JJT’s New “Rock and Soul Fable” Available Now

John Thompson Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville, JJT Novel November 13, 2024

(NOTE: This page will be regularly updated. As news about my new novel develops I will post updates here.)

Hello from East Nashville. I’m excited to tell you about my new book. It’s a story is about how music brings a diverse community of characters together – after some profound personal and community tragedies – to accomplish something miraculous when they least expect it. It’s based on people I have known and pieces of stories I have heard and is set right here in the community I have called home for over 17 years. It even includes some real events from East Nashville history over the last half-century. It really is a musical fable with a Rock and Soul, Gospel, Americana, and Tejano soundtrack setting an unlikely tribe of people on fire in the best possible way.

“The characters in this compelling story are people I’d love to hang with. This book sprang straight from the creative heart of the Nashville music scene. It’s multigenerational, multicultural, full of energy and pain and possibility. Best of all, it’s a page-turner. You fall in love with these folk and must find out what happens to them. A great read I want to revisit.” (Gwen Moore)

This is my third book, but my first novel. I spent eight years writing it, and then a few years ago a small group of friends kicked in some money to help me hire an excellent editor to help me finish it. I’m happy to say the book is ready to be typeset, the cover designed, the e-book programmed, and the audiobook recorded and produced. I will need your help to get it across the finish line and into the world. And more than that – I am sincerely hoping that the launch of this book will help me start a new publishing company for future books by me and other authors.

This book also includes the release of my new song, “Sweet Marianne” – a tune I wrote in character for the story. I was thrilled to be able to record it with none other than Phil Keaggy – and to have additional accordion added by Jeffrey Taylor (Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, T Bone Burnett, etc.) You can stream that song here, but anyone who buys the book will get a private download option before the song is publicly released.

“The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville is the first book I’ve ever read that truly captures the core of the magic of East Nashville. John Joseph Thompson has created unforgettable characters who perfectly match the various unforgettable characters I have come to learn about, listen to, and fully appreciate in real life while living in East Nashville for almost 20 years. East Nashville is an epicenter of creativity that is more of the foundation of Nashville than any other creative part of Music City. The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville is a wonderful example for outsiders to get a real picture of what has been going on in East Nashville for over 25 years. Also, it provides the community blueprint for how the essence of what is loved most can be maintained and grow for the locals who refuse to leave (or get kicked out due to the ‘progress’ of a city growing faster than it is ready for.) I can’t recommend this book enough, and I’m excited to read it again and stay tuned with the magic that John Joseph Thompson will continue to create with everyone, young and old, who choose to make Nashville their home, too.” – Chuck Beard, East Side Story, Metro Arts Nashville

You can now PRE-ORDER signed copies of the book at the new site LostPerros.com. There are only 1,000 copies of the “Early Edition” being printed, and over 300 of those are already spoken for. Order yours now and it will be shipped to you in early December. We also have T-shirts and mugs IN STOCK and ready to ship with the books. The audiobook and ebook versions are ready to send to you RIGHT NOW. If you order those (or a package that includes those) they will be sent to you immediately.