Humourist Terry Fallis comes to Creemore Saturday
Poles Apart, a new book by Terry Fallis, is about a feminist blogger whose popularity explodes after a post about a new chain of high-end strip clubs opening up across the country, is retweeted by a popular talk show host.
The feminist turns out to be an aspiring writer and a man.
Fallis, a Canadian humourist, will be in Creemore this Saturday speaking about his work during a benefit for My Friend’s House, a local shelter for abused women and children.
“It’s maybe a little higher risk than my previous novels. It is a serious issue that I feel strongly about and can you write a comic novel that still respects the cause? I hope you can. That’s what I try to do with my first two novels where there was a serious social issue, that being the state of our democracy,” said Fallis. “I like there to be a serious theme underlying the fun in my novels in the hopes that some people might give that theme passing thought while they are enjoying turning the pages.”
Poles Apart is set to be published on Oct. 6 with endorsements from Canadian feminists Judy Rebick and Michele Landsberg, author of Women and Children First. Fallis cites the book, one of the first feminist books he read, in his new novel.
“There tends to be a slightly feminist strand that runs through all of my novels, sometimes it is more prominent than in others but it will certainly be front and centre in the new novel,” said Fallis. “In the new novel there is an aging feminist icon who has been forgotten. She’s a fictitious character but I placed her amongst the coeval of women that gathered around Gloria Steinem for the founding of Ms. Magazine.”
His third and fourth novels are no different. Up and Down and most recently, No Relation, tell the stories of women fighting for their rightful place in their worlds, be it on the International Space Station or at the head of a corporation.
While studying engineering at university, Fallis became involved in politics and went on to work at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill. He later worked for an international public relations firm before co-founding his own firm, Thornley Fallis.
“I do tend to plumb the depths of my own experiences so I can write with authority and authenticity and conviction… I hasten to add that they are not autobiographical but little snippets, little experiences are things that I have experienced but I’ve placed them into different contexts,” said Fallis.
“To write what you know about and what you care about, what you’ve experienced, it’s easier to write in a true voice.”
His first novel, Best Laid Plans, was released chapter-by-chapter as a podcast before it was self-published. After winning the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour in 2008, it was picked up by McClelland and Stewart. It was made into a mini-series for CBC Television. The sequel, The High Road, and Up and Down were shortlisted for the same award.
No Relation is on this year’s shortlist. The 2015 award will be announced April 30.
On Saturday, April 25, Fallis will be in conversation with 97.7 The Beach radio host Mariane McLeod. The event is the third annual Creemore fundraiser to support the programs at My Friend’s House, which services Clearview Township and area and is located in Collingwood. The shelter has a government funding shortage of about $170,000 per year and relies on fundraising and donations to close the gap.
Tickets cost $30 each and are available at the door, at Station on the Green and at Curiosity House Books in Creemore. There is also an auction of donated items, such as a Stratford ticket/Bruce Hotel weekend package, artwork, weekend getaways and services, such as wedding consultation and art lessons.
A cocktail party begins at 5 p.m. There will be a cash bar. The live auction begins at 6 p.m., followed by the main event. Fallis will also be available to sign books.
