No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol

by Liz Worth

When Andy Warhol's a, A Novel was first published in 1968, The New York Times Book Review declared it "pornographic." Yet over four decades later, a continues to be an essential documentation of Warhol's seminal Factory scene. And though the book offers a pop art snapshot of 1960s Manhattan that only Warhol could capture, it remains a challenging read. Comprised entirely of unedited transcripts of recorded conversations taped in and around the Warhol Factory, the original book's tone varies from frenetic to fascinating, unintelligible to poetic.

No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol by Liz Worth attempts to change that, by appropriating the original text and turning each page into a unique poem. In remixing a into poetry using only words and phrases from each piece's specified page, Worth sets the scene for the reader, not unlike eavesdropping in an all-night diner, with poetry full of voices competing to be heard, hoping for just a sliver of attention at the end of a long, desperate night.

True to Worth's style, the poems in this collection hiss and pop with confessional whispers while maintaining the raw, distorted qualities originally captured on tape and documented in a, A Novel. Warhol fans, archivists, and academics, as well as readers of confessional and conceptual poetry and fiction, will jump at the chance to be a part of the Factory in-crowd in No Work Finished Here.

Praise for No Work Finished Here:

"Liz Worth’s collection of poems is a testament to both her artistry and daily discipline. In an age of diminished attention, her perseverance in daily poem-making by mining the same source over and over reminds us that artists can be a model of life without distraction—how to go deeper and deeper until you find yourself looking back at you." —Heath Allen, composer Andy, A popera

Praise for Liz Worth:

"If one were to rip the cupcake niceties and corporate regimens from society and present a poetic and existential depiction of the anarchical remains, then that would be PostApoc. Liz Worth's tour de force of vivid prose and stunning visceral imagery will haunt you long after you've read the final chapter. Thought-provoking, powerful and inspiring, this book calls for multiple reads." –Lisa de Nikolits, author of The Hungry Mirror, West of Wawa and A Glittering Chaos

"Whether it be poetry, performance art, or prose, Liz Worth has the uncanny ability to turn the grotesque and profane into something sublime and sensual. With PostApoc, she has taken this to a higher level by solidifying her unique voice and bringing rock 'n' roll to its logical dystopian conclusion." —Brandon Pitts, author, playwright, and poet

"The end of the world is not a new idea. Liz Worth writes as if it were. You come away gasping. Begging for hope. Begging for happiness. Begging for the sanctuary of the unreal. PostApoc makes Cormac's The Road seem paved with yellow brick. You'll need more air after reading this." —Bob Bryden, singer-songwriter, founding member of Christmas, Reign Ghost, Benzene Jag, and Age of Mirrors

Genres: Poetry

480 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

My latest title, Going Beyond the Little White Book: A Contemporary Guide to Tarot, is now here.

This is my fifth book, and the first I've written on the subject of tarot.

In 2017, my latest poetry collection, The Truth is Told Better This Way, will be published by BookThug.

I thought her one and only career would be as a writer, but I started reading tarot in 2008 on the advice of an astrologer and my life has never been the same.

Today I tarot help others move past emotional and creative blocks, overcome any obstacles or setbacks, and begin to live their truth through personal freedom and creative liberation.

I'm based in Toronto, but read and teach clients all over the world thanks to the wonders of Skype.

Locally, I read tarot at Likely General and SeeSaw Cafe, as well as at a number of events throughout the city.

I also write an astrology column for Spiral Nature (www.spiralnature.com).

If you'd like to book a private reading with me, or sign up for a workshop, please visit my website.

Interested in more of my writing? Feel free to check out my current books: PostApoc (fiction), Amphetamine Heart (poetry), and Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond (non-fiction).

I find poetry in empty parking lots, inspiration on long bus rides, and clarity in the woods.

Lifelong obsessions include The Smiths, ghosts, black leather boots, John Hughes movies, The Outsiders, Poppy Z. Brite, The Cure, experimental writing, early mornings, thrift stores, and bike rides.