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A couple of weeks ago, Julie Forrest, leading literary blogger, digital maven at Random House, and all-around nice person, passed along a series of 20 questions on behalf of BookLounge, and asked for my responses. I was happy to oblige. If insomnia plagues you, please feel free to check out my not always thoughtful answers. (You can just click on the graphic below to get to the site.)
The New Canadian Library is a special series of books in Canadian literature started in 1958 by Jack McClelland and Malcolm Ross. If you’re looking for important works of Canadian literature, look no further than the New Canadian Library. A few months ago, M&S asked me to identify my five favourite books from the New Canadian Library for a new Facebook app being developed. I was happy to, and you can see my picks through the new app that’s now finally arrived. Check it out…
Sunday, September 26 is going to be one busy day for me, but happily so. I’ll awake that morning in Florida, where I’ll be attending a family event. Then I’ll board a 7:30 a.m. Delta flight out of Tampa, change planes in Atlanta, and land in Toronto at about noon (please let me not be delayed!). I’ll then leap into our minivan, which will be parked at Pearson Airport, and drive, of course observing all speed limits, to Kitchener for their Word on the Street celebration. I’ll be reading from The High Road, which will be in bookstores by then, at about 2:30. After signing any books that audience members might purchase (Christmas will be but a few short months away!), I’ll dash again for the minivan and blast back to Toronto. You see, I’ll be reading at the Toronto Word on the Street festival at Queen’s Park at 5:30, pending any traffic travails. Two countries, two readings, and two Word on the Street festivals. A busy but fun day.
Shortly after McClelland & Stewart published The Best Laid Plans in September 2008, I was invited to appear at the Headwaters Arts Festival in Caledon, Ontario alongside Giller winner Joseph Boyden, and prolific writer Drew Hayden Taylor (on whose new book Motorcycles and Sweetgrass, a blurb from me appears). I was over the moon to be sitting at the front of a packed house next to these wonderful writers. We all spoke for a bit and then read a piece from our respective books. Finally, the audience could buy books from the good folks at Booklore and we signed them. (To be clear, we each signed our own books.) It was a memorable night for me as you can read.
Well, I get to do it all over again this coming October. Yes, undoubtedly against the organizers’ better judgement, they’ve asked me back, this time to read from The High Road. Even better, I’ll be joining three other accomplished writers, one of whom I already know. Cathy Marie Buchanan, NY Times bestselling author of The Day the Falls Stood Still is married to a fellow ball hockey player in the Withrow Park Ball Hockey League. I attended her book launch last fall and I’m delighted to get the chance to read with her. Terry O’Reilly, the author of The Age of Persuasion, based on his excellent radio show, and Kate Taylor a Globe and Mail columnist and novelist round out the line-up. It’s still a couple of months off, but I know this will be a great night.
My thanks to Nancy Frater at Booklore for inviting me back.
I’ve been invited to read and speak at the Sleeping Giant Writers Festival over the final weekend in August. Even better, my editor/publisher from McClelland & Stewart, Doug Gibson will be speaking as well. I’ll be developing, and twice presenting, a two hour workshop on self-promotion for aspiring writers. Doug will be doing a session on publishing. I’ll also be doing a reading alongside the CanLit superstar Miriam Toews, who won the Governor General’s Award for her novel, A Complicated Kindness. This should be a great way to close out the summer. A week after I return from Thunder Bay, The High Road hits bookstores.
This week, Chapter 7, courtesy of McClelland & Stewart. In this episode, Muriel creates an undercover geriatric political SWAT team, and Angus survives his first All-Candidates meeting, barely. Hope you’re all still with me.
The music that opens this podcast is Game Day by Jon Schmidt and is available through Music Alley. The voiceover at the beginning of each episode is provided by Roger Dey.
Sitting at the office this morning I saw the following OBOC Tweet fly by on Twitter. Very cool. Here’s hoping that library users actually like TBLP when they get it in their hands…
On Friday, July 23, I’ll be hosting and participating in a night of humour at the Leacock Summer Festival in Orillia, Ontario. Joining me will be 2010 Leacock shortlisted author Kathryn Borel Jr. reading from her hilarious travelogue Corked, and 2003 Leacock winner Dan Needles who will undoubtedly have us all in hysterics whatever he decides to read. Having already read from The Best Laid Plans at the 2008 Leacock Summer Festival, I may read from The High Road instead. There is a great list of Canadian authors lined up to read at the festival so do check it out if you have the weekend free. I always look forward to returning to Orillia, the home of Stephen Leacock.
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Mark Medley for a story on self-publishing in the National Post. It seems I forgot to mention it here on the blog (at least I think I forgot). It ran in many Canwest papers across the country. In any event, here’s the piece. Thanks Mark.
(Update – July 4, 2010: I just noticed that shortly after the 23 minute mark in the original Chapter 6 audio file that I uploaded, I sound like I injested a dragon fly, coughed it back up, and then restarted the sentence. If you had to endure that version, my humble apologies. If this corrected version is the one you listened to, please forget that you ever read this note.)
This week, Chapter 6, courtesy of McClelland and Stewart. In this chapter, Angus endures his first in-studio TV interview of the campaign. The make-up woman has her hands, and his hair, full.
I certainly hope you’re enjoying the podcast now that we’re a quarter of the way through.
The music that opens and closes the podcast is Game Day by Jon Schmidt and is available through Music Alley. The voiceover at the beginning of each episode is Roger Dey.
Welcome to terryfallis.com where award-winning novelist Terry Fallis blogs about his writing life and podcasts his novels.
