The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers was perfect for this PEN event celebrating the arrival of many writers from all over the world for the Festival. We came in through an evening fog, looked out big windows at the fading day and watched the lights come on across the water. On stage, the writers stood in front of a blue velvet curtain and a montage of the week ahead began.

The iphone game of BANNED and CENSORED was probably fun for all the young people texting around me. A great idea was the list of books presented by different writers, which will add up to 30 by the end of the week.

Suddenly bird-like violin music erupted around us. Iva Bittová's amazing sound competed with thunder...