It’s a new kind of literary magic. Across thousands of miles of Atlantic Ocean, and without leaving the comfort of their own homes, Alice Munro and Norman Mailer will do book signings at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Enter the LongPen, remote book signing technology. This intriguing mix of technology and creative imagination is the vision of the author Margaret Atwood.

“I invented the LongPen out of technological stupidity,” she told The Times. “I thought those signing tablets package deliverers bring to your door were causing the signature to whisk through the air and come out in the form of pen and ink.” So how exactly does it work? The author, who may be too elderly to travel (as in Mr Mailer’s case) or reluctant to fly long distances (Ms Munro), is linked to his or her fan by video conferencing. They can smile and talk to each other.

Then the author writes a dedication and signature on a small touch-pad computer screen. Thousands of miles away, a book sits on a little plinth, its front cover open. The author presses “send” and a pen on a remote electronic arm traces their words on the page of their book.

As with all effective inventions, this one was developed by a user. For Ms Atwood, the LongPen democratises the book tour and eliminates stressful travel.

It saves money, allows more fans to “meet” authors, and di-minishes greenhouse gases from air travel. After a slightly shaky start – the prototype of the LongPen failed at the London book Fair last year – the idea is attracting much commercial interest.

Potentially, says Ms Atwood, it could earn her more than her books. “Writing books is the most entrepreneurial thing a person can do – making something out of airy nothing and then expecting people to pay for it – so it’s familiar turf.”

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

• Audio Books

Times Recommends

• Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner
• The Times picks the 50 best paperbacks of 2009
• Vincent van Gogh’s letters show the soul of the artist