Author Interview: Thomas Cullen, author of Charlie-Man
At what point did you decide to be an author, and what was your path to publication?
I decided to become an author mainly because, as a federal judge, I could no longer write op-eds and essays on current events, politics, and the like, due to ethical restrictions. The first chapter of what ultimately became Charlie-Man had been percolating in my mind for several years, but I never got around to starting the book. In early 2024, I finally decided to take a stab at it. I completed the initial manuscript in about three months and submitted it to a small Virginia-based publisher, Brandylane. Once we reached a deal, I spent nine months revising and rewriting with the assistance of a talented project editor. We released the book in July.
Who is your favorite character to write, and why is that person your favorite? If picking a favorite character would be like picking a favorite child, which character seems to be the most demanding of your attention and detail as a writer?
My protagonist, Charlie Stewart, was my favorite character to write. Despite being a mediocre student and athlete—and facing myriad challenges throughout his senior year of high school—Charlie has a high emotional IQ, a wry sense of humor, and a resilient nature that enables him to overcome adversity. I’m often asked if Charlie resembles the author when he was a teenager. The short (and truthful) answer is that although Charlie’s personality and experiences are vaguely familiar, he is much cooler and tougher than I ever was.
Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?
A little bit of both. Going into the project, I didn’t have a detailed outline. I generally knew who the main characters were, what the first couple chapters would involve, and how the book would end. But I didn’t have a clear sense of how the plot would develop over the course of Charlie’s senior year. Once I wrote the first two chapters, the plot and characters fell into place and the story just kind of flowed from there. I would regularly jot down notes when good ideas came to me—usually after my daily runs, when I do my best thinking—but I never followed a strict formula.
What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?
I am an avid reader with eclectic taste. In terms of traditional literature—i.e., “the classics”—I would recommend All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. As for non-fiction, I am typically drawn to biographies of political leaders and would recommend William Manchester’s epic trilogy on the life of Winston Churchill and Robert Caro’s series on Lyndon Johnson. I also love mass-market fiction, including everything by Alan Furst, John le Carré, Michael Connelly, and Nelson DeMille. Recently, I read four riveting true-crime books by Virginia-based author Ron Peterson, Jr., which I highly recommend.
What have you found to be most challenging about writing in YA fiction?
Going into the project, I was most apprehensive about writing dialogue for my mid-1990s teenage characters. I knew that it had to pop and sound authentic, and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to pull that off. Once I got started, though, I soon discovered that it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. I often imagined myself—or the 18-year-old version of myself—as a participant in the conversation, and recalled the familiar quips, asides, put-downs, and slang that marked our conversations. When I caught myself smiling or even laughing out loud, I knew that I was on the right track. Ultimately, I think it turned out fine.
Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?
For sure. Many people may not realize that being a lawyer—or judge—involves a great deal of writing. But not all lawyers are good writers, and legal writing is fairly criticized as being too dense, too dull, too high-brow, and almost unintelligible to non-lawyers. With that in mind, I have always strived to write legal briefs and opinions so that they read like a short story or newspaper article. Regardless of how boring the legal issues are, I try to create an interesting narrative about the parties and what their legal dispute is about and explain my reasons for choosing one argument over another in simple and concise prose. Although writing a novel is a different animal, this prior experience and general writing philosophy served me well.
Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
Charlie-Man is categorized as a YA novel, but I hope it appeals to a much broader audience, including those who remember growing up in the pre-social media and cell phone era fondly. Although the book is set in a southern city in the mid-1990s, its themes and the challenges faced by the protagonist—fraught friendships, first love, anxiety, and academic pressure—are timeless and relatable to readers of all ages. Charlie faces his share of grief, turmoil, and adversity, but he is resolute and generally handles adversity with aplomb. I hope the book is uplifting in that respect.
Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?
I have two. First, hang in there. It almost goes without saying that writing—or writing well—is a daunting prospect, even for established writers. It requires enormous energy, concentration, and persistence. Commit to writing a little bit every day. Whether it’s 250, 500, or 1000 words, write something to move the story along. Second, don’t quit your day job. It is unlikely that your novel will be a smashing commercial success, particularly given today’s oversaturated book market and the precipitous decline in the number of pleasure readers. So, write because you love it, and because you have a story to tell. If you end up making a few bucks in the process, that’s just icing on the cake.
CHARLIE-MAN
by Thomas Cullen
Genre: YA/Fiction
Page Count: 220
Publisher: Brandylane Publishing
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Blurb: It’s August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, a prestigious allboys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark’s standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university.
Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau’s movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses.
Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy’s journey toward manhood in the American South, and a lyrical homage to the classic coming-of-age novels of years past.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232706017-charlie-man
About the Author
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Looks like an interesting book! The cover gives me a very calm vibe, even if the book isn’t as calm.
Wishing you cozy chaos and untamed joy — Ash
Check out my October Recap: https://essentiallyash.blogspot.com/2025/11/october-recap-november-plans-tbr.html
Ash @ Essentially Ash
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