For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsey Love 416.973.4147; llove@harbourfrontcentre.com NOT TO BE OUTDONE BY A CERTAIN “OTHER” FESTIVAL, IFOA ANNOUNCES OWN STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP Toronto, August 31, 2006---International Readings at Harbourfront Centre is ecstatic to announce the full line-up of famous and soon-to-be famous writers set to appear during the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) running in Toronto from October 18-28, 2006. At this year’s IFOA almost 100 writers will read and discuss their recently released and soon-to-be released works, many of which are already dazzling readers the world over and creating immense critical buzz, including 2006 Man Booker Prize for Fiction nominees Kiran Desai, Jon McGregor, Claire Messud, James Robertson, and Sarah Waters; 2006 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize winner Kate Grenville; and 2006 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fiction winner J.B. MacKinnon. The IFOA spotlight also shines on young up-and-comers including Nell Freudenberger who’s first novel, The Dissident, just received a fawning review from Salon.com; A History of Love author Nicole Krauss; Marisha Pessl, who’s Special Topics in Calamity Physics has just hit the New York Times bestseller list; Gautam Malkani, the thirty-year-old journalist at the Financial Times author of the enormously popular Londonstani; and Tom McCarthy, whose breakout novel, Remainder, has become a literary sensation almost solely by word of mouth. Also sure to leave an impression on IFOA audiences this fall are a slew of the world’s best crime and mystery writers, including Michael Connelly (Echo Park); Michael Cox (The Meaning of Night); Åsa Larsson (Sun Storm); Louise Welsh (The Bullet Trick); and Andrew Taylor (A Stain on Silence). Other IFOA participants include Margaret Atwood, Randy Boyagoda, Mark Z. Danielewski, Damon Galgut, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Ami McKay, Don McKellar, Farley Mowat, Cynthia Ozick, Ralph Steadman, Gay Talese, Michel Tremblay, and Pamela Wallin. A full-list of confirmed participants follows below. Also see our soon-to-be revamped website at www.readings.org and our blog at www.ifoa.blogspot.com for more IFOA information. Tickets to all events go on sale on September 5, 2006. Tickets for most events cost $15 for non-members, $12 for members, and are free to students with valid ID. Some exceptions for specific events apply. Since its inception in 1974, International Readings has hosted more than 5,000 authors from 100 countries, including fourteen Nobel Laureates. Our season includes International Readings, the annual International Festival of Authors (October 18 - 28, 2006), and the annual ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers (February 13 - 17, 2007). 27th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS Writers Caroline Adderson Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chris Adrian Pierre Assouline Margaret Atwood Anita Rau Badami Louis Bayard Yves Beauchemin Mark Billingham Giles Blunt Dennis Bock Randy Boyagoda Gianrico Carofiglio Clifford Chase Wayson Choy Adrienne Clarkson Michael Collins Michael Connelly Michael Cox Yasmin Crowther Stig Dalager Mark Z. Danielewski Kiran Desai Robert Drewe Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian Deborah Eisenberg Bernice Eisenstein Janet Fitch Nell Freudenberger Damon Galgut David Gibbins Charlotte Gray Kate Grenville Rawi Hage Jane Hamilton Alon Hilu Simon Ings Stephanie Johnson Wayne Johnston Edward P. Jones Thomas King Ryan Knighton Nicole Krauss Åsa Larsson J.B. MacKinnon. Gautam Malkani Alberto Manguel Patrick McCabe Colum McCann Tom McCarthy Jon McGregor Ami McKay Claire Messud Farley Mowat Azar Nafisi Elizabeth Noble Cynthia Ozick T. Jefferson Parker Louise Penny Marisha Pessl Jodi Picoult Noah Richler James Robertson Eden Robinson Wole Soyinka Ralph Steadman Mark Strand Rosemary Sullivan Gay Talese Andrew Taylor Timothy Taylor Madeleine Thien Miriam Toews Michel Tremblay M.G. Vassanji Sarah Waters Louise Welsh Colson Whitehead Bruce Whiteman Meg Wolitzer Interviewers, Moderators, Hosts Jason Anderson Nathalie Atkinson Catherine Belyea Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall Rebecca Caldwell Richard Clewes Susan G. Cole Richard Crouse Jonathan Safran Foer Brian Francis Lisa Gabriele Jian Ghomeshi James Grainger Michael Holmes Ibi Kaslik Andrew Kaufman Ann-Marie MacDonald Sandra Martin Don McKellar Ben McNally Seamus O’Regan Paul Quarrington John Van Driel Seth Antanas Sileika Adam Sol Ania Szado Eleanor Wachtel Pamela Wallin Derek Weiler YoungIFOA, School Programming Julie Burtinshaw Olof & Lena Landström Val Ross Teresa Toten Eugene Trivizas Sarah Withrow YoungIFOA and Salon du Livre Youth Workshops Annie Groovie Michèle Laframboise Daniel Marchildon