Not widely known as a technology innovator, and in some cases not well-known as an award-winning author, Margaret Atwood will nevertheless discuss new approaches to publishing and all things digital in a special appearance at nextMEDIA Toronto
The co-founder of technology companies Syngrafii and iDoLVine, and author of more than fifty books, Atwood will participate in the industry conference in a featured interview with digital expert McLean Greaves, Vice President of ZoomerMedia's Interactive Division; he's the man said to have introduced Atwood to the twittersphere.
As announced by organizers of the next MEDIA conference, to be held December 5th and 6th at the Carlu in Toronto, Atwood will discuss her approach to different digital platforms and tools, as the impending threat of diminished print sales threaten both authors and publishers.
No stranger to the digital world, Atwood's discussion will explore methods to infuse traditional storytelling and publishing initiatives with digital media opportunities.
"Margaret Atwood is a national and international literary legend - we couldn't be more pleased to have her join us at nextMEDIA 2011," says Mark Greenspan, Executive Director. "She has embraced the digital changes in today's publishing environment, which others see as major challenges, and thrived. Her approach to digital mass media has seen her launch websites, blogs, Twitter accounts and Mp3 downloads. In the digital media environment, Margaret has not only survived, but thrived."
"It was amazing to watch not only how quickly Margaret grasped Twitter but how quickly it grasped her. She literally had tens of thousands of followers in mere hours. Given how advanced the technology is in her novels, however, I suspect Twitter was all very 'Lotus 123' to her," said Greaves.
Atwood, co-founder of technology companies Syngrafii and iDoLVine, is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays.
iDoLVine is described as the world's first technology capable of live-signing authentic autographs or handwriting through the Internet. The signature can be embedded on a secure e-book or any e-memento, or printed with the company's RealPen printers. Both fan and celebrity can participate from remote locations.
Syngrafii Corporation is an advanced technology company providing unique signature solutions for the online world, such as the LongPen concept of remote interaction and online mediation.
Atwood's newest novel, The Year of the Flood (2009) is the follow-up to her 2003 Giller Prize finalist, Oryx and Crake. Other recent publications include Moral Disorder, a collection of interconnected short stories, The Door, a volume of poetry (both 2007), Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth (2008). Additional titles include the 2000 Booker Prize-winning The Blind Assassin; Alias Grace, which won the Giller Prize in Canada and the Premio Mondello in Italy; The Robber Bride, Cat's Eye, The Handmaid's Tale, The Penelopiad, and The Tent. Her most recent publication is In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination. Atwood lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.
nextMEDIA is produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international business-to-business media and facilitation company serving the media and investment industries. Achilles Media communities include: the Banff World Media Festival; History Makers International; the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX); and the Digi Awards.