Falling Through Clouds – A Story of Survival, Love, and Liability
(St. Martin’s Press, 2014).

A story of tragedy, survival, and justice, Falling Through Clouds is about a young father’s fight for his family in the wake of a plane crash that killed his wife, badly injured his two daughters, and thrust him into a David-vs-Goliath legal confrontation with a multi-billion dollar insurance company. Blindsided when he was sued in federal court by this insurance company, Toby Pearson made it his mission to change aviation insurance law in his home state and nationally, while nursing his daughters to recovery and recreating his own life. Falling Through Clouds charts the dramatic journey of a man who turned a personal tragedy into an important victory for himself, his girls, and many other people.

Praise for Falling Through Clouds

“Falling Through Clouds balances this David vs. Goliath legal fight against the devastating emotional and physical recoveries of all parties… The judicial and statutory resolutions that Toby Pearson and his lawyer finally effect are indeed remarkable, but what trumps all the legal machinations are Grace and Lily’s survival.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“In FALLING THROUGH CLOUDS Damian Fowler has captured the drama, narrative sweep and broad implications of one family’s remarkable encounter with tragedy and injustice. It strikes me as another A CIVIL ACTION by Jonathan Harr, but with even more drama and pathos.” ―James B. Stewart, Pulitzer- Prize winning journalist and bestselling author of DisneyWar

“This story had my heart from the first page, and it has stayed with me since. For anyone who has ever suffered through any sort of tragedy, this story reminds us that beauty often rises up from despair. It is beautifully written and gripping from start to finish.”—Sarah Smiley, author of Dinner with the Smileys and Going Overboard

“Falling Through Clouds is a gripping, emotional and wonderfully written narrative of tragedy and triumph, social justice, and the bonds of love. Most of all, it is a tale of one father’s determined struggle to care for two little girls who survived an unthinkable catastrophe. If you like David v. Goliath narratives where the little guy overcomes all odds, you will devour this book.” —David Kirby, author of Death at SeaWorld, Animal Factory, and Evidence of Harm

MORE MEDIA

New York Times Op-Ed – The Dangers of Private Planes (July 16, 2014)
Minnesota Public Radio interview & feature (May 15, 2014)
Interview on The Leonard Lopate Show (August 11, 2014)

American Impresario – David Gockley’s Life in Opera
(Chronicle Books, 2016)

About American Impresario

Celebrating the fabulous and important career of one of America’s greatest opera champions, AMERICAN IMPRESARIO is the story of San Francisco Opera’s dynamic General Director, David Gockley. Packed with beautiful photos from Gockley’s many premieres and productions as well as many fascinating behind-the-scene pics, author Damian Fowler has written an illuminating and insightful account of how Gockley changed the way in which opera in America is brought to life – and has kept its treasured status as the greatest of performing arts.