Terry Fallis, Novelist » Canadian politics

TBLP makes Samara/Writers’ Trust Shortlist

Terry Fallis — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:29:04 +0000

What a thrill. The Samara Foundation and the Writers’ Trust of Canada have joined forces to find the “Best Canadian Political Books of the Last 25 Years.” Over the last couple of months, nominations were sought from Canadians and nearly 200 books were submitted. Yesterday, a shortlist of 12 finalists was unveiled. Canadians are now invited to read the twelve books and vote for our favourite. Early in August, the winning book will be announced. Somehow, The Best Laid Plans made the cut and stands as the only novel among the twelve finalists. There are some terrific reads on the list including my friend John Duffy’s award winning book Fights of our Lives. I don’t know whether being the only work of fiction in a collection of wonderful nonficition books about politics works in TBLP’s favour, but I can tell you that it is a singular honour to be anywhere near the shortlist, let alone on it.

So, veering dangerously close to “pimping mode,” you can vote for the book of your choice here, or click on the graphic below. As always, my thanks for your support…

Speaking of Leacock…

Terry Fallis — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:44:57 +0000

My mother-in-law was sorting through some photographs the other day and came across these two shots taken a few years ago when we visited the Leacock home on the shores of Brewery Bay in Orillia, Ontario. If you’re ever in the area, it’s well worth a visit to the beautiful home Stephen Leacock built as his refuge. Leacock wrote many hilarious works on the desk at which I’m seated below. The home has been painstakingly restored with many of the very items and artifacts that adorned the home when the man himself lived there. You can learn more about the Leacock home and museum here.

The Canada Reads Effect…

Terry Fallis — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:28:55 +0000

There has been much discussion lately of the so-called “Canada Reads Effect.” In past years, the Canada Reads winner has gone on to sell tens of thousands of copies, sometimes even when it was out-of-print when named as a finalist. In fact, publishing industry insiders say that Canada Reads sells more books than any other literary award, except for the Giller. Well, we’ve already had an early but clear indication of the “Canada Reads Effect.” Shortly after The Best Laid Plans was declared the winner of Canada Reads 2011, it shot to the top of the Amazon and Chapters-Indigo bestseller lists and has remained there ever since. You may remember I’ve shown before on this blog The Best Laid Plans, and The High Road leading the Amazon charts, but if you read my blog posts carefully, you’ll note that this was only ever in Amazon‘s “political” category. Canada Reads has pushed TBLP to the top of heap for all books.

In short, for the last four days at least, TBLP has been the number one bestselling book in Canada. I’m hyperventilating again…

Update: As of today, there were over 530 “holds” on The Best Laid Plans in the Toronto Public Library system.

Jim Cuddy and Ali Velshi plug THR on CBC’s P&P

Terry Fallis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:53:19 +0000

What a thrill it was to watch Jim Cuddy and Ali Velshi square off against NDP MP Pat Martin on Evan Solomon’s show Power & Politics on CBC News Network. You can watch it here (fast forward to start at 1:19:09 into the show). The sometimes heated discussion revolved around my second novel, The High Road. Jim and Ali were very supportive while Pat Martin wasn’t such a big fan. The debate went on for a good 15 minutes or so and actually included a reading from THR by the very Scottish National Post columnist, John Ivison. In the end, I think fair-minded viewers would feel encouraged to pick up the book on the basis of Jim and Ali’s positive reviews. I confess it was a little surreal to watch my second novel being discussed on television by such high fliers who had obviously read the book. Yes, it was quite a thrill…

A belated thank-you for the Ottawa THR launch

Terry Fallis — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:41:01 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, my wonderful colleagues in our Ottawa office organized a fantastic launch event for The High Road. It was held in the all too appropriately named Parliament Pub on Sparks Street, just steps from the Hill. We were raising money for the Jaimie Anderson Parliamentary Internship, a very worth cause. My friend, Rob Oliphant, MP for Don Valley West, acted as Master of Ceremonies, and as expected, he did a fine job. On a side note, Rob Oliphant, who is also an ordained United Church minister, married my wife Nancy and me 23 years ago in Nova Scotia. That’s how far back Rob and I go! We tried to keep the speeches to a minimum to maximize the socializing so I read a short section and got off the stage. There must have been 75 or 80 guests including colleagues, former clients, friends, and a number of politicians and political staff from Parliament Hill. It was a fantastic event. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make it such a memorable night.

Here’s a less than stellar cellphone shot capturing my brief reading…

Nice article from a popular news site in BC

Terry Fallis — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:30:44 +0000

On the eve of my departure for the Vancouver International Writers Festival, a popular news site in BC, The Tyee, has run quite an long article on my humble writing odyssey. You can read the piece on The Tyee website here without taxing your eyesight, or by clicking on the article below.

Winnipeg Free Press reviews THR (Wow!)

Terry Fallis — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:55:10 +0000

Reading reviews is often a heart-wrenching, stomach-turning exercise that can leave you elated, enraged, or any point in between. I’m happy to report that I’m squarely in the “elated” category after reading the Winnipeg Free Press review of The High Road that ran this past weekend. One line in particular is already etched in stone in my memory:

“In The Best Laid Plans, the Toronto-based former Liberal Party strategist introduced us to a new brand of political satire– the most irreverent, sophisticated, and engaging CanLit has seen since Stephen Leacock.”

Wow. I’m bowled over and grateful. Here’s the review:

THR excerpt in Canadian Government Executive

Terry Fallis — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:20:33 +0000

Earlier in the summer, I got an email and then a phone call from Toby Fyfe, Editor-in-Chief of the fine trade magazine, Canadian Government Executive (CGE), to discuss The High Road. He’s a smart guy and a nice guy. He asked permission for the September issue of CGE to carry an exclusive excerpt from The High Road. Given the mag’s readership of senior civil servants, Toby thought if might be a great fit. I was certainly flattered but had to check with the powers that be at McClelland & Stewart as this was the first time I’d encountered such a request. In short order, permission was secured and in the next week or so, the September issue of CGE will be landing on subscribers’ desks complete with an exclusive chunk of The High Road. Here’s hoping it’s well-received. My thanks to Toby for the idea and I hope it doesn’t kill sales of the venerable magazine’s October issue!

How surreal…

Terry Fallis — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:00:04 +0000

I’ve been blessed to have many wonderful and utterly unexpected experiences through my writing. I’ve spoken and/or read at nearly 100 events, from bookclubs to writers festivals, public libraries, to conferences. But I’ve never ever had my mug take up space on the front cover of a magazine… until now. I can only describe it as surreal, and hope that the photo doesn’t put readers off their lunches on the off-chance the mag is lying on the table next to theirs.

I’m floored and flattered that the Kitchener Public Library would take such a risk with their publication. This is all part of the amazing regional reading program, One Book, One Community, that chose The Best Laid Plans as their 2010 selection. By the way, my twin brother, Tim, actually took the photo. When I look at it, all I can think of is what a gigantic and still-growing forehead I have! (One mouse click on my head, and you can read the magazine.)

I’m realling looking forward to spending quite a bit of time in the Waterloo Region in late September for all the OBOC festivities. It won’t be long now…

The High Road: Chapter 13

Terry Fallis — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:58:21 +0000

This week, Chapter 13, courtesy of McClelland & Stewart. In this episode, Angus and Daniel pull out all the stops to determine why the Alexandra Bridge suddenly fell into the Ottawa River. They meet with the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Canada, and the new Liberal Prime Minister appoints his Cabinet.

The music that opens each episode of the podcast is Game Day, by Jon Schmidt, and is available at Music Alley. The voiceover at the beginning belongs to my friend, Roger Dey.