International Festival of Authors Preview - Part 1

Alright bibliophiles, if you haven't bought tickets for any readings for the upcoming International Festival of Authors I can only assume it's because the choices are so fantastic you are overwhelmed and stymied.

Well, the event starts in less than a week, so let me help you out. I'll let you know who of our local auteurs are appearing at the fest, and give my own personal 'best of' picks.

If that isn't enough, you can check out the snazzy new IFOA blog and read all about it.

Torontonians

No local list would be complete without the inimitable Margaret Atwood, who will be interviewed Friday, Oct 27 at 8pm by CBC-er Eleanor Wachtel. Atwood's a funny gal in interviews, check it out.

Giles Blunt is part of a round table (moderated by Martin Levin, Friday Oct 27 at 7p, and reads the following afternoon at 4p.

Randy Boyagoda reads from his (Giller long-listed) Governor of the Northern Province on Saturday, Oct 21 at 8p, and takes part in a round table at 1p the following day (moderated by Jian Ghomeshi.

And speaking of Governors, (ha ha, sorry), Gov. General Adrienne Clarkson is interviewed Thursday the 19th at 8p by Pamela Wallin. Maybe she can shed some light on the bizarre Giller shortlist.

Bernice Eisenstein reads from I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors Sunday Oct 22 at 1p.

A double double - Noah Richler interviews Wayne Johnston Tuesday the 24th at 7p.

Rosemary Sullivan reads from Villa Air-Bel Sunday the 22nd at 1p.

And two local YA authors feature in the Youngifoa series - Val Ross on Friday the 27th at 1p, and Teresa Toten Thursday Oct 26, also at 1p.

Also, several of ours will be appearing at the opening night shindig, Celebrating 100 Years with McClelland and Stewart (recently bought by Random House, by the way), Wednesday Oct 18 at 8p. Including Dave Bidini, Karen Kain, Mark Kingwell, Anne Michaels, and Rohinton Mistry.

More partying (for a good cause) Wayson Choy and M.G. Vassanji (among scads of other important folk) will be at the PEN Canada benefit on the 20th, 8p.

Don't be fooled by the garret-ensconsced stereotype - lit types know how to do it up.

(upcoming - part 2 - my picks)