Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite author is Mark Twain. I am a huge fan of his work, his wit and his wisdom. The version of America he created as a humorist is matched only by our own homegrown Canadian icon of the humorist genre, Stephen Leacock, who did the same for Canada.

Well, yesterday we received word that Terry Fallis, President of Thornley Fallis (the place I work), host of Inside PR podcast, author of The Best Laid Plans and all around nice guy has made the short list for the prestigious Steven Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour with the aforementioned book The Best Laid Plans.

Here is an excerpt from yesterday's press release:
"Canadians like to laugh, and our senses of humour, like our seasons, certainly vary. Luckily, Canada’s writers tickle a variety of funnybones, and their best recent works are represented on the 2008 shortlist for the Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.

Awarded annually by the Leacock Association, the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal recognizes the most humorous book published in Canada, by a Canadian, in the previous year. It carries a cash prize of $10,000, sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group."

He is much too humble to ever engage in a Bum Rush The Charts type of deal, but obviously the word has spread to all the right places.

Please help me congratulate Terry on his very prestigious achievement. I know where he works in case you want to have me arrange for your copy of Best Laid Plans to be autographed.