Today, we welcome Paula Peckham. Thank you so much for being with us, Paula!
Good afternoon, writing and reading friends! My name is Paula Peckham. I live in Burleson, Texas, the hometown of Kelly Clarkson! I guess the thing people notice about me is I’m outgoing and never meet a stranger.
Tell us about your book?
Protected
Disaster strikes a wagon train en route to Texas, leaving 18-year-old Abby in charge of the survivors, all children younger than her. After an attempted kidnapping, the others convince her to disguise herself as a boy. Initially reluctant, Abby soon realizes life on the trail is much easier without bulky skirts. The disguise allows her to do things as “Abner” she couldn’t do as Abby. It's intoxicating.
Disfigured by fire as a child, Manny, a young cowboy, is lonely and yearns for companionship. His scars and the judgment of townspeople make it difficult for him to trust others. He intercepts the wagon train and agrees to help the children finish the trip to San Antonio. A new friendship cracks the protective walls built around his heart. Hope blooms when he meets “Abner,” and Manny’s fear of rejection slowly dissolves.
As the weeks on the trail go by, Abby develops romantic feelings for Manny, and he values his first new friendship in years. When Manny discovers her deception, it destroys the fragile bond of friendship growing between them.
Can God help the two young lovers find trust, faith, and forgiveness on the hot Texas plain?
Share one thing that you found difficult or challenging about writing this book.
A: Protected was my first venture into the world of writing, and I did everything wrong. When I typed the words “The End,” my manuscript weighed in at a whopping 145K words. I had no idea I was going to end up cutting almost half of those hard-won words before it was all done. Thankfully, in 2019, God guided me (through Twitter, of all places) to ACFW and I blundered my way into a critique group who graciously guided me through the first steps of editing. I love this story, but I feel my next one will be that much better due to all the things I’ve learned over the past two years.
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two?
My inspiration for Protected came from an amalgam of my favorite books, going back to my teen years of reading. What is your all-time favorite book (Christian fiction or other, non-fiction included) that has hung around in your thoughts for all these years?
Share your social media and buy links!
Website – www.paulapeckham.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PaulaPeckhamAuthor
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulajopeckham/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PaulaPeckham
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@paulapeckham?lang=en
Comment below to be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of Protected.
Thank you, Paula, for joining us!