It’s the End of the World and They Know It
ABOUT THE SHOW
Catherine Chidgey, Elaine Castillo, Fiona Wright & Jessy Wu in conversation with Emily O’Grady
From voyeurism and virtual reality to murder plots and loneliness, these wickedly smart and witty novels skewer the absurdities, spectacles and ironies of our increasingly unstable world. Is this the end of life as we know it? Even if we’ve run out of trust, love and money, at least we’ll go out with some great stories.
PART OF BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Catherine Chidgey is “one of New Zealand’s greatest living writers” (Radio NZ), shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award and twice longlisted for the Women’s Prize. She is the only writer to have won the Acorn Prize for Fiction twice, New Zealand’s most prestigious literary prize.
Named one of “30 of the Planet’s Most Exciting Young People” by the Financial Times, Elaine Castillo’s novel Moderation was longlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize in Fiction and named one of the Top Ten Books of 2025 by The Atlantic, Slate, and a Best Book of 2025 by The New Yorker, TIME, and more.
Fiona Wright is a writer and critic. Her debut novel is Kill Your Boomers. Her book of essays Small Acts of Disappearance won the 2016 Kibble Award and was shortlisted for the 2016 Stella Prize. Her poetry collections are Knuckled and Domestic Interior.
Jessy Wu is a writer and entrepreneur based in Sydney. She is the founder and Managing Director of Encour, a communications and video production agency that specialises in the tech sector. Previously, she was a venture capital investor in early-stage tech startups. Good Intentions is her debut novel.
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Suitable for all ages
18 months and under free on the knee; all other ages must hold a valid ticket
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Catherine Chidgey is “one of New Zealand’s greatest living writers” (Radio NZ), shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award and twice longlisted for the Women’s Prize. She is the only writer to have won the Acorn Prize for Fiction twice, New Zealand’s most prestigious literary prize.
Named one of “30 of the Planet’s Most Exciting Young People” by the Financial Times, Elaine Castillo’s novel Moderation was longlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize in Fiction and named one of the Top Ten Books of 2025 by The Atlantic, Slate, and a Best Book of 2025 by The New Yorker, TIME, and more.
Fiona Wright is a writer and critic. Her debut novel is Kill Your Boomers. Her book of essays Small Acts of Disappearance won the 2016 Kibble Award and was shortlisted for the 2016 Stella Prize. Her poetry collections are Knuckled and Domestic Interior.
Jessy Wu is a writer and entrepreneur based in Sydney. She is the founder and Managing Director of Encour, a communications and video production agency that specialises in the tech sector. Previously, she was a venture capital investor in early-stage tech startups. Good Intentions is her debut novel.
