For individuals aspiring to become authors, there is no greater motivation than the literary creations of established and celebrated writers.
The latest addition to Terry Fallis’s bibliography is his 10th novel, The Marionette, which hit the shelves on October 7th.
Hailing from Ontario, Terry Fallis is renowned for his series of humorous novels, such as The High Road and Albatross. Notably, he clinched the prestigious Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour not once but twice, first for his debut work The Best Laid Plans and later for No Relation, in addition to being a five-time finalist.Â
The Best Laid Plans claimed victory at Canada Reads in 2011, under the defense of Ali Velshi.
In an upcoming event, Fallis, along with Maria Reva and Tracey Lindberg, will serve as judges for the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize.
Appearing on The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing, Fallis shared his top four book recommendations for aspiring writers.
Compiling the list was a rigorous process for Fallis, who initially drafted around 20 titles and gradually refined the selection to just four essentials.
While Fallis now delves into writing manuals, his earlier reading choices gravitated towards biographies, economics, and public policy due to his delayed venture into creative writing. This background subtly influenced his book recommendations.
Reflecting on his writing journey, Fallis recalled crafting a couple of short stories for personal enjoyment before eventually venturing into novel writing at the age of 45.
Pilot Jack Knight by A.M Anderson and R.E Johnson
Pilot Jack Knight, authored by A.M. Anderson and R.E. Johnson, narrates the biography of Jack Knight, the pioneer aviator responsible for the first intercontinental air mail delivery. This factual account evokes profound emotions, notably depicting the tragic loss of Knight’s close friend in a plane crash.
Recounting his emotional connection to the book, Fallis expressed how it was the first literary piece to elicit tears from him, demonstrating the poignant impact of written words on one’s emotions.
[This book] taught me that words on a blank page could actually make you cry.