UPDATE: Bookstore organizes Giant Talking Head reading -- by Skype

I spent some time this evening in Peter Carey's New York apartment, while he was at a bookstore here in Ottawa.

Okay, so it was actually a Skype call, connecting Collected Works to the expat Aussie for a reading of his new book, His Illegal Self.

Here's a CBC Ottawa story previewing the action.

It wasn't perfect -- there was a little breaking up, but it was a really cool event for the 20 or so people who attended. After the reading and the Q&A session, Carey was taking dedication requests by Skype chat and signing little cards that would be sent to the bookstore for customers to pick up and stick in their books.

Could a Skype video call plus Long Pen be far behind, asked Joe Thornley this afternoon. I'm not sure that's a big stretch.

UPDATE: Craig Poile from Collected Works tells me that to his knowledge, this is the first reading that's worked this way, although some bookstores have pushed readings at their store out onto the web. He also tells me Carey's publisher, Random House, is enthusiastic about the model and looks forward to more. Kudos to all, I say.
Ciao,
Bob.