Terry Fallis

No stranger to the worlds of public affairs and government, Terry Fallis has worked in public relations for more than two decades -- and his insider knowledge in both arenas shines through in his irreverent, award-winning satire of national politics, The Best Laid Plans.

The Toronto author and communications specialist first became interested in politics while studying engineering at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After graduating, he joined Jean Chrétien's staff in the 1984 Liberal leadership campaign. He also worked in provincial politics, serving as a legislative assistant in the Liberal government of David Peterson in 1985.  

After leaving provincial politics, he joined the international PR firm Hill and Knowlton as a government affairs and communications consultant. He went on to co-found the public relations agency Thornley Fallis, with Joe Thornley, in 1995. He is currently the company president.

His fiction career got a big boost when his first novel, The Best Laid Plans, which he printed himself after failing to find a publisher, won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, beating out well-known writers such as Douglas Coupland and Will Ferguson for the honour. 

In September 2010, Fallis published The High Road (McClelland & Stewart), a sequel to The Best Laid Plans.