From Federal Judge to Novelist: Thomas Cullen on Writing Charlie-Man, 1990s Nostalgia & Coming-of-Age Stories

Federal Judge and author Thomas Cullen joins Plot Twist Radio to discuss his debut novel, Charlie-Man, a coming-of-age story set in Richmond, Virginia during the 1990s.In this episode, Thomas shares how his own experiences growing up in Richmond helped shape the novel's setting, characters, and themes. We discuss friendship, first love, betrayal, grief, mental health, the pressures facing teenagers, and why stories about growing up continue to resonate across generations.Thomas also talks about transitioning from a distinguished legal career to fiction writing, the challenges of creating authentic characters, and what it was like to trade legal opinions for storytelling.Whether you're a fan of coming-of-age novels, 1990s nostalgia, literary fiction, or stories about resilience and personal growth, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the experiences that shape who we become.Topics include:• Charlie-Man• Writing fiction after a legal career• Growing up in Richmond, Virginia• 1990s nostalgia• Friendship and betrayal• Teen mental health• First love and coming-of-age stories• The creative writing processFind Judge Cullen's Charlie-Man here. #ThomasCullen #CharlieMan #ComingOfAge #AuthorInterview #PlotTwistRadio #90sNostalgia #BookPodcast #RichmondVirginia #LiteraryFiction #WritingCommunity