IFOA 2009 is now in the books and there was lots to love about this year's festival. 

Alternative programming, like the tribute to Paul Quarrington,  the Peep Show event featuring Hal Niedzviecki and the bike symposium with David Byrne, is exactly the kind of thing the festival needs to broaden its base and set the party tone.

Not that I could possibly complain of party paucity. The big official bash last Monday was rammed and a party last Friday night thrown by the Scottish government, in honour of the Writing Scotland series, was a big hit, featuring some excellent product from the highlands and islands. I'm referring, of course, to the single malt Scotch on offer. Can't imagine why so many people kept coming up to me to remind me that I was hosting a panel that night. Nothing like a little single malt to faciliitate the process, I assured all.

The beauty of the festival of authors is the way writers talk to each other. I'm always gobsmacked by the mutual appreciation among them that I experience in and around the fest. At the hospitality suite after my event last Friday – which went swimmingly, thanks to my pre-lubrication and four generous and talented writers, of course – you got a real sense of it. Graeme Gibson talking to Lisa Moore, Lisa Foad in conversation with Lewis De Soto, Scottish writer Alan Bissett just thanking his lucky stars he was invited.

Can't say there was a ton of superstars at the festival this year and most of those that did attend chose not to sign books. To be fair, John Irving and Alice Munro supplied pre-signed copies – presumably to avoid those fans who come with suitcases full of old books to get signed – but I'm not sure why David Byrne spurned those looking for a signature. 

Anne Murray also didn't stick around to greet her public, which seems strange to me. It's not like there were so many people at her Fleck Theatre event. But then again her appearance was unusual in more ways than one.  Her on-stage interviewer was her own co-author Michael Posner – a condition of her appearing at the festival.

Looking forward to the next fest.