God for the gift of experience.

My sister Patricia. She’s always been my light.

Tenacity Management. Extra love to Jenny Bohler.

O’Neil Hagaman.

William Morris.

My family and friends.

All the sponsors who chose a Paper Angel from the tree and made sure my sister and I had a great Christmas when we were kids. I’ll never forget you!

My fans . . . I could not do what I do without you! You help me help our most valuable and vulnerable resource, our children! I’m very thankful for you!

Photo courtesy of Dawn McDonald

Author’s Note

I was performing at a charity event in my hometown back in North Carolina in March 2006. During the song “Paper Angels” I asked the audience to participate. They sang softly; then one by one they began holding these handmade paper angels in the air. Eventually the entire arena was glowing with paper angels waving side to side as the audience sang louder and louder. It was a spiritual sight. After the show, a girl handed me one of these handmade paper angels and said, “It took me a long time to make these. I hope you like them.” I taped that paper angel to the back of my guitar, where it has remained to this day.

A Conversation with Jimmy Wayne

You have enjoyed success as a country musician and philanthropist. What inspired you to write a novel?

I wanted to write a book about paper angels because I was a recipient of the Angel Tree program when I was a kid. I wanted to pay it forward and also raise awareness of how important it is that every child be taken care of during Christmas. Hopefully this book will inspire people to go a step farther and continue helping these kids not only during Christmas but year-round.

Could you describe your unique upbringing for some of the readers who may not be familiar with your background?

I spent the majority of my childhood in and out of foster care. My experiences parallel and/or pale in the light of so many people who grew up the same way. I receive those experiences as gifts. I’m thankful I can use those experiences to help others.

When the idea for Paper Angels first came to you, what writers and books did you turn to for guidance? How was your experience working with Travis Thrasher?

When Paper Angels came to me I didn’t necessarily turn to any other books for reference or inspiration. I relied completely on my personal experience and my imagination just as I do when I’m songwriting. Collaborating with Travis Thrasher was a great experience. On January 7, 2010, we had our first conversation via telephone. Over the next eight to nine months we shared many ideas and eventually wrote a beautiful book. Travis is a brilliant and underrated author.

Thomas and his sister Sara experience the trauma of escaping their alcoholic father. They will live with the fear of “whether the man inside the house they were leaving would find them and reclaim them as his own.” (p. 5) What personal experiences led you to this poignant observation?