I'm remembering what an inspiration it was to see you get the first novel out there. However, that afternoon, in the office, when you won the Leacock and we all cheered like you'd just gotten the Olympic gold ... it's not about the awards of course, but when the good guys get a win, it's still the sweetest thing. Happy Twentieth Anniversary to one of the greatest publishing breakthroughs this country's ever seen.
Thank you, Terry, for your stories and your inspiration.
I recently started releasing chapters of my novel, Make No Mistake, here on Substack, partly because of your experience. I wrote the novel in 2019 about a corrupt American president, his billionaire cronies and their dismantling of democracy starting with women's rights. I tried to go the traditional publishing route, gave up after two years and put it away.
Enter January 2025, and suddenly everything I had written was becoming reality. I wanted to get Make No Mistake out to readers quickly and easily and remembered how you had started with Best Laid Plans (my favourite of your books to date).
If not for your example, my novel would still be just a file on my laptop, unread by anyone.
Thank you for going where few writers dared to go in those days. And for inspiring other writers to consider alternative forms of publishing.
I know you're not looking for congratulations, but I'm offering congratulations anyway. I remember listening to the podcast of The Best Laid Plans, then buying the paperback so I could read it in the tub! It was so nice to laugh as I soaked after a long workday.
Wishing you all the best as you keep writing and entertaining your grateful readers.
Since my computer ate most of the really great revision of my first novel (10 other non-fiction books) I have not been able to get back to it, despite making deadlines every few weeks. Holding pattern and I will soon run out of fuel. Thanks you for your stories. keep on keeping on!
Terry, I really enjoyed your retrospective. Two things come to mind: (1) when the passage of time is strongly associated with stark physical decline, it is not fantastic that your abilities as a writer are as strong as ever, and God willing, you will keep writing for a long time. (2) You may be wondering how things would have turned out for you if you had gone onto a career as a P.Eng. I can't predict that for you, but based on my experience, you probably would not have had the time to write. In my case, I can give you an example. While at Mac, I knew you name and stayed current with what the university what publishing. In 2011, with lots of overtime, multiple contracts, and business travelling, I completely missed everything to do with the Best Laid Plans. That is a strange one because I have frequented the CBC for a long time. Engineering is a great profession but the demands are generally underestimated. I think that you chose very wisely.
My sister told me I had to read The Best Laid Plans and I have seldom laughed so much! I have now read all of your books. Thank you for twenty years of enjoyable Fallis reading, and congratulations! You are such an inspiration!
Best Laid Plans is an inspiration for many reasons, including the way it proves that a story about Canadian parliamentary politics can be interesting and even fun. Out of curiosity, I checked local (Ottawa) library website and the 8 copies of Best Laid Plans in the system are all out with borrowers, and there seems to be a queue of people waiting. So that's another worthy precedent! A novel about Canadian politics that demonstrably has legs.
Congratulations, Terry! Thanks, too, for your insight on a writer's chief responsibility to find the method of working that's right for them, as well as for sharing how fiction can be a force for good in people's lives. So true!
I'm remembering what an inspiration it was to see you get the first novel out there. However, that afternoon, in the office, when you won the Leacock and we all cheered like you'd just gotten the Olympic gold ... it's not about the awards of course, but when the good guys get a win, it's still the sweetest thing. Happy Twentieth Anniversary to one of the greatest publishing breakthroughs this country's ever seen.
I'll never forget that day in the office and how kind you and the rest of our colleagues all were. Keep on writing.
As always, thank you for sharing. The reader's message at the end is quite touching.
Happy anniversary!
Thank you, Terry, for your stories and your inspiration.
I recently started releasing chapters of my novel, Make No Mistake, here on Substack, partly because of your experience. I wrote the novel in 2019 about a corrupt American president, his billionaire cronies and their dismantling of democracy starting with women's rights. I tried to go the traditional publishing route, gave up after two years and put it away.
Enter January 2025, and suddenly everything I had written was becoming reality. I wanted to get Make No Mistake out to readers quickly and easily and remembered how you had started with Best Laid Plans (my favourite of your books to date).
If not for your example, my novel would still be just a file on my laptop, unread by anyone.
Thank you for going where few writers dared to go in those days. And for inspiring other writers to consider alternative forms of publishing.
That message from a reader!! How gratifying, Terry! I continue to enjoy every one of your novels. Keep up the good work!
I know you're not looking for congratulations, but I'm offering congratulations anyway. I remember listening to the podcast of The Best Laid Plans, then buying the paperback so I could read it in the tub! It was so nice to laugh as I soaked after a long workday.
Wishing you all the best as you keep writing and entertaining your grateful readers.
20 years? wow. seems like no time at all.
Since my computer ate most of the really great revision of my first novel (10 other non-fiction books) I have not been able to get back to it, despite making deadlines every few weeks. Holding pattern and I will soon run out of fuel. Thanks you for your stories. keep on keeping on!
Happy Book-A-Versary and just keep ‘em coming.
Here’s hoping tomorrows election leaves us with as many good feelings as those Best Laid Plans
Terry, I really enjoyed your retrospective. Two things come to mind: (1) when the passage of time is strongly associated with stark physical decline, it is not fantastic that your abilities as a writer are as strong as ever, and God willing, you will keep writing for a long time. (2) You may be wondering how things would have turned out for you if you had gone onto a career as a P.Eng. I can't predict that for you, but based on my experience, you probably would not have had the time to write. In my case, I can give you an example. While at Mac, I knew you name and stayed current with what the university what publishing. In 2011, with lots of overtime, multiple contracts, and business travelling, I completely missed everything to do with the Best Laid Plans. That is a strange one because I have frequented the CBC for a long time. Engineering is a great profession but the demands are generally underestimated. I think that you chose very wisely.
typo: ...... is it not fantastic ......
ps having missed the novel the first time, I really appreciate the chance to get into it now.
The engineer who became an imageneer!🤓💖
Clearly Terry you did not go awry...
I still have my copy of the self published version. :). Congrats on the book-a-versary! Looking forward to what comes next.
Thank you for sharing the father and son book exchange story.
My sister told me I had to read The Best Laid Plans and I have seldom laughed so much! I have now read all of your books. Thank you for twenty years of enjoyable Fallis reading, and congratulations! You are such an inspiration!
Best Laid Plans is an inspiration for many reasons, including the way it proves that a story about Canadian parliamentary politics can be interesting and even fun. Out of curiosity, I checked local (Ottawa) library website and the 8 copies of Best Laid Plans in the system are all out with borrowers, and there seems to be a queue of people waiting. So that's another worthy precedent! A novel about Canadian politics that demonstrably has legs.
Congratulations, Terry! Thanks, too, for your insight on a writer's chief responsibility to find the method of working that's right for them, as well as for sharing how fiction can be a force for good in people's lives. So true!