MARIETTA, GA - In the dwindling days of the Great Depression, a young man named Clay Colburn crossed the border from Canada into Mississippi with little more than a suitcase and the stern, Calvinist teachings of his grandfather echoing in his ears. He believed he had a divine purpose. He just had to find it.
That search and the astonishing empire it built, is the beating heart of Roy Goodliffe’s masterful new book, "Fortune’s Favored: The Pleasurable Seduction of Wall Street’s Willing." This is the sprawling, deeply human true story of how a high school basketball coach, driven by a glimpse of a life he couldn’t afford, turned a door-to-door Bible salesmanship into a business juggernaut that would eventually seduce and be seduced by the highest echelons of American finance.
The narrative follows Clay’s unorthodox ascent, which reads like a blueprint of twentieth-century American opportunity. It begins with an education in persuasion, selling illustrated Bibles with a take-it-or-leave-it sincerity that disarmed customers. With his first major score, a monumental order for one hundred thousand Bibles; Clay learns the intoxicating language of high-stakes deals.
He doesn’t just see products; he sees franchises, networks, and potential.
Alongside a charismatic band of brothers, Delbert Norris, the shrewd printing press owner; Mike Mallad, the relentless salesman with a nose for the next big thing; and Reverend Thomas Russell, the politically connected man of God, Clay parlays his success into the burgeoning motel industry.
But it’s the earth-shattering breakup of the AT&T monopoly that presents their ultimate calling.
With the nerve of outsiders, they plunge into the chaotic new world of "alternate long distance," forming a company from scratch in the back of a Mississippi steakhouse. Goodliffe immerses the reader in the frantic, exhilarating early days: the hunt for capital, the scramble for technology, and the sheer audacity of convincing people to pay them for a telephone call instead of the monolithic "Ma Bell."
"Fortune’s Favored" is more than a chronicle of business triumphs. It is a profound exploration of character. It asks what happens to a man like Clay Colburn, whose identity is built on a foundation of faith and hard work, when confronted with the limitless power and praise of Wall Street. The seduction is not merely financial; it is a seduction of the soul, a test of whether the man can survive the shadow of the titan he becomes.
Roy Goodliffe writes with the nuance of a novelist and the insight of a historian, crafting a tale that is both a time capsule of American business and a timeless lesson about ambition. This is a story for anyone who has ever dreamed of building something from nothing, and for everyone who has wondered about the price of that dream.
"Fortune’s Favored: The Pleasurable Seduction of Wall Street’s Willing" is available for purchase on Amazon.
Watch the official book trailer here: Fortune's Favored
About the Author
Roy Goodliffe has a passion for unearthing the complex human stories behind great enterprises. With a narrative style that is both compelling and insightful, he delves into the lives of figures who shaped the modern landscape, revealing the personal ambitions and moral conflicts that fueled their journeys.
About Author's Tranquility Press
Author's Tranquility Press is a premier author services provider committed to guiding writers through the publishing process with expertise and care. They are dedicated to ensuring that powerful stories and important voices find the worldwide audience they deserve.
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