David Stallman
Front cover
"Echoes of Topsail – Second Edition" is a story about Topsail Island, its facts, folklore and heartbeat, voiced by its people who gave it life over the years. Those who live here speak with reverent whisper about he magic that caught them and will not let them leave.
This magic is the heartbeat of Topsail – slow and steady – that never misses a beat despite hammering by the wind, nudging by ocean surf and ravaging by man. We come to the island and fall into the slow, throbbing beat, becoming it, even on a short stay. Like the loggerhead, we keep coming back.
Topsail Island is a metaphor for life. It is ever changing and yes, stays the same. You can live on a mountain, desert, or on a suburban lot and, after a few years, you can say; I know every inch of this place, every rock, nook and cranny. Nobody can say that about Topsail Island. It’s salt marsh, sea tides, and unrelenting surf, sea breezes and shifting sand, echo life’s never ending change. If we pay attention, we can learn from Topsail how to enjoy life’s journey.
About the author:
David A. Stallman in from an Ohio town with the population of 350. He learned the rigors of farm work and house painting from his father. After college and two years in the military, he was employed by IBM as a service engineer. His satisfying career with IBM spanned 33 years as he advanced to program management staff, which included technical writing. Soon after his retirement, he wrote and published several articles about his motorcycle tours in the west.
His love of Topsail Island began in 1986 when he visited a friend and his childhood dreams of living on an island were realized when he purchased a cottage there. He quickly became acquainted with the island’s residents. Curious about the island’s history, he began to collect people’s recollections and soon became involved in a quest to preserve the island’s historical buildings. His research also took him to libraries and archives in Washington, DC and John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. While doing research, he presented his findings in talks Topsail Island and at the NC WWII Symposium. Many of his stories first appeared in local publications and they became the seeds for Echoes of Topsail.
Stallman continues to be involved with island activities and feels very much a part of the Topsail community. He and wife, Carol, live in Wilmington, NC.
Please check out David’s website for more information on his other books and how to order.