By Grant Overstake, Author & Executive Producer

Pinch me – I must be dreaming! This morning I learned that AudioFile Magazine has named The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline as their favorite to win the 2025 Audie Award in the Young Adult category, and I am absolutely over the moon.

In their announcement, AudioFile praised our audio drama’s gripping realism and emotional impact. They highlighted its “moments of remarkable verisimilitude” – from a nail-biting basketball game broadcast to the whir of a helicopter in Vietnam – and noted that this powerful slice of history “stays with the listener”.

With the Audie Awards gala just around the corner (March 4th in New York City—here we come!), excitement is running high. I’ll be there with May Wuthrich and our incredible cast and crew, celebrating the best in audiobooks among so many gifted creators. Win or lose, we’ve already won where it counts. We created a story we believe in, shared it widely with Blackstone Publishing’s support, and heard from listeners—young and old—who told us that TJ’s story moved them. That, to me, is success.

Of course, when they open the envelope for the Young Adult category, my heart will be pounding—I won’t pretend otherwise! But more than anything, I’ll be thinking about how far this story has come in the past decade.

From Page to Studio: A Journey of Collaboration

Every great audiobook starts with a story, and The Real Education of TJ Crowley has been as meaningful a journey as its destination. This project began as a YA novel, drawn from true events in my hometown. Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, in 1968, I witnessed firsthand the racial strife and seismic changes that shaped TJ’s world. I poured those experiences into the novel, determined to illuminate a pivotal moment in history through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy. I never imagined that years later, that story would evolve into an immersive audio drama—and earn national recognition.

Bringing TJ Crowley from page to audio was a labor of love, and I didn’t do it alone. Enter May Wuthrich—my brilliant co-author, producer, and director. After the novel won Book of the Year in Kansas, I reached out to May with a bold idea: Let’s turn this into a full-cast audio drama. Thankfully, she said yes, and we never looked back.

From day one, May and I shared a vision for how this story should sound. For four years (yes, four!), we refined the script, workshopped scenes, and wrote new material to ensure the story would sing in audio form. With her theater and production expertise, May knew exactly how to amplify the book’s drama while keeping listeners on edge. We quickly realized that only a full-cast “audio movie” could truly do justice to TJ’s tale, with each character voiced by a different actor to bring the story’s rich diversity to life.

Looking back, I’m profoundly grateful for May’s creativity and leadership. She didn’t just help adapt the story—she became the driving force that made this complex project a reality.

An All-Star Cast Brings TJ’s World to Life

To bring TJ Crowley’s world to life, we needed an all-star cast—and they delivered beyond our highest expectations. We were fortunate to assemble some of the industry’s finest voice actors, each infusing their characters with depth, authenticity, and heart.

At the center of it all is Dani Martineck as 13-year-old TJ Crowley. From the very first recording session, we knew we had found the perfect TJ. Dani captured the character’s youthful innocence, uncertainty, and growing courage with remarkable precision. AudioFile even praised Dani’s performance, noting they had “just the right tone and delivery” for TJ.

Listening to Dani, I could hear our young hero come alive. It wasn’t just acting—it felt as if TJ himself had stepped straight out of the story, his voice brimming with hope, confusion, and quiet resilience.

Opposite TJ stands Dr. Washington, the Black doctor who moves in next door and disrupts the status quo of the neighborhood. This pivotal role is brought to life by Dion Graham, a celebrated narrator with a rich, commanding voice that has guided listeners through countless stories—and earned him multiple awards along the way.

Dion’s performance anchors the entire production, infusing Dr. Washington with warmth, gravitas, and quiet strength. AudioFile praised his portrayal, noting that he “excels as the Black doctor, the new next-door neighbor.”

Hearing Dion deliver Dr. Washington’s lines—balancing gentle wisdom with firm resolve—takes me back to the real-life neighbors who inspired this character. Their dignity and courage in the face of prejudice shaped this story, and Dion’s voice ensures their legacy resonates with every listener.

