Well, here it is– the cover of No Relation, my fourth novel, due in bookstores on May 20th. I really like what the wonderful designers at McClelland & Stewart have come up with. But don’t be confused or misled, no bears were harmed, or even mentioned for that matter, in the making of the novel, or in the novel itself. As you get into the story, you’ll come to understand that the bear and bear facsimile on the cover are a metaphor for one of the central themes in the novel. Hope you like the cover. More importantly, I hope you enjoy the novel. I’ll start to podcast No Relation, chapter by chapter, sometime in February. Stay tuned…
Archive for January, 2014
The cover of No Relation… unveiled
Wednesday, January 29th, 2014A new author photo for No Relation
Sunday, January 19th, 2014My patient twin brother, Tim, who knows a thing or two about photography, spent a good chunk of this afternoon taking dozens of shots of yours truly in the nearly vain quest for a new author photo that doesn’t make me look like a crazed serial killer. Here’s the one we’ll probably go with. My thanks to Tim…
Nice TBLP segment on CBC’s Our Toronto
Saturday, January 4th, 2014This was shot a few weeks ago but aired today on CBC Television as we get ready for episode 1 of The Best Laid Plans miniseries tomorrow night, Sunday, January 5th at 9 p.m. on the CBC national network. The more Canadians who tune in, the more likely it will be that the series will continue beyond these initial six episodes. (Yes, that’s a shameless request for an hour of your time Sunday night. Hope you enjoy it.)
“Blurbs” for No Relation
Friday, January 3rd, 2014It’s always very gratifying when other writers and prominent people agree to read your manuscript, and then offer glowing words to adorn the cover of your book. I tend to read these “blurbs” when I’m buying books, and I think others do too. So you can imagine how honoured I am to share the three blurbs that will be featured somewhere on the front or back covers of my new novel, No Relation, due to be published by McClelland & Stewart May 20, 2014.
“Terry Fallis writes with a light touch and fine sense of the inherent humanity of humour, while still addressing one of the biggest questions we all have to face: Who are you? Who are you really?”
Will Ferguson, author of 419, winner of the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize
“Born of a cheerful mood and a clever mind, Terry Fallis’s No Relation is an endearing book with a big heart.”
Trevor Cole, author of Practical Jean, winner of the 2011 Leacock Medal
“Terry Fallis is a brilliant and very funny writer who also understands the human heart. His words will split your side on one page, and put a lump in your throat on the next. You’ll not only come to like his quirky characters, you’ll want to meet them, and take care of them, too. Terry Fallis is a writer to watch, and more importantly, to read.”
Ali Velshi, host of Real Money on Al Jazeera America
I’m feeling very fortunate. My heartfelt thanks to Will, Trevor, and Ali for sticking their necks out on my behalf…
Seven years later…
Wednesday, January 1st, 2014While it seems impossible that seven years have escaped since I created this blog, the date staring back at me on my iPhone must be right. It’s New Year’s Day, and time for the annual accounting of my literary blessings in the gift that was 2013. Here are at least some of the highlights that made 2013 such a great year in my writing life:
- I squeezed in 137 speaking engagements, readings, talks, etc. in 2013, up from 121 last year. I really don’t know how I fit everything in but it would not be possible without the patience and forbearance of my wife and two sons. My travels took me all over the country including, Vancouver, Calgary, Whitehorse, Ottawa, Montreal, Banff, and every region of Ontario.
- The TV miniseries version of The Best Laid Plans was shot from July through to October. Episode 1 airs in four days on Sunday, January 5th at 9 pm on the CBC national network. (Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the production.) It’s been such an exciting and rewarding process, including the three days I spent on the set. I’ve now seen the first three episodes and I think you’re going to bowled over by the acting talent of this extraordinary cast. (That last comment about acting prowess does not apply to a certain MP applauding his leader at a caucus meeting in episode 6.)
- Work continues on the stage musical of The Best Laid Plans but there’s no word on when it might be finished, let alone staged. Stay tuned.
- In June, I was shocked to be named the winner of the 2013 Libris Award for Author of the Year, presented by the Canadian Booksellers Association. I’ll be forever grateful.
- Up and Down continued to sell well, and the second edition hit the U.S. market in late June.
- I was thrilled to sign a two book deal with McClelland & Stewart in July covering the upcoming No Relation to be published in May, 2014, and my fifth novel, tentatively entitled Poles Apart.
- I finished the manuscript for No Relation, my fourth novel in the early summer with copy-editing, final proof-reading and cover design taking us into the fall. We’re almost there and should be revealing the cover art very soon. May 20th is the “on sale” date.
- Not exactly sure how to put this so I guess plain language is the best approach. Here goes. I posed nude for a calendar of Canadian writers as a fundraiser for PEN Canada. The Bare it for Books calendar was launched in October.
- What an honour to have Up and Down awarded the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award earlier last fall. Just to be among the stellar list of finalists was reward enough.
- In November, I was among an intrepid group of four Leacock winners and the curator of the Leacock Museum as we drove through the mountains from Banff, Alberta to Yale, BC to visit the literary icon W.P. Kinsella and remember a fallen friend and writer, Paul Quarrington. Here’s the piece for the National Post I wrote about this Canlit odyssey.
- Finally, in early December, an omnibus e-edition of all three of my novels was released.
It was quite a year. Looking ahead to 2014, I’m really focused on:
- The Best Laid Plans TV miniseries on CBC starting in a few days;
- starting to produce the chapter-by-chapter podcast edition of my fourth novel, No Relation (look for Chapter 1 in February);
- the publication and launch of No Relation in May;
- writing my fifth novel, Poles Apart (I hope to have it finished by the end of the summer (he says optimistically)).
My undying thanks to so many who have made 2013 such a banner year in my writing life. Here’s to a wonderful 2014 for us all.