Terry Fallis - Best Laid Plans

What a wonderful night it was.  I enjoyed a leisurely dinner beforehand with the other two accomplished writers on the program, Fred Stenson and Andrew Davidson, the host of the event Geoffrey Taylor, and Alison Pick, a respected poet and writer who introduced the writers on stage.  They are all warm and engaging people.  Then we headed over to the event in the Brigantine Room.  Fred and I sat in a dressing room of sorts backstage and signed books before we were all led out for the start of the reading.  As the rookie, I was relieved to be going on stage first.  I had quite a cheering section at the back that erupted when Alison introduced me.  Thanks to my family, bookclub friends and ball hockey teammates who were there for moral support.

When I took the stage, I discovered that the bright (and I mean really bright) theatre lights meant that I could nothing in front of me.  It was as if a black curtain had descended directly in front of the podium.  It was a little unnerving as I like to make eye contact with an audience, which is difficult when you’re essentially blind.  Nevertheless I made it through my 20 minutes with a few chuckles from the crowd.  It seemed to go well.  After Fred and Andrew read, we all signed books.  It was a great way to begin the many speaking and reading gigs lined up for the coming months.

Thanks again all those who attended and to Frances Bedford for getting me on the program.  Tonight, it’s Readings at the Roselawn in Port Colborne.

Tonight’s the night and my butterflies are already exhausted from abdominal flying.  I’m reading at Harbourfront as part of their International Readings program and will be sharing the stage with Andrew Davidson and his debut blockbuster novel, The Gargoyle, and Fred Stenson and his new novel, The Great Karoo. What wonderful and respected company I’m suddenly keeping.  I’ll be having dinner with them in advance of the reading and will bring my own copies of their novels to be signed (ever the star-struck literary fan!).

The Harbourfront reading marks the official launch of the M&S edition of TBLP now the books are starting to appear in bookstores across the country.  (I just walked into a local big box bookstore in downtown Toronto and there it was. Very cool.)

I’ll be back here to post about the event.  I’m also getting ready for another author night called “Readings at the Roselawn” in Port Colborne, about two hours south of Toronto.  It’s a sold out author series with 300 subscribers!  I’m the one and only author on the bill tomorrow night to kick off the season.  So I assume that some of my current butterflies bear the Harbourfront logo while others carry the Port Colborne brand.

Welland Tribune Story

Here’s the link to a story that ran today in the Welland Tribune about tomorrow’s reading.

The next part of this adventrue has well and truly started…

As I’ve been threatening to do, I thought I’d list the readings and other speaking events I’m doing this fall in support of the release of the McClelland & Stewart edition of TBLP.  Being on the author circuit will be a new experience for me but I’m really looking forward to it.  In the next couple of weeks, this blog will go through a make-over of sorts and there will be a separate “Appearances” page in case any of you have the twisted desire to know where I’ll be speaking or reading.

Upcoming Speaking and Reading Gigs

So here’s what’s happening in the coming weeks and months after TBLP arrives in bookstores across the country on Tuesday, September 23rd:

• Wednesday, September 24, 2008: Harbourfront Reading Series, a reading at 7:30 in the Brigantine Room at Harbourfront. I’m honoured to have TBLP share the stage with Andrew Davidson and his debut blockbuster The Gargoyle, and Fred Stenson and his new novel The Great Karoo.

• Thursday, September 25, 2008: Readings at the Roselawn, a talk and reading at the Roselawn Centre in Port Colborne with an audience of 300 subscribers!

• Sunday, September 28, 2008: Word on the Street - Toronto, a reading at 11:00 a.m. in the Great Books Marquee.

• Friday, October 3, 2008: Headwaters Arts Festival, a reading as part of the 4th annual Armchairs, Authors, and Art event, at 6:30 p.m. in Caledon, Ontario.  I’ll be sharing the program with Joseph Boyden and Drew Hayden Taylor.

• Sunday, October 26, 2008: Ottawa International Writers Festival (scroll down until you hit the Sunday, October 26th schedule), a reading at 2:00 p.m. (I think) and on-stage panel discussion on The State of Our Literary Culture (yikes!) with Stephen Henighan, and Bill Gaston, moderated by Sarah Dearing.

• Monday, October 27, 2008: Ottawa Public Library,  a free lunchtime public reading at the Main Branch that I assume will start around noon.

• Wednesday, October 29, 2008: McMaster University Alumni Book Club, a reading and discussion starting at 7:00.

• Thursday, November 6, 2008: A private luncheon address at Borden Ladner Gervais’ Labour and Employment Symposium at the Old Mill in Toronto. (I assume I’ll be the comic relief!)

• Tuesday, November 11, 2008: Gryphon Theatre Annual Authors’ Night, an evening reading in Barrie along with Ted Barris, author of many books on Canada’s storied military heritage.

• Saturday, November 15, 2008: Breakfast talk at the Writers & Editors Network as part of their Speakers Series, at the Canadiana Restaurant in Toronto.

• Tuesday, November 18, 2008: A reading and talk at a McMaster Alumni “Coffee and Conversation” evening event in Toronto.

• Wednesday, April 1, 2009: The prestigious Grimsby Author Series held at the Casablanca Winery Inn.  A reading alongside one of my literary heroes, Paul Quarrington who will be reading from his latest novel, The Ravine.

Wow!  It’s going to be a busy time.  But I can think of nothing else I’d rather be doing.  Stay tuned for a revamped website with its own “Appearances” page where I’ll try to keep track of all of these engagements.