TORONTO - A Canadian book signing invention will be sharing the spotlight with Conrad Black on Monday, as it helps the fallen press baron make his first Toronto appearance since being convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice in the U.S.

The author and historian, who has been prevented from promoting his latest book because of the four-month fraud trial and subsequent bail restrictions will spend some virtual time in his city through the LongPen, a long-distance signing device created by author Margaret Atwood.

"He was nothing but extremely positive about doing the whole thing, he certainly didn't need his arm twisted about it,'' said Douglas Pepper, Black's publisher and the president of McClelland & Stewart.

"Like any author, he likes to be able to sign his books for fans, and this was really the only way to do it, other than getting a planeload of his Canadian fans and shipping them down to Palm Beach.''

On Monday, his fans will line up at a downtown Toronto bookstore to watch Black sign his latest book "The Invincible Quest: the Life of Richard Milhous Nixon'' through the device.

In Florida, Black will sit in a chair with an electronic writing tablet that shows what he is signing at the event location. Readers will place the book to autograph under the pen at the other end.

He will then pick up the magnetic pen and sign it, push "send'' and the pen will inscribe the book, in real ink, at the other end.

Fans will be able to talk to him via the video conferencing as they place their books in the device to be signed.

Aside from impromptu signings for a few fans who timidly approached him in the hallways of the Chicago courthouse throughout the trial, this will be the first time Black will autograph his book.

LongPen spokesman Bruce Walsh said Unotchit Inc., the start-up company behind the device, has had great feedback from previous events -- including signings by U.S. author Norman Mailer and Ontario writer Alice Munro.

"It's a very different kind of event that we're bringing to fans: they get their book signed, they see the technology in action, it's face-to-face conversation via the video conferencing,'' he said.

"You get actual face time with an author in a way that you don't get at the traditional book signing.''

Atwood will be on hand to greet Black and be the first to get an autograph for his book. Seamus O'Regan of CTV's Canada AM will interview Black and host the evening.

Organizers say they're not sure how many people will show up to the event, although staff at the World' Biggest Bookstore say about 50 people were present for its last LongPen signing.

"We're certainly stocking up the books and we're anticipating quite a few people,'' Pepper said.

"There are very few signed copies of this book, and none up until now that have been signed by the LongPen. Getting a book like this signed by Conrad Black is worth quite a bit, both financially and in terms of the uniqueness of.''

Walsh said there hadn't been any backlash about hosting an event for a person about to be convicted of criminal charges, saying Black was an author who has written a very well-received biography of Richard Nixon.

"He does have his legal difficulties, that's not really what we're dealing with. We're dealing with Conrad Black the author,'' he said.

"I expect he's somebody who's going to be writing more books.''

Atwood came up with the idea for the LongPen after growing tired of the gruelling pace of book tours. While it's so far mostly used for book and music signings, the gadget can also be applied to fields such as education, financial services and law as well as to sign hockey sticks.

Black was convicted in July of obstruction of justice and fraud charges and is not allowed to leave the United States as he awaits sentencing on Nov. 30.

He will be the subject of another book signing in Toronto on Oct. 29, when journalist and historian George Tombs releases his book, "Robber Baron,'' about Black and his trial in Chicago.