Canadian YA fantasy writer K.V. Johansen was recently a guest of the 22nd International Book Fair held in Skopje, Macedonia. Over a period of three days, beginning April 12, Johansen launched the Macedonian translation of her 2007 novel Torrie and the Snake-Prince (Annick Press), received the Anna Frank Literary Award, participated in a panel discussion on fantasy literature in Canada and Macedonia as part of a Day of Canadian Culture organized by the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade, and addressed a literature class at a Skopje university that had been studying one of her short stories. Above: Johansen at the University American College Skopje. (Photo by Chris Paul)

“Quick: name four things you know about Canada!” On April 18, Ian McEwan (left) was interviewed onstage by author and broadcaster Ian Brown at the Toronto Public Library’s Appel Salon. McEwan got stranded in Toronto for a few days, thanks to Iceland’s volcano, and may even use the experience as the narrative hook in a new novel. Too bad the title Mostly Harmless is already taken. (Photo by Dona Acheson/Courtesy of the TPL)

On April 25, the Small Print series hosted the launch of Marc Ngui and Hadley Dyer’s Watch this Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces (Kids Can Press). The event “ which, though kid-friendly, had the potential Google minefield title of “Doing It In Public” “ was held at Toronto’s Wychwood Barns, and featured a chalk-drawing contest as well as a panel discussion featuring Dyer and Ngui, along with city trustee Josh Matlow, city councillor Joe Mihevc, and Spacing magazine’s Matthew Blackett. Above: Small Print’s Chris Reed introduces the panel. (Photo courtesy of Kids Can Press)