An interview with Terry Fallis, a Canadian writer who published his own novel.

An interview with Terry Fallis, a Canadian writer who published his own novel and made the Canadian literary world take notice.

After almost a year of banging on the closed doors of the literary establishment, he decided to take matters into his own hands by narrating and publishing an audio book version of his novel on the Internet for free. He wanted to test an audience reaction to his book to see if he was wasting his time, the response he received confirmed he had a successful book on his hands.

So he took the plunge and self published his book and then went on to win one of Canada's most prestigious awards for literature.

In our interview you will hear how he went from being a weekend writer to a successful published Author, who has already been commissioned to write his second novel.


About Terry Fallis.

Despite an engineering degree, for 25 years Terry Fallis enjoyed a successful career first in politics, as an advisor to Liberal federal and Ontario cabinet ministers, and then in public affairs and public relations consulting. But through it all, there was something missing. In 2005, he found it when he finally wrote the novel that had been rattling around inside his head. He spent a year peddling the manuscript to agents and publishers but was greeted with a deafening silence. Undeterred, he podcast The Best Laid Plans, his debut satirical novel of Canadian politics, chapter-by-chapter, gathering rave reviews from legions of listeners in Canada and around the world. Encouraged by the response, he self-published the novel in September 2007.

Then, in April 2008 came the shock of his life. The Best Laid Plans won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the first self-published novel ever honoured with this venerable literary award. Within a week, Fallis signed a publishing deal with McClelland & Stewart. In the fall of 2008, the novel hit bookstore shelves and Terry Fallis hit the speaking circuit entertaining audiences with the same thoughtful wit and humour that won him the Leacock Medal. The sequel to The Best Laid Plans, entitled The High Road, is due out in 2010.

Terry Fallis web site at
www.terryfallis.com

Click here to to retun to front page

Music credits:
1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.
Track: Extraordinaire
Album: Prospects
Artist: Chris Juergensen
Click here to take you to track.

Music played in Terry Fallis audio extract is:
Winter Serenade by Jon Schmidt at http:///www.musicalley.com.
Track & Artist: Winter Serenade by Jon Schmidt
Click here to take you to track.