Another powerhouse in our cast is Tavia Gilbert, who took on the formidable role of Kate Crowley, TJ’s alcoholic, racially biased mother. Tavia, a renowned narrator with an astonishing range, delivers a performance that is raw, unflinching, and heartbreakingly real. She fully inhabits Kate—flaws and all—creating a character you might despise one moment and pity the next.

AudioFile praised her portrayal, noting how convincingly she embodied TJ’s “boozy, racist mom.” Her performance isn’t easy to listen to (nor should it be), but it grounds the story in an unvarnished truth. There were moments in the studio when Tavia’s intensity left us speechless—just absorbing the weight of the scene.

And that’s just the beginning. In total, 15 incredible actors lent their voices to The Real Education of TJ Crowley, each bringing authenticity and depth to this audio drama.

Together, this ensemble turned a turbulent chapter of American history into a gripping, deeply human story. Their chemistry and commitment made every scene crackle with authenticity. As the author, I wasn’t just hearing actors read lines—I was experiencing my characters come to life in ways that moved me profoundly.

An Immersive Tapestry of Sound and Music

One of the most common things we hear from listeners is that TJ Crowley feels “like watching a movie in your mind.” That’s exactly what we set out to create—a fully immersive audio experience where you can see the dusty Wichita streets, hear the school bell ring and the roar of the basketball crowd, and feel the tension hanging in the air.

Achieving that level of realism required meticulous attention to sound design and music, and our production team delivered beyond expectations. Under May Wuthrich’s direction and with Cameron Potts leading post-production at John Marshall Media, we carefully built a soundscape that transports listeners straight to 1968 Wichita.

Close your eyes while listening, and suddenly, you’re courtside in a packed high school gym—sneakers squeak on the polished floor, a commentator’s voice booms with play-by-play excitement (a moment so lifelike that AudioFile singled it out as “remarkably authentic”). Moments later, you might be holding your breath alongside the Crowley family as a military helicopter’s blades whomp-whomp overhead, a haunting reminder of the war unfolding across the world in Vietnam.

These weren’t just background sounds; they were essential storytelling elements that deepened every moment, pulling listeners further into TJ’s world.

The Soul of the Story: The ARISE Ensemble’s Powerful Presence

Music became the emotional heartbeat of The Real Education of TJ Crowley. We were incredibly fortunate to feature the ARISE Ensemble, a multicultural choral group from Wichita dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Negro spirituals.

Throughout the drama, their soulful voices weave in and out, underscoring pivotal moments with traditional spirituals. But their music does more than set the mood—it speaks to the characters’ inner lives.

AudioFile highlighted this in their review, noting how “the spirituals of the ARISE Ensemble enhance the listening experience.” And they do—powerfully. When those harmonies swell, you don’t just hear the music; you feel the pain, hope, and resilience carried in every note. It’s as if the ancestors themselves are speaking through song, reminding us (and TJ) that strength comes from community, history, and faith.

Honored and Grateful – Looking Ahead to the Audies

As I reflect on this journey, I’m filled with gratitude and pride. Seeing The Real Education of TJ Crowley recognized as an Audie Award finalist—and now celebrated as AudioFile’s favorite in our category—is one of the most fulfilling moments of my career. But beyond the awards, what means the most is knowing that this story resonates with listeners.

If you haven’t yet experienced The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline, I invite you to take the journey. The audiobook is available on all major platforms, including Audible (free with a new trial). Grab your headphones and step back into 1968 Wichita, where a young boy navigates the meaning of courage, friendship, and change.

If you’ve already listened and found the story meaningful, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review. Every conversation sparked by TJ’s journey helps keep its message alive.

Thank you for celebrating this moment with me. Your support means everything. Here’s to the Audie Awards, the power of storytelling, and to The Real Education of TJ Crowley—a journey that has been real, transformative, and unforgettable.

– Grant Overstake, Author & Executive Producer