Terry Fallis

Here's my latest Substack post wherein I explore the idea of artistic departures and how they are reflected in some of my previous books, and most significantly, in my upcoming eleventh novel. Here's hoping you'll subscribe (it's free, fast, and easy) so you don't miss future posts.

Departures Writing life:

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty now officially has a co-author, his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill. It's about time! In my fifth novel, Poles Apart, I wrote about one of John Stuart Mill's lesser known books, The Subjection of Women (I have a treasured first edition) and how JSM wanted to have his wife on the front cover as his co-author. But in Victorian times, this simply was not done. His request was refused. So glad to see her pivotal role in his writing is finally being recognized at least in their most famous book, On Liberty.

After 150 years, John Stuart Mill’s wife gets credit for role in political opus It is ironic that it has taken more than 150 years for Harriet Taylor Mill to be credited, given that one of her husband’s most famous books is called The Subjection of Women

Here's my latest Substack post wherein I share plenty of updates on the state of my eleventh novel. Here's hoping you'll subscribe (it's free and easy) so you don't miss future posts.

Update on my eleventh novel Writing life: 105

Nice to spend a few minutes with a fellow writer last night at Drunk Fiction.

Shortly after its publication, around 2008, I read, and thoroughly enjoyed "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis. This was also the time I started writing my very first manuscript (it was never published, and that is a good thing! haha). After I finished Terry's book, looking for any encouragement I could get, I emailed him to congratulate him on his book and to see if he had any advice for a new writer like me.

I've done this with other writers as well, but unlike them, Terry actually replied! Not only that, he wrote a much longer response that I could have hoped for, and even replied a few more times afterwards. That encouragement, those kind words, from a writer who had "made it" meant the world, and kept me going.

Fast forward to 2026, and Terry was a guest reader at the always enjoyable "Drunk Fiction" event created and hosted by the wonderful writer Emily Weedon at the The Caledonian. I attended - as I almost always do - and asked Terry for a moment of his time, which he gave me graciously (just as he did years earlier via email), and I told him how much his words meant to me, and he told me writers he respected did the same for him and he believed in paying it forward, something I have tried to do myself whenever possible.

If you're in a position to encourage somebody - whether you know them or not - do it, while reminding yourself how much it meant to you, because it will most likely mean that much to them.

Thanks Terry!