Ballad of Lance Snead

As a teenager, Charlie Spencer finds refuge in his local country music radio station, where he discovers that the slick, commercial Top 40 sound fails to capture the heart of true storytelling.

When he takes control of the playlist, Charlie rebrands the station as River Radio, broadcasting an eclectic mix of music that resonates worldwide thanks to the emerging power of streaming. Fame and fortune follow, but fulfillment proves elusive.

Returning home, Charlie buys The Horseshoe Lounge, a local bar filled with eccentric characters and even more eccentric tales. With encouragement from Willie Nelson, he reinvents himself as songwriter “Lance Snead,” penning chart-topping hits that betray the authenticity he once sought.

But when Charlie crosses paths with violent, racist domestic terrorists, tragedy forces him to confront his past and rediscover the healing power of music.

Blending literary fiction, Texas culture, and the redemptive pull of music, The Ballad of Lance Snead is a gripping novel about the choices that shape us, the communities that test us, and the songs that can still save us. Perfect for readers of music-driven novels, contemporary Texas fiction, and literary stories of resilience and reinvention.

Carter Blackburn has spent his life immersed in the rhythms of Texas and American music. From spinning records at a Kerrville radio station to hosting the acclaimed podcast Pick Up the Tempo, where he interviews artists and storytellers across the musical spectrum, Blackburn has become a dedicated voice for music folklore. He is also a veteran CBS Sports play-by-play broadcaster, known for bringing energy and insight to everything from college football to water polo. Based in Austin, Texas for more than two decades, he is a proud father and lifelong champion of stories—whether sung, spoken, or broadcast live.