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My guest on this episode is Terry Fallis. Terry's first novel, The Best Laid Plans, which began as a podcast and was initially self-published, won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and was re-published by McClelland & Stewart in 2008. That book went on to win the 2011 edition of Canada Reads and was adapted as a CBC Television series and a stage musical. His next two novels, The High Road and Up and Down, were finalists for the Leacock Medal. And In 2015, he won the prize a second time, for his fourth book, No Relation. His other novels include Poles Apart, One Brother Shy, Albatross, and Operation Angus, and were all national bestsellers. Terry's most recent novel is A New Season, which was published by McClelland & Stewart in 2023. In its review of A New Season, The Winnipeg Free Press said, “It's about grief, friendship, family and, most of all, love, with humour taking a backseat for a change.” Terry and I talk about those early days of podcasting, about why, given all his success, he only recently retired from his day job to focus on writing full time, and about how readers and critics very often mistake comic novels for frivolous ones. Terry Fallis: terryfallis.com Music: "simple-hearted thing" by Alex Lukashevsky. Used with permission. Contact Nathan Whitlock at nathanwhitlock.ca/contact
Terry Fallis is a celebrated Canadian author of novels such as Up and Down (2012) and One Brother Shy (2017). Before writing the hit 2008 novel, The Best Laid Plans—about a man who must run a seemingly hopeless political campaign in order to get out of politics—Terry worked as a political staffer for several MPs and ministers, and in public relations with Thornley Fallis. Terry joins Ben to discuss the SNC-Lavalin scandal, the liabilities of Justin Trudeau's style, the power of perspective in politics, and much more. About the Guest “Terry Fallis writes just about the tidiest romantic comedic novels you can find on earth, let alone in Canada.” - The Globe and Mail A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the award-winning author of six national bestsellers, including his most recent One Brother Shy (2017), all published by McClelland & Stewart. His debut novel, The Best Laid Plans (2008),won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and was crowned the 2011 winner of CBC Canada Reads as the "essential Canadian novel of the decade." In January 2014, CBC aired a six-part television miniseries based on The Best Laid Plans earning very positive reviews. In September 2015, it debuted as a stage musical in Vancouver, produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions. The High Road (2010) was published in September 2010 and was a finalist for the 2011 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Terry’s third novel, Up and Down (2012), was released in September 2012. It debuted on The Globe and Mail bestsellers list, was a finalist for the 2013 Leacock Medal, and won the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award. Terry’s fourth novel, No Relation (2014), hit bookstores in May 2014, opened on The Globe and Mail bestsellers list, and won the 2015 Leacock Medal. M&S published Terry’s fifth novel, Poles Apart (2015), in October 2015, opening on several bestsellers lists including The Globe and Mail. It was a finalist for the 2016 Leacock Medal. One Brother Shy (2017) was published in May 2017 and was an instant bestseller. In June, 2013, the Canadian Booksellers Association presented Terry with the Libris Award for Author of the Year. Terry Fallis earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from McMaster University (1983) where he became engulfed in university politics and somehow persuaded the undergraduates to elect him President of the Students Union. After graduation, he turned his back on engineering and joined future Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s full time staff for the 1984 federal Liberal Leadership campaign. He served on the political staff of the Liberal Minister of State for Youth, the Honourable Jean Lapierre, in the short-lived cabinet of Prime Minister John Turner. He stayed with Lapierre as his Legislative Assistant in opposition (1984-85) following the landslide victory of Brian Mulroney and the Progressive Conservative Party. Terry returned to Toronto in 1985 as Legislative Assistant to the Honourable Robert Nixon, Treasurer (now called Finance Minister) in the newly-elected Liberal Ontario government led by Premier David Peterson. For nearly eight years (1988-95) after leaving provincial politics, he was a government affairs and communications consultant with the international PR firm, Hill and Knowlton, including stints as Vice President running the Ontario government affairs group and finally President of Berger & Associates, a Hill and Knowlton subsidiary. In 1995, he co-founded Thornley Fallis with Joe Thornley, a full service communications consulting agency with offices in Ottawa and Toronto. Terry also created and co-hosted more than 200 episodes of the popular business podcast, Inside PR. For more than 25 years, Terry has counselled corporate and government clients on various fronts including crisis communications, media relations, issues management, marketing communications, public opinion polling, public affairs, stakeholder relations, etc. He has also written speeches for CEOs, cabinet ministers, and other community leaders. Terry is a sought-after speaker, sits on a number of boards, and lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons. Learn more about Terry and follow him on Twitter (@TerryFallis).
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for October 21, 2017! This week Richard welcomes "One Brother Shy" author Terry Fallis and Bianca Marais, author of the South African set novel "Hum If You Don’t Know the Words."
Host Sherrilynne Starkie sits down with Terry Fallis, Canadian author and founder of Thornley Fallis Communications to talk about how he manages two successful, yet demanding, careers. Terry, a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, is the award-winning author of six national bestsellers, including his most recent, One Brother Shy. Along with Joseph Thornley, he founded Thornley Fallis in 1995. Since 2006, Terry has juggled his life as a writer and as a communications agency leader (he also teaches, sits on a number of boards and enjoys living in Toronto with his wife and two sons). Sounds busy right? He handles it all with grace and aplomb. And as he continues to write great novels, he continues to win industry awards. Terry has recently been awarded an IABC Canada Silver Leaf, a Toronto Ovation Award and an Ottawa Bronze Quill. In this edition of the IABC Ottawa's The Voice, Terry explains how he manages priorities and finds ways to blend his two paths, to the benefit of both. Join the conversation! Connect with Sherrilynne Starkie and IABC Ottawa. Leave a comment or question below, and please rate the show on iTunes! IABC Ottawa's The Voice Podcast is part of the FIR Podcast Network. Find the One Brother Shy podcast here. This episode was produced by IABC volunteer Amanda Speroni.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 16 to complete his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart, May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 15 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart, May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 14 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 13 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 12 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 11 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 10 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 9 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 8 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart, May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 7 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 6 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 5 of his six novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 4 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 3 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 2 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.
Terry Fallis reads Chapter 1 of his sixth novel, One Brother Shy, published by McClelland & Stewart in May 2017.