Today we’d like to introduce you to David Falloure.
Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t start out to be a novelist. In fact, writing about Houston and history began quite by accident. In the late ’90s, an advertising client of mine wanted an ad in a local independent newspaper. After talking with the publisher and editor about placing the ad, they wound up asking me to write an article about the opening of then Enron Field (now Minute Maid). Well, that first article kicked off several more articles for that paper about Houston history and interviews with veterans or other people of note and personal stories about family history. That gave birth to a column for another paper, even to a brief stint for column snippets on local radio. About the same time, I began a history blog called Brands in History—one that looked at historical figures from a marketing perspective. So, all of these combined to build a modest following.
Articles and columns fit into my comfort zone, which was short-form writing. Being a novelist or even a nonfiction author never really crossed my mind. But stories always swirled around in my head, sometimes based on something I’d heard during family dinners growing up or with my wife’s family after we were married. Then I read the announcement about the sunken U-boat 166 being discovered just off the coast of Louisiana. For whatever reason that sparked a plotline that could tie together several persistent ideas—thus, Counterclockwise was born. I spent two years writing the novel but struggled to get it published for another three years. Not a unique story in and of itself because many authors find it tough to find an agent or publisher. But as I became busy with work and family, and my Brands in History blog, I shelved the project. In the meantime, my blog led to a contract to write a history of the Houston Ship Channel for its centennial. And my research yielded enough to write Sheer Will, a consolidated history of the Port of Houston and the ship channel, which led to being featured in the documentary, “Houston Ship Channel: Deep Water Centennial”.
That led to another book deal to write the history of the Port of Beaumont. Ultimately, this all fostered a book deal with a local publisher for Counterclockwise. Unfortunately, that publisher closed up shop, and a subsequent publisher willing to take on the book shutdown, too. Again, I decided to shelve the book. But in November of 2019, I decided to publish the novel either through a publisher or self-publish, or delete every file associated with the book and let it go. The publisher’s notes and edits were extremely helpful but I hired an editor to help finalize the manuscript. A friend and colleague designed the cover and text style. And then I launched in October 2020. Crucial lesson: Debuting a novel amidst a global pandemic is tough because public appearances build excitement and sell books. It’s not all Amazon.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not smooth in any way. I went to literary conferences and spoke with agents and publishers. Many at the time were looking for the next Twilight or Harry Potter series. Others were looking for adventure series. Historical fiction set in World War II Houston wasn’t a hot topic. I kept all my rejection letters until they were soaked by Harvey. Yeah, our house was “sunk.” Abandoning the search for an agent or national publisher, I went to local publishers. Area publishers were focusing on other themes as well. But I found one publisher who worked on the project for almost a year, though slightly distracted by another of its releases. Unfortunately, that publisher closed its doors. An alternate publisher interested in the book also closed up. It was up to me to slug it out via self-publishing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My day job is as a writer for the world’s largest energy service company. In particular, my focus is drilling technology—so I write about all things drilling: Bits, logging and measurement tools, drilling fluids, and more. If you ask my colleague what I am known for, many will say that I try to work in humor whenever possible, spirited and confident copy always, and now and then, just be bold and surprising. Taking a good idea, whether mine or someone else’s on the team, and running with it hard and fast is also part of my professional brand. “Why not?” is the question I often ask.
Outside of that, and based on my side writing career, I am known as a fan of history. Some have said historian but that is incorrect. I am neither trained nor disciplined as a historian. Certainly, I can do research and write formally, but I best communicate when I am telling someone the “story” of something—the story of Houston and its port, the story of Cleopatra and how she branded herself like a pro, or transport you back to Houston in 1942, experiencing life eight months after Pearl Harbor.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
As I edited the Counterclockwise manuscript in 2020, it was interesting to compare what Americans endured in 1942 with 2020 and COVID. I still think things were tougher in WWII, but both events proved the adaptability of Americans—humans in general. COVID specifically demonstrated how even though they are separated—even isolated, people find ways to come together to support each other.
Contact Info:
- Email: david@davidhfalloureauthor.com
- Website: www.davidhfalloureauthor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_h_falloure/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Counterclockwisenovel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEVBcgomWQ7bOUFEwHmwOpQ
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KPP61R9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=David+Falloure&qid=1601863142&sr=8-1
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