Dinner with Alexander McCall Smith for HK$1,380

The Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival is as glamorous as a book festival can get. This is a chance for bookworms, decked in their ironic hipster-chic horn-rimmed glasses, to engage directly with today's biggest names in literature in the city's most tasteful venues. Here's our selection from what hasn't sold out yet on the programme:

Bookworms gone wild: The Writers’ Party

All of Louis de Bernieres' events at the Festival may have already sold out, but fans can cross their fingers that de Bernieres may just show up at this casual get together of festival participants. Hong Kong's entire literary community will be out in force, including the Hong Kong Writers' Circle, publishers, bookshops and journals. With free beer and free books, it will be bookworms going wild.

Free. March 10, 9pm, Post-97, Lan Kwai Fong

High on poetry: The Live Poets Society!

Live poetry readings accompanied by jazz at this performance by the best poets of today who have flown in from all over the world for the occasion. Participants include Gillian Bickley, Kim Cheng Boey, Marilyn Chin, Jan Cornall, Tanya Hart, Viki Holmes, Jason Lee, Adam Radford, Ouyang Yu.

HK$220. March 12, 7:30-9pm, The Fringe Club Theatre, 2 Lower Albert Rd

Erotic words: Sex and Literature

Here's how we can get people to read more books: highlight the erotic themes and throw in some pole dancing for extra encouragement. Linda Jaivin, author of comic-erotic cult classic "Eat Me," talks literature and sex with Sarah Passmore, followed by pole dancing and a hoops display by Pole Paradise Studio.

HK$150, cash bar. March 13, 6:30-8pm, M1NT, 108 Hollywood Road, Central

Junot Diaz.

Stories best told over drinks

Rajeev Balasubramanyam, Justin Hill, Rachel Holmes, and David Parker will read from their latest works as you enjoy your wine dinner. Each course, and story, will be paired with a different wine.

HK$850. March 13, 7:30-10:30pm, DotCod, B4 Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd

Junot Diaz events: Dinner with Diaz

After Junot Diaz wrote his short story collection "Drown" he suffered writer's block: "It was like I had somehow slipped into a No-Writing Twilight Zone. I started becoming convinced that I had written all I had to write, that maybe it was time, for the sake of my mental health, for me to move on to another profession." But he ended up writing the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao." Hear him discuss his wondrous life as a writer with Stephen McCarty over a four-course dinner at The Pawn.

HK$600. March 16, 7:30-10pm. The Pawn Roof Garden, 3/F, 62 Johnston Rd, Wanchai

Free Diaz talk at CityU

If the Pawn's dinner is a bit steep, check out this free talk by Junot Díaz. The author discusses fiction as social commentary with local author Xu Xi.

Free. March 15, 4-5pm, Wei Hing Theatre, The City University of Hong Kong

Alexander McCall Smith.

A Private Encounter with Alexander McCall Smith

Get personal with prolific novelist Alexander McCall Smith, creator of the beloved fictional character Precious Ramotswe in his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. The session will be moderated by Rachel Holmes, with dinner at The China Club.

HK$1,380. March 15, 6:30-10pm, The China Club. To register for this event, please email: friends@britishcouncil.org.hk

All Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival event details and registration can be done at http://festival.org.hk/programme