Appearing at Adelaide Writers Week had always been a dream of mine – dating from the time when I was a school student, sitting on the lawns of the Women’s Memorial Gardens to hear from people who inspired me. It was a place where young people could be exposed to exciting, revolutionary and polarising ideas outside the confines of a classroom.

Olivia De Zilva’s second book.

This year, I was scheduled to participate in two events – my first appearance on a line-up of big names across Australian and international publishing. After the removal of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from the program, alongside 180 other authors, I immediately withdrew in solidarity over a blatant act of censorship. It was important for me, no matter the cost, to stick to my principles and values, especially as a young person of colour. The cancellation of the festival, though no doubt a massive disappointment for the more famous authors, would not stop their worlds from turning, both financially and professionally. But for debut authors like me, it was devastating.

In 2025, I was privileged enough to publish........

© The Sydney Morning Herald