Organizers behind the International Festival of Authors gave away more than 1,000 books on the street early this morning to promote the upcoming literary event. The paperbacks were distributed at the Harbourfront Centre (where the annual festival takes place), stacked on newspaper boxes and storefront ledges along Queen Street West, and handed out by volunteers at the corner of King and Bay streets. "It was an idea to see how we could generate more buzz and excitement," said Becky Toyne, the festival's communications coordinator.
Toyne said she approached publishers to donate older titles from authors like Jeffery Deaver and Austin Clarke, who are appearing at this year's event. She promoted the Random Gifts of Reading giveaway by sending out a news release Tuesday, which prompted hits in today's Toronto Star and yesterday's National Post, and announcing it on the festival's Facebook page. Each free book—ranging in genre from crime to history—was labelled "Take Me" and included information about when the title's author is appearing at the 29th International Festival of Authors, which runs October 22 to November 1.
