About a month ago, the good folks at CEO TV shot a segment about TBLP and my day job as a PR professional. They also sent a camera crew up to Orillia for the Leacock Award weekend to help round out the segment. Well, it aired nationally on Global a week or so ago and in case you need a laugh, you can watch it here…

I’m certain I’ve now exhausted my lifetime allocation of good fortune. Yesterday my wonderful agent, Beverley Slopen, confirmed that McClelland & Stewart will publish TBLP as one its fall releases. M&S is the heavyweight Canadian publishing house with a long and rich history. What’s more, Douglas Gibson, yes the Douglas Gibson, will not only work with me on the manuscript, but the novel will actually be published under his prestigious imprint, Douglas Gibson Books. To me, this outcome is kind of like aiming to win the high school track meet, but instead ending up going to the Olympic Games and bringing home a gold medal. Doug is probably the most respected editor/publisher in the country having worked closely with some of Canada’s and the world’s leading literary lights including Robertson Davies, Alice Munro, and W.O. Mitchell to name but a few. I am over the moon.

As the Globe and Mail article below mentions, there is some irony in this most welcome outcome. Doug and I are actually friends, because our respective wives are close friends. I’ve so enjoyed the times the four of us have spent together. When you’re a passionate reader and weekend writer, nothing is more enjoyable than listening to Doug’s wonderful stories from his illustrious publishing career. It was a discussion with Doug three or four years ago about three-time Leacock Medal winner Donald Jack that ultimately got me off the couch and writing TBLP. Until last week, I’d never really spoken to Doug about my novel. I can only imagine how often he is accosted at parties or conferences by writers hoping that he’ll review their manuscripts. So I chose not to talk about my writing with Doug so as not to complicate the wonderful relationship we have. But after the Leacock Medal, Beverley Slopen did make an approach and the publishing deal was consummated yesterday. I could not be happier and I’m so looking forward to working with Doug.

The M&S edition of The Best Laid Plans, with new cover and interior design, will be launched this fall. I’m counting the days…

Well, things are starting to happen courtesy of the Leacock Medal shortlist.  The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, will soon be reviewing TBLP in the pages of its wonderful weekend Books section.  I’m thrilled but ever since I found out, my stomach has been in knots.  My agent, Beverley Slopen, told me not to worry about what they may write.  What’s important is that the Globe is actually reviewing it.  Fingers crossed.

Since TBLP was named a finalist for the Leacock Medal for Humour, there’s been a trickle of media coverage beyond the initial shortlist stories. A story appeared in the McMaster University Online Daily News written by the writer Mark Leslie (Lefebvre) who plays a senior role at the McMaster University Bookstore called Titles. Mark’s been a strong supporter of TBLP and I thank him for his efforts:

As well, a front page article ran yesterday in the online version of Quill & Quire, Canada’s magazine of book news and reviews. This is a subscription based article so I won’t cut and paste the whole article, but here’s the first couple of paragrahps. I was very happy with the piece:

I may have more to report on the media front in a short while. Onwards!

Beverley Slopen is a leading and respected literary agent based in Toronto. She represents some outstanding writers including Howard Engel, Robert Fulford, Donna Morrissey, Morley Torgov (a Leacock Medal winner), and William Weintraub. My friend Mike Tanner is also in her stable. It seems that now I am too.

A year or so back, Beverley was very kind to me as I was trying to make my way through the world of mainstream publishing . She freely offered good advice, which I dutifully followed. We stayed in touch and I kept her up to date on my publishing travails. I e-mailed her again earlier this week and we met for a drink at the bar in the lobby of the Four Seasons. The upshot is, I know have the only agent I ever really wanted and I’m thrilled. In the three days since our initial meeting, a national news release has been issued, and review copies of TBLP have been hand-delivered to four major mainstream publishers courtesy of Beverley’s relationships in the publishing world. It’s a wonder to watch her work. Who knows what may come of it, but the goal is to find a home for TBLP with a publishing house so that it will gain much broader distribution than it currently enjoys.

The next 26 days promise to be a whirlwind as we try to capitalize on my Leacock Medal shortlist status. It’s been quite a ride so far…