Terry Fallis

Despite an engineering degree, for 25 years Terry Fallis enjoyed a successful career first in politics, 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 hit the speaking circuit entertaining audiences with the same thoughtful wit and humour that won him the Leacock Medal.  The novel continued to make history after winning the 2011 Canada Reads competition, where it was defended by CNN anchor Ali Velshi.

Terry’s latest publication, The High Road, hit bookshelves in September 2010 and was a finalist for the 2011 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. An expert in the world of new media, Terry speaks on social media, podcasting, and his unorthodox and inspiring journey to the published land.

• My Unorthodox Journey to the Published Land

  A funny and thoughtful tale of perseverance, innovation, and one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious literary awards.

• Using New Media to Drive Old Media: A social media case study

  How Terry Fallis employed social media to help build an audience, win the Leacock Medal for Humour, and land a publisher for his debut novel, The Best Laid Plans.

• Podcasting: Building a community yourself

  An introduction to podcasting and how organizations and individuals can use it to build profile and community.

• The Social Media Revolution

  An introduction to social media and how it is changing how organizations engage audiences.

• Terry Fallis is a master communicator, strategist and novelist. I've had the pleasure of hearing Terry engage and intrigue audiences for a number of years and each time I walk away more knowledgeable, more curious and more inquisitive from having listened to his stories about politics, public relations and the social media arena.
  DeGroote School of Business McMaster University
• More and more organizations in the public and private sectors are recognizing the power of Web 2.0 - social media, podcasting, etc.
  Institute of Public Administration of Canada
• Terry Fallis was a hit, as our event's keynote speaker. He was entertaining and charming, and his story, the story of how he went from a self-published, first-time novelist to a Leacock Medal winner with a publishing deal, was inspirational. Listening to his presentation, as well as readings from his novel, our audience certainly understood why Terry Fallis won a medal for humour for The Best Laid Plans...very, very funny.
  Matthew L.O. Certosimo, Borden Ladner, Gervais LLP

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  September 2010

  The High Road

  A brilliant follow-up to the Stephen Leacock Award-winner The Best Laid Plans, this deeply funny satire continues the story of Honest Angus McLintock, an amateur politician who dares to do the unthinkable: tell the truth. Just when Daniel Addison thinks he can escape his job as a political aide, Angus McLintock, the no-hope candidate he helped into Parliament, throws icy cold water over his plans. Together they decide to take "The High Road" and — against all odds — turn the race into a nail-biter with hilarious ups and downs, cookie-throwing seniors, and even a Watergate-style break-in. But that's only the beginning. Add a political storm in the capital and a side-splitting visit from the U.S. President and his alcoholic wife, and Terry Fallis's second novel is a wildly entertaining read full of deft political satire and laugh-out-loud comedy.

  
  
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  August 2008

  The Best Laid Plans

  Here’s the set up: A burnt-out political aide quits just before an election — but is forced to run a hopeless campaign on the way out. He makes a deal with Angus McLintock — an engineering professor who will do anything to avoid teaching English to engineers — to let his name stand in the election. No need to campaign, certain to lose, and so on. Then a great scandal blows away his opponent, and to their horror, Angus is elected. He decides to see what good an honest M.P. who doesn’t care about being re-elected can do in Parliament. The results are hilarious…