My Leacock Shock
My Unorthodox Journey to the Published Land: 6
The morning after I learned The Best Laid Plans was one of five books shortlisted for the 2008 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, I searched for, and found one lonely little email I’d received from a literary agent about a year and a half earlier. In an earlier post I said that I’d received not a single rejection letter in response to my year of diligent and systematic overtures to literary agents and publishers. That’s true. But I did receive one brief email from Beverley Slopen a veteran and respected literary agent based in Toronto. Her email was polite, as Beverley unfailingly is. Paraphrasing, she replied to my query saying something like, “Thanks for sending me your query letter and novel excerpt. I liked it but you’ve written a satirical novel of Canadian politics, what were you thinking? I couldn’t possibly find a publisher for this. They just aren’t looking for a novel set on Parliament Hill.” I thanked her and luckily kept her email.
I hit “Reply” on her, by then, 18 month-old email, attached a Toronto Star story about being shortlisted for the Leacock and simply asked her if this changed anything. I wasn’t being snide, I genuinely did not know if being a finalist for the Leacock might cause her to reconsider adding me to the already large stable of writers she represented. She replied with congratulations, asked for a copy of the book, and then suggested we get together. We met for drinks at the Toronto Four Seasons Hotel and though calm on the outside, I was a quivering mass of excitement inside. The turning point in our conversation came when she agreed to take me on. After a couple years of trying, I finally had a literary agent.
At one point in our conversation, Beverley said, “Give my your hands and look me in the eye.” I thought this was a rather unusual request, but I was just so thrilled to be in the same building with a literary agent that I’d have given her a foot rub if she’d asked. So I gave her my hands and looked her in the eyes. “Terry, you are not going to win the Leacock Medal, but let’s see if we can find you a publisher.” Of course, I believed her. There was no precedent for a self-published novel winning any kind of established literary award in Canada or in most other countries. She was trying to protect me. While I was still so surprised to have been shortlisted, I was under no illusion that I might actually win.
So we got to work and sent out the manuscript under Beverley’s aegis to publishers I could not approach earlier without an agent. A month later, on April 30th, the day the Leacock Medal winner was to be announced, we’d had a few nibbles from publishers, several rejections, but nothing definitive (okay, the rejections were definitive). So my wife Nancy and I drove up to Orillia for the Leacock Luncheon where the winner would be announced. I met Scott Gardiner, the only other finalist who was able to attend the luncheon. I’d already read at least two of his books and was thrilled to shake his hand. It was the first time I’d ever met a novelist.
At the appointed hour, Wayne Scott, the President of the Leacock Associates miraculously announced my name as the winner. I was stunned and sat stock still staring into space until Nancy kicked me under the table. I stumbled to my feet in a daze and barely survived my impromptu acceptance speech.
Grainy footage of my stunned remarks, April 30, 2008.
Before the luncheon, out in the parking lot in a rare moment of forethought, I’d jotted down a few bullet points on a friend’s business card I found in my suit jacket pocket, just as a hedge against that most unlikely of outcomes, that I might actually win. Without that business card, I suspect I’d have sounded even more dazed than I did.
I still carry that now frayed and creased business card in my wallet just as a reminder of my extraordinary good fortune. Few writers can pinpoint a date, time, and place when they became a writer—if only in their own mind. But I can. Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at approximately 12:46:41 p.m.
After signing lots of books and doing some media interviews, it was time to head back down to Toronto. At some point on the drive home, Nancy turned to me and said, “You know, they’ll talk about this in your obituary.” I slowed down immediately.
The next day the surreal circus came to town. It was truly bizarre to see my face in the Globe and Mail. The Best Laid Plans podcast went to number one on the iTunes charts in the wake of the Leacock Medal news.
The Globe and Mail reviewed the novel (favourably). And best of all, Beverley Slopen’s phone started to ring. Within a week of my Leacock shock, we signed with McClelland & Stewart (M&S), with the revered Douglas Gibson as my editor and publisher. Doug was the editor for many CanLit legends including Alice Munro, W.O. Mitchell, Robertson Davies, Mavis Gallant, four Canadian Prime Ministers, and many, many others. I also knew Doug, as his wife, Jane and my wife, Nancy, worked together years before. What an honour to be guided by Doug Gibson. Despite retiring even before my first novel, Doug went on to edit my first six novels before actually honouring his retirement. Doug remains what I think of as my “editor emeritus” and a good friend. My current editor, Bhavna Chauhan worked on all of my previous novels. In September 2008, the M&S edition was released. (By the way, the self-publishing company I used, iUniverse, kindly released me from my contract so I could sign with McClellend & Stewart.)
The Leacock Medal Gala was held in June 2008 where the actual medal and the $10,000 cheque was presented (it’s now $25,000!), and I delivered my prepared speech.
To see my name on a list of Leacock winners alongside Robertson Davies, Mordecai Richler, Paul Quarrington, and W.O. Mitchell, literally left my knees weak and wobbly (and still does).
Winning the Leacock Medal changed my life as a writer in an instant. In fact, I believe the Leacock Medal gave me my life as a writer. It landed me a literary agent with whom I still work, and a publishing deal with McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House), still my publisher now as I write my ninth novel. It gave a new life to my no longer self-published novel that led to the novel winning the 2011 edition of Canada Reads, and being adapted as a six-part television miniseries and a stage musical (stay tuned for the stories behind these developments). It is the novel that keeps on giving and it all started with the Leacock Medal.
Since 2008, I’ve attended every Leacock Gala and will strive to be there for every one in the future, just to show my support and gratitude. I was truly blessed in 2008.
Coming up in future posts, how my life changed after the Leacock Medal, including hitting the speaking circuit, and writing my second novel for McClelland & Stewart.
Really inspiring. Loving this substack and your “how-to” generosity.
What a mind blowing experience, Terry. You have to laminate that business card! What a treat to have been able to share it through your video. Despite your cool, smooth delivery, it's easy to see that you were busting with joy inside! Thanks for sharing!