Civilians Interview: Ron Nurwisah with Terry Fallis

By , on January 27th, 2011

This week as we ramp up for Civilians Read, our panelists have been sharing their one-on-ones with this year’s authors. Yesterday, we ran Nic Boshart’s epic interview with Angie Abdou, and today we’re finishing up with Ron Nurwisah‘s chat with Terry Fallis, author of The Best Laid Plans.

RN: Where did the idea for The Best Laid Plans come from? I know that you’ve got quite a bit of experience working in politics, but what made you want to turn that into a novel?
TF: As a rookie novelist with a full-time job and a busy family life, I was looking for a topic that didn’t demand two years of research before I could write it. Having worked in politics, I figured I could just create the story and move directly to the writing. The only real research I did for the novel was to meet with a retired Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons to confirm that my parliamentary procedure was valid. Plus, I have strong feelings about the state of our democracy and politics and wanted to use satire to shine a light on the shortcomings as I see them.

R: [...]

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Civilians Interview: Nic Boshart with Angie Abdou

By , on January 26th, 2011

In this final week before Civilians Read hits the airwaves (or internet lines), we’ve been sharing interviews that our panelists did with their authors. So far, we’ve shared chats with Jeff Lemire and Ami McKay, and today I have Nic Boshart‘s marathon interview with Angie Abdou to share with you. You’ll notice it’s quite a bit longer than the others (grab your glasses and a powerbar!), but I think that’s what happens when you put two fierce competitors together. I’ll let Nic take over the rest of the introduction . . .

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Angie Abdou is the absolutely astounding author of The Bone Cage, which is poor only in its breaking up my alliterative run. The book follows two Olympic hopefuls who in the early pages of the book qualify to participate in the 2000 Olympic summer games in Sydney, Australia. Digger and Sadie, a swimmer and a wrestler, surrounded by friends but isolated by rigorous training schedules and their need for success. For these characters, realizing their dreams means shutting everything, and everyone out.

Like Digger and Sadie, I too walk along a lonely road toward competition. I need to train myself mentally and physically to bring this book to the top [...]

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Civilians Interview: Sarah Labrie with Ami McKay

By , on January 25th, 2011

In the last week before our Civilians Read debates, we’re sharing the interviews our panelists did with this year’s slate of authors. Yesterday Natalie St. Pierre interviewed Jeff Lemire, and today Sarah Labrie is talking with Ami McKay, author of The Birth House.

SL: Describe what the Canada Reads experience has been like for you. Is it like Survivor, cut-throat and strategic, or are you just watching it all play out?

AM: It’s not my game to win, so there’s no sense in my getting all Jerri Manthey (for all the old-school Survivor fans out there) about it. Most of the “fight” and strategic planning in my life happens while I’m trying to get what’s in my head down on the page.

I plan on just shutting up; sitting by my laptop and listening to the panelists go for it.

SL: This year’s competition is between an eclectic mix of books. In what ways do you think The Birth House stands out?

AM: The Birth House has been known to take many readers by surprise. A lot of people read it (or avoid it) thinking that they know exactly what it will be. They immediately put it [...]

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