“Hello from East Nashville. I’m excited to tell you about my new book. It’s 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’m going to 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 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 upon 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.
You may or may not know that I have also been writing, recording, and producing music for more than 30 years. My “band” The Wayside has for many years consisted of my wife, Michelle Lynn Thompson, and myself along with a rotating cast of friends and contributors. Since this is a musical book I plan to release new music connected to this project. I have already written three new songs that reflect elements of the story, and there are numerous cover songs discussed in the pages. If this fund-raising campaign is successful, some new music will come out as a sort of soundtrack to the book. The more support we raise, the more music we can make. One song, a ballad/lullaby I wrote “in character” and recorded with the legendary Phil Keaggy, will be released digitally to backers as a special thank you as soon as this campaign is completed. “Marianne” also features Steve Hindalong on percussion and Michelle on backing vocals. I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
See the Kickstarter page for this project to join in and help.