A Southeastern English instructor was honored by being ranked among Doug Childers’ Top 10 Books of 2013 for his second published book “Harlow.”
A childhood dream came true for David Armand when he found out that his book made the top 10 alongside famed author Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep.” Armand’s Southern literary fiction novel was published last September.
“It is surreal to say the least. I grew up reading Stephen King’s books, so it is just humbling to have ‘Harlow’ listed alongside his latest book,” said Armand. “I feel honored and quite lucky to be reviewed favorably, and subsequently selected as a top 10 book, especially alongside such notable authors.”
“Harlow” is about an 18-year-old boy named Leslie Somers who journeys through the back woods of Louisiana in search of his father whom he has never met. Somers hopes his father will be different from the other parental figures he has had in the past.
“But when Leslie finally finds Harlow, the man is not what the boy had expected. Ultimately, the two will end up on a crash course toward destruction, crime and twisted relationships that will leave one of them dead and the other a hardly recognizable version of his former self,” said Armand.
Armand is inspired by authors William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck as well as filmmakers such as the Coen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino. He started writing comic strips when he was in the fourth grade and won a $100 prize for the “Just Say No” campaign in the 80s.
He has published several other works including his first book “The Pugilist’s Wife,” “Cultural Vistas” and “The Double Dealer,” as well as other literary journals.  
Armand incorporates his personal life and experiences into the characters or events that take place in his books. In “Harlow,” the character Leslie is based, in part, on his own life experiences.
“His search for his father is similar to the trials I went through in order to meet my biological father, whom I didn’t know until I was 28,” said Armand.
Armand started reading books at a very young age and accredits his love for books to those who read to him before he was able to speak. Now he writes to inspire others in a similar fashion.
“Whether it is to inspire someone to be a writer, a happier person or just to see something in a different way, I think that’s what my job is: inspiring others,” said Armand. “I literally feel as though books saved my life on various occasions, so if I could do that for someone else, I would feel successful.”
Armand is currently working on the completion of his third novel “The Gorge” which is a murder-mystery that takes place at the Bogue Chitto State Park.