The Ballad of The Lost Dogs of East Nashville

The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville tells the story of an unlikely group of musicians who are brought together through the power of music when something miraculous happens.

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing and explosively creative neighborhood-and seen through the eyes of people who have experienced true devastation-we find this unintended troupe bringing a community together across cultural, generational, and ethnic divides.

But can some things-even good and true things-get too big for their own good? Might the mission-individually and collectively understood-of this band of Lost Dogs-be compromised by their own "success?"

Appreciation:

"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, Producer, Songwriter, and "Hadestown" band member.)

"...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 it has all the feel-goodness of a timely holiday movie." (Phil Madeira, Songwriter, Producer, Musician with Emmylou Harris, etc.)

"... A wonderfully written testament to what it means to be human in a broken yet hope-filled world. Thompson's characters come alive as they form a community that is a taste of heaven on earth. East Nashville is where we all live, between now and eternity, dwelling in the relationships we create..." (Quentin Schultze, Professor of Communication Emeritus, Calvin University, author of You'll Shoot Your Eye Out! Life Lessons from the Movie 'A Christmas Story')

"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." (Don Chaffer, Singer/Songwriter & Professor of Music, Lipscomb University)

"... A rare treat of a novel--it is fun, wise, and inspiring. You'll love the characters and feel the Nashville setting. Lost Dogs is music to your ear and a bright light to your soul." (Bishop Todd Hunter, Author: What Jesus Intended)

"The first book I've ever read that truly captures the core of the magic of East Nashville. I can't recommend this book enough." (Chuck Beard, Metro Arts Nashville)