Jen Sookfong Lee launched her debut novel, The End of East (Knopf Canada), at the Salt Tasting Room in Vancouver’s Gastown on March 25.

The CBC’s Alden Habacon introduces Lee while standing in front of the world’s largest chalkboard menu. (Photo credit: Amanda Growe)

Jen Sookfong Lee makes her way through the crowd at the Salt Tasting Room. (Photo credit: Michael Lee)

Sookfong Lee signs a book for author and UBC professor Keith Maillard. In the background selling copies is Deb McVittie, owner of 32 Books in North Vancouver. (Photo credit: Michael Lee)

In what appears to be a reality-TV first, Britain’s ITV has announced an American Idol-style series for wannabe authors. As Reality TV Magazine explains, Publish My Book! is the brainchild of agent and author Tony Cowell, the older brother of American Idol’s Simon Cowell, and it will air in the U.K. this summer.

Publish My Book! will see aspiring writers pitch their ideas to a panel of publishing experts in a bid to win a publishing deal. Cowell will present the program and plans to sell the idea to U.S. networks.

Not addressed in the article is the question of who will make up the panel of experts. Maybe Ian McEwan could be the disgusted-with-himself Simon Cowell figure, and instead of scowling at dippy Paula Abdul, he could scowl at dippy Paulo Coelho:

COELHO: [absent-mindedly stroking his face with a white feather] Your writing is so warm, Lisa, so beautiful. Reading your pitch brought me closer to the soul of the world…

McEWAN: Paulo, luv, have you been sniffing sweetener again?

Oprah has just announced the latest selection for her book club, and it’s kinda weird: Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Even at the best of times, McCarthy’s prose is rather lacking in daily-affirmation material, but The Road is especially dark. Here’s how author Denis Lehane describes the book in his Amazon.com review:

Cormac McCarthy sets his new novel, The Road, in a post-apocalyptic blight of gray skies that drizzle ash, a world in which all matter of wildlife is extinct, starvation is not only prevalent but nearly all-encompassing, and marauding bands of cannibals roam the environment with pieces of human flesh stuck between their teeth. If this sounds oppressive and dispiriting, it is.

Now here’s how Oprah describes it on her website:

Start reading Oprah’s newest book club selection! It’s the father-son journey you’ll never forget.

Isn’t this a little like describing The Shining as a sweet family comedy?

The International Board on Books for Young People’s biennial fundraiser was held at Toronto’s Lula Lounge on March 21, and this year not only raised money to writers in Cuba but also to support IBBY’s Fund for Children in Crisis. The first project will aid children in Lebanon. (Photos by Naseem Hrab.)

Naseem Hrab, a librarian at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, gets a salsa lesson from instructor Miko Sobreira.

Author Celia Barker Lottridge enjoys the festivities with IBBY Canada vice-president Brenda Halliday.

Illustrator Laurie McGraw draws a portrait of IBBY Canada president Susan Shipton.

Illustrator Mark Thurman draws a portrait of another attendee.

 Miko Sobrieira leads the group salsa lesson.

The IBBY Canada crowd gets into salsa.

Lady Son y Articulo Veinte keeps the beat.

A palm reader making predictions.