Storytelling & Entrepreneurship: Meet Falon Duncan
By John Broadway
In this series, Inclusive Action highlights some of the amazing small business owners and entrepreneurs that we work with through our microloan and coaching programs.
Introducing Mrs. Falon Duncan (pen name: Falon Monét), who is a writer and entrepreneur — the owner of a publishing company titled “Fallie Pie” (which is also her nickname). She knew early on that this path was her destiny.
Falon was born in South Central and raised here as a foster youth because both her parents were drug addicts. Although a less than ideal circumstance, this helped form her reading habits: she found an escape in books.
Eventually, her reading habits turned into a passion for writing. When she was nine years old she wrote her first poem, and from there she began writing short stories. Falon’s creative talents were noticed by her teachers, who told her she was destined for writing.
Falon was inspired to become a children’s book author upon realizing the impact she could have. Especially, as she noted, considering 76% of children’s stories are written by white authors.
Falon chose these bright colors for her companies color scheme because of they way they represent playfulness and child-like tones.
“I started noticing the achievement gap, the literacy gap, for kids of color, particularly black kids versus white kids. And I felt a lot of it had to do with not being able to see yourself in a book, you know, that story is not told from your point of view. It’s not told with you in mind; so why would you have any interest in it? So that was my niche, I was like, you know what, I’m going to focus on bringing diversity to the book world.”
As she continued her education in college, her writing took a quick detour. First, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University Dominguez Hills and is now pursuing an MBA in Human Resources.
Falon expressed that her studies, although the foundation of her career, didn't feel like the final destination. She felt alienated from her passion for storytelling. Nevertheless, Falon appreciates how her Psychology studies inform her of the relevant conversations that humans need to have. Meanwhile, her Human Resources background sharpens her business acumen.
“[Psychology] helps with the storytelling because at this point, I’m forcing the conversation and I do that through books. [Human Resources] has helped me understand the laws...when I need to file certain paperwork with the state, the county, and the city. And it’s preparing me for when I get ready to start hiring my staff... I’ll know what to do as an employer.”
After graduating with her B.A. Falon worked in social services and social work and continues that work today with the County of Los Angeles. In 2017, she decided to pursue storytelling and created her own publishing company.
For the first two years, Fallie Pie didn’t take off. She struggled to find productivity while balancing a full-time job. And with the birth of her second child in 2018 — along with suffering from postpartum depression, coupled with a lack of confidence and focus — this period was a great struggle professionally and creatively. Yet, ask her and she’ll tell you it was necessary.
“It was just like a rejuvenation, a rebirthing period. And yeah, it was two years of labor. (laughs) Like I was pregnant, and I was also going through this rebirthing process on my own, in myself. And just getting my confidence up, you know. When you’re an artist you’re super hyper-sensitive. Like I got all this sh**...excuse me, stuff (laughs) that I want to talk about and I want to say — and it’s like I gotta have balls to say it. Like, say it, just do it. I had to get over that fear of being judged for my creativity.”
After realizing this, things began to change; she became more proactive with her company. Falon became a self-described “Google-queen,” which led her to find Inclusive Action. Through interactions with Maribel, our Senior Economic Development Associate, Falon was able to access valuable information and guidance. More importantly, she was offered access to low-interest capital; which she might not have had otherwise due to a low credit score.
Falon with her husband Andre Duncan and their two children, Savana (2) and Abram (8).
Even with the help of Inclusive Action, Falon — like many other entrepreneurs — has witnessed a great deal of stress during the pandemic. Whether that be from her nine-to-five job, the world, or her business, like losing in-person marketing opportunities, times have been tough. However, she has found some light in these dark times, such as being pushed to get her digital presence where it needs to be through shoring up her social media channels, blog, and website.
Falon poses with her husband and her new book "Why Do You Taste Everything.”
Now, she is in the midst of an exciting launch for her newest book titled: Why Do You Taste Everything, which is part of her Mommy’s Blues series. This children’s story follows a mother as she playfully illustrates the frustrations of motherhood to her child. Inspired by her and her husband's bouts with postpartum depression, she hopes this story is something other parents can identify with while also entertaining to children.
Whether it be postpartum depression, navigating the foster care system, losing sight of her path, dealing with self-doubt, a dearth of capital and credit, or dealing with the stress of a global pandemic — Falon has never let anything stop her from pursuing her passion for storytelling and entrepreneurism. She offers this sage advice to other artists and entrepreneurs:
“All these dreams and thoughts [you] have, it’s time to act on it...You can’t be afraid to be judged, or be vulnerable, because you’re going to be…You can’t be afraid to pull the parachute and jump out the plane — and to do it alone. That’s my philosophy: I may have a whole team, but at the end of the day you’re jumping out by yourself.”
To learn more about Falon Duncan’s publishing company, or to purchase any of her books, please visit www.falliepie.com.