Self-Published, First Time Author a Finalist for the Leacock Medal for Humour

    Toronto writer Terry Fallis by-passed traditional publishers

    TORONTO, April 2 /CNW/ - First-time author Terry Fallis managed the
impossible. Unable to interest a publisher for his satirical novel of Canadian
politics, The Best Laid Plans, he published it himself through iUniverse and
made it available as a free podcast. His solo efforts paid off when The Best
Laid Plans was named a finalist for one of Canada's most prestigious literary
awards, The Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The other distinguished
finalists are Douglas Coupland for The Gum Thief, Will Ferguson for Spanish
Fly, Scott Gardiner for King John, and Ron Wood for And God Created
Manyberries.
    "My feet haven't yet touched back down to earth since the announcement of
the Leacock Medal shortlist," commented author Terry Fallis. "To be mentioned
in the same sentence with writers like Douglas Coupland and Will Ferguson, is
surreal and humbling at the same time."
    Breaking through in the publishing world is as difficult today as it has
ever been. Now, thanks to the Internet and iUniverse, and other
print-on-demand publishers that make books available for anyone who wants to
order a copy, Fallis wasn't shut out. The book has sold 500 copies and had
more than 1500 podcast listeners around the world.
    Fallis started by podcasting his novel one chapter at a time at
www.terryfallis.com, iTunes, and www.podiobooks.com. To date, the free podcast
version has gathered more than 1500 listeners from all over the world. The
Best Laid Plans climbed up the iTunes charts and broke into the top 25 Arts
and Literature podcasts. Even though the last episode was posted back in May
2007, every day new listeners are still discovering the podcast, driving
word-of-mouth interest.
    Fallis also blogs about his publishing journey at www.terryfallis.com and
uses Facebook to keep his readers and listeners up to date. The response from
the community has been very gratifying. In fact, readers have started posting
Facebook photos of The Best Laid Plans shot where ever they happen to be in
the world ranging from Melbourne, Hanoi, Dallas, Singapore, Boston, Ottawa and
Kingston.
    The podcast attracted Radioropa, Europe's leading satellite radio
network, which aired the 20 episode podcast in a primetime evening slot on
their English language service.
    The Best Laid Plans tells the story of a young, Ottawa speech writer
trying to escape the seamy world of federal politics. Despite best efforts to
fail, he succeeds in helping a cantankerous but honest engineering professor,
win an election against Canada's most popular politician. Scandal and politics
come together in this hilarious take on the state of our democracy.
    In the wake of the Leacock shortlist announcement, Fallis has rekindled
his search for a mainstream publisher for The Best Laid Plans with the
assistance of literary agent Beverley Slopen.
    The Leacock winner will be announced on April 30th in Orillia, Ontario,
the hometown of Canada's most-loved humourist, Stephen Leacock.

For further information: Beverley Slopen, [phone],
[e-mail]; Terry Fallis, [phone] x222, [phone],
[e-mail]