensland Literary Awards and is her first book. She lives in Meanjin/Brisbane.
Josie Shapiro is the author of two novels, Good Things Come and Go and Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts. She was a Sargeson Fellow in 2024 and one of 2025’s New Voices of Aotearoa. She lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with her husband and two daughters.
Naima Brown holds degrees in Middle Eastern Studies, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Her non-fiction has appeared in Vogue Australia, the Guardian Australia, and more. She has spent over a decade working in news, current affairs and documentary. She was born and raised in Northern California before living and working in Yemen and Afghanistan, and now lives in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales with her husband and her dog. Naima is the author of The Shot and Mother Tongue.
Alex Philp writes short fiction and screenplays. Her short fiction has recently appeared in Griffith Review, Going Down Swinging, and elsewhere. She was a recipient of Screen Queensland’s The Writers’ Room initiative (2025) and was recently shortlisted for the Peter Carey Short Story Award (2026). She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Griffith University.
