Virtual self-publishing

On the Guardian's books blog, Victor Keegan explains how he self-published a book of poems in the virtual online world of Second Life.

Last night I launched my book of poems, Big Bang, in the virtual world known as Second Life, a massive three-dimensional simulation of the world in which participants control avatars that can do practically anything the participants can do in real life. About 20 people turned up at the Writing and Performance Centre run by Karen Wheatley on Info Island 11, some of them poets themselves. The event generated an hour-long rapid-fire conversation ranging from the roots of poetic inspiration to the influence of rap. It was as fascinating as any real event I have been involved with. And so it should be: Second Life attracts interested people from all over the world who can "teleport" themselves instantly to any event.