On this edition of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with Thomas Cullen, Federal District Judge in Roanoke, Virginia — and now debut novelist — to discuss his new young adult novel, Charlie-Man. Known nationally for his career in public service, Cullen surprises many by turning to fiction with a deeply human story about friendship, loss, and finding purpose.

Set in 1994 at a Southern prep school, Charlie-Man follows Charlie Stewart through his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia. With his future uncertain and his heart set on rekindling a romance, Charlie leans on his best friend, Beau Miller — a star athlete whose charm hides a darker side. As Charlie confronts anxiety, grief, and the universal struggles of growing up, he learns about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to come of age in ...