In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Thomas Cullen - Charlie Man

Terry Shepherd

This week, we welcome Thomas Cullen—federal trial judge, former U.S. attorney, and now debut novelist—to discuss his powerful new book, Charlie-Man. Set in Richmond, Virginia during the sweltering summer of 1994, Charlie-Man is a poignant coming-of-age novel that explores teenage love, identity, and the emotional challenges of growing up in the American South. Judge Cullen shares how his own experiences shaped the story of Charlie Stewart, a senior at an elite all-boys school navigating heartbreak, pressure, and the search for self.