True Tunes Podcast host John J. Thompson recently celebrated the “soft-release” of his new novel, “The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville,” with live events at Vinyl Tap in East Nashville and The Wheaton Public Library in the Chicago area. This special edition features clips from both events as JJT takes questions from Fr. Preston Sharpe of Sacrament Church (and guests) in Nashville, and Jeff Elbel (Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois Entertainer) in Wheaton.

The episode also features a chapter from the fully produced audiobook and a bit of the original song “Sweet Marianne” by JJT featuring Phil Keaggy and Jeff Taylor.

 

 

The book is available in print, digital, and audio form at most East Nashville record stores and bookstores and at LostPerros.com.

EARLY REVIEWS:

“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.” (Chuck Beard, Metro Arts Nashville)

“The characters jump right off the page and into your heart. If you’re a fan of second-chance stories, this is for you! It’s all about the power of music to unite people from all backgrounds. A beautiful song of a story.” (Sam Wade, “Hadestown” band member, Producer, and Songwriter.)

“I found The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville invigorating and capable of not just entertaining me but also serving as a catalyst for how I might live in the new year.” (Pastor Matt Staniz, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Philadelphia PA)

“John J. Thompson did much more than create a fictional band on these pages; he invited you and me to join one. And any book that features Bono & the Beatles, a benefit concert & Bonnaroo, Bobs Dylan & Marley, and the Beatles & biscuits, is for me. Stevie Wonder famously sang, ‘Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.’ Thankfully – for all of us – JJT speaks it fluently.” (Rob Birks, Salvation Army Kroc Center, San Diego)

“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)

“John Thompson spins a yarn here that covers a lot of my favorite themes: music, social movements, and the deep territory of the human heart. The story carried me along with intricately developed characters and musical descriptions only an insider could know. I’d say it was a page-turner if I had turned any pages, which I didn’t. I listened to the audio version, which I highly recommend.” (Don Chaffer, Singer/Songwriter with the band Waterdeep & Professor of Music, Lipscomb University)

“A charming book with likable characters and a story that isn’t rushing the reader along. Thompson has created a cast of characters you start caring about as soon as the pages turn. That’s because it seems likely that the author cares about them, too. Maybe it’s because I read the book during the holiday season, but “The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville” has all the feel-goodness of a timely holiday movie.” (Phil Madeira, Songwriter, Producer, Musician with Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, etc.)

ALSO – Father Preston Sharpe has a new book coming out! Watch for RESURRECTION PEOPLE coming later this year, and follow Preston HERE.