From the Frontline of the IFOA

Date: Friday, October 22/2010

Setting: Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON - Marilyn Brewer Community Space, temporary site of Ben McNally Books.

Event: Day Three of the International Festival of Authors

Enter: Miz Moffatt, Book Assistant Extraordinaire.

(Miz Moffatt mills about the book selling area, volunteer tag hanging about her neck. She pours over new books, drooling over their promising synopses. A murmur rises at the main staircase as a flood of book nerds pours into the space. Miz Moffatt engages in a running, internalized commentary....)

Miz Moffatt (V/O): Oh, here comes the first wave. Hmm, I wonder who all was on that panel. I'm guessing the authors were literary fiction. I'm seeing a lot of heavy, dark-framed glasses buzzing around-- hello! She's cute. Cropped hair, pixie features, all-black outfit -- yes, please.

(Miz Moffatt checks her volunteer tag, makes sure it is visible. Wonders if she could catch the light with the laminated tag to signal the lady over to her...)

I wonder which book she's looking for-- oh, well, now. Soft butch at ten o'clock. Hmm, she seems like a serious type, very knowledgeable. Oh, that girl must be her girlfriend. Always a pleasure to find lesbians outside of the bar scene. Huh, that's odd -- my Gaydar seems to be overactive tonight. Well, it's been a long week, maybe I'm just imagining -- WOW! Fitted, red jacket, asymmetrical haircut, fierce femme girl cradling a copy of Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature?! WHERE ON EARTH AM I?!

(Miz Moffatt peeks around the corner at the author signing tables. Notes where these fine ladies are gravitating toward.)

Emma Donoghue. Man Booker Prize nominee, and greatest gay gal lure of 'em all.

IFOA, I am forever in your debt.

***

More to adventures to follow in the next few posts....