The 29th edition of the prominent International Festival of Authors (IFOA) at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, which took place October 22 to November 1, celebrated the launch of a successful new programme, the “International Visitors Programme” (I. V.). It focuses on the publishing aspects of books, and was launched on the initiative of a committee spearheaded by Iris Tupholme of HarperCollins Canada. The aim of the programme is to expand opportunities for Canadian literature abroad by opening the door for interaction between professionals at all levels of the book industry. It offered meetings with industry professionals in a speed-dating style, visits to Toronto’s publishing houses, receptions, dinners, a trip to the Niagara Falls, and events that were aimed for just the industry and not open to the public. Riky Stock of the German Book Office (GBO) New York was lucky enough to be able to attend…

"Every time I attend the Frankfurt Book Fair I start to get the Frankfurt Book Fair blues at one point on Saturday night. Frankfurt is all about the people behind the books. This year, when I was starting to feel gloomy, and while checking e-mails in between parties, I received an e-mail with an invitation to a new International Visitors programme of this year’s International Festival of Authors at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. All of a sudden, there was a silver-lining on the horizon

19 visitors from around the world including U.K. agents Ed Victor and Clare Alexander, Maggie Doyle of Robert Laffont, France, and several New Yorkers such as Jonathan Burnham, HarperCollins Jennifer Barth/HarperCollins were invited to participate in a four day programme of inter-industry dialogue. The taking part of two Germans - Christiane Lange, Literaturwerkstatt Berlin, and me - was made possible by the Goethe-Institut Toronto, which has been actively involved in the festival for many years.

One of the highlights was the publishing panel on "The Future of Reading" with German-born New York scout Bettina Schrewe, Paul Slovak/Penguin, Alexandra Pringle/Bloomsbury, UK, Ian Brown/Globe and Mail (Moderator), Mark Medley/National Post and Maggie Doyle/ Robert Laffont, France which allowed for an international as well as a cross-generational point of view. Panelists did not fear for the future of reading. They believed there is room for both, e-books and the bound book. They agreed that e-books are an important tool for people in publishing but that the technology and designs still need improvement in order to attract the young generation of readers. The participants were also in unison in their belief that there will be a counterbalance with an increased demand for quality literature and lovingly packaged and designed books.

As it turned out, in its very first year, the programme felt like it was already part of the establishment, mainly because of its flawless organisation and also because the visitors were warmly embraced by Canadian agents, publishers, rights managers, editors, media people, international organisations etc. To me, it was sort of a mini-Frankfurt. I was very impressed by the very active, very open publishing community of Toronto and of Canada. Everyone knew each other or tried to get to know each other. Hopefully, next year, when Frankfurt comes to an end, some of you will have this new international industry event in Canada to look forward to."