TORONTO — On the night that Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel "FlashForward" debuts as a much-hyped TV serial on ABC and 'A,' the celebrated Canadian writer will be on familiar turf: a bookstore.

Sawyer is at the Thin Air Winnipeg international writers festival this week, and says he'll be celebrating Thursday's premiere of the time-bending drama with a special screening at a McNally Robinson outlet, where he'll offer behind-the-scenes dirt on the slick production.

"During the commercial breaks I'll do commentary on each of the acts and at the end of the show I'll do a talk," Sawyer said in a recent interview, adding later that "it's incredibly exciting" to see his vision transformed into a big-budget, major network show.

"To see it in three dimensions and full colour and to hear the voices as the actors are interpreting them is a wonderful experience. It has brought a whole new dimension to it."

Sawyer, based in Mississauga, Ont., notes the Winnipeg appearance had been booked before ABC announced the premiere date, but said he was excited by the prospect of sharing the debut with fans.

The writer says he insisted on being involved with the adaptation right from the outset, becoming a creative consultant and striking a deal to write one episode this season.

"FlashForward" stars Joseph Fiennes as FBI agent Mark Benford, a man who finds himself desperately trying to piece together the cause of a mysterious global event that makes everyone pass out for two minutes and 17 seconds. During this blackout, most people get a glimpse of what the future holds for them six months down the line and question whether they can change it.

The series features a large ensemble cast -- including John Cho (from the "Harold & Kumar" films), Courtney B. Vance ("ER," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and Genevieve Cortese ("Supernatural") -- and jumps back-and-forth in time as various storylines play out and occasionally criss-cross.

Critics have been quick to draw comparisons to the complex storyline of "Lost," but Sawyer says "FlashForward" differs in one very significant way.

"Lost has 40 stories to tell and has had a hard time spitting out five years of TV from it," Sawyer says of the popular serial, heading into its final season this winter.

"We have seven billion stories to tell. This is something where every person on the planet has their unique response to how their future is going to shape their lives. The canvas is so large, really."

There are similarities to the "Lost" cast as well -- Sonya Walger, who plays Penny on "Lost," appears as Benford's wife Olivia while Dominic Monaghan, who appeared as Charlie on "Lost," is set to join the cast halfway through the season.

"We've got 11 series regulars starting with the pilot and we keep adding," Sawyer says of the show's massive scale. "Our cast gets bigger and bigger as time goes on because the stories get more and more complex."

Sawyer refused to discuss how closely the stories follow those in his book, but insisted that the series stays true to the novel's central philosophical spirit. He praised Fiennes in particular for giving life to his imagined world.

"Joe has a great career under his belt, obviously, but I best know him as the world does, for `'Shakespeare in Love,' " Sawyer said.

"He's playing this really tough character in 'Flashforward,' and there is an edge to him that I would never have expected. And of course, he's a Brit and he's playing an American, so it was a surprise to hear his wonderful American voice, which I'd never heard before in his other performances."

"FlashForward" debuts Thursday 'A.'