Welcome to this bonus episode of From the Front Porch.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with debut author Alan Cheney.

Alan is a native Thomas Villian and co-wrote alongside New York Times best-selling novelist Julie Cantrell,

a new nonfiction book called Crisendo.

Crescendo is set in Thomasville almost entirely.

It's about Fred Allen, who happens to be Alan Cheney's grandfather, and how he got the

Thomasville troop program started.

So if you are not in Thomasville, we explain to you what the troop program is and what

Fred's work in Thomasville has meant not only for the Thomasville community, but for the

graduates of that program.

The book itself is, again, nonfiction, kind of about Fred's really miraculous rise from

being this child prodigy, kind of this music

prodigy, to moving to New York and then ultimately Thomasville to really develop an arts

program here in Thomasville. So if you are a fan of Charles Martin, if you like the television

show Glee, then I think you will really enjoy this interview with

Alan Cheney. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process and about how finding

an agent can sometimes work. You'll also get a glimpse into the novel or the book itself. It's

not a novel. It's nonfiction. You'll get a glimpse at

crescendo and hopefully it'll kind of wet your appetite and help you decide if the book is right for you.

Copies are currently available online. And if you are listening to this on Tuesday, July 16th,

the book releases today. And we are hosting a shelf talk and signing with alan cheney and julie

and julie cantrell at the bookshelf so if you are local and listening we would love to see

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