Blog Archives
The Quiet Determination…
Where The Pecan Trees Grow follows a Mexican father who sets out on a challenging journey to find work in the United States only to be faced with the complications of politics, and broken promises. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
I was thinking about my own life, and how it’s rare that life unfolds the way the way we expect. I faced uncertainty, setbacks, wrong turns, and I often questioned whether I was on the right path. This book grew from that space. The idea that perseverence, family, and purpose can slowly shape a life that you are proud of.
Is there anything from your own life included in the characters in your book?
Yes, but not in a literal way. I didn’t copy people from my life, but I used familiar emotions, doubts, and moments of uncertainty that I recognize both in myself and others. The fears, the hopes, and the quiet determination… that all comes from real life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore belonging, resilience, and the quiet work of building a life, especially when the path forward isn’t obvious. I also wanted to address some current themes involving immigration and the racism that unfortunately still exists in our society.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a few new projects that I am currently working on. There are no release dates yet, but they are coming along nicely.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
In Where The Pecan Trees Grow, one hardworking immigrant’s quiet life among the pecan orchards of California’s Central Valley shatters when the law comes crashing through his front door. What began as a desperate gamble to save his family slowly became everything he’d ever hoped for… steady work and the fragile comfort of finally belonging.
Then, a pre-dawn raid tears him away from his home and plunges him into the cold machinery of detention cells, rushed hearings, and small-town politics. Papers, promises, and the truth itself seem to matter less than someone else’s version of his story.
As courtroom battles mount and tensions rise across the orchards, he’s forced to confront one impossible question: in a country built on second chances, who truly gets one?
Taut, emotional, and impossible to put down, Where The Pecan Trees Grow is a gripping legal thriller about family, sacrifice, and the fight to hold on to the life you’ve worked for—perfect for readers who love high-stakes courtroom drama with a deeply human heart.
Where The Pecan Trees Grow
Where The Pecan Trees Grow, by Thomas Gates, follows Miguel, a Mexican father who leaves his drought-stricken home in Michoacán to cross the border and search for work in the United States. His journey is dangerous and exhausting, filled with tense nights in the desert, smugglers who mix threat with necessity, and close calls with patrols. Eventually, he finds work on a pecan farm in California, where the quiet rhythm of trees and soil gives him a fragile sense of hope. The story moves between struggle and calm, fear and stubborn faith. It is about survival, family, and the long, slow work of building a life from almost nothing. It is also about promise, the kind that sits heavily on the heart.
I found myself swept up in the raw honesty of the story. The writing feels simple in the best way. It opens a clear window into Miguel’s thoughts and fears. I kept pausing when the story talked about soil or trees. Something in those passages felt grounding. I could feel the heat from the fields, smell the dust, and hear the quiet talk between workers. The tense scenes, like the border chase and the near discovery in the truck, hit hard. They left me holding my breath and maybe gripping the page a little too tight. The gentle moments hit just as hard. The letters Miguel writes but cannot send, his quiet walks through the rows at night, and the way he treats the orchard like something alive and listening. These parts warmed me more than I expected.
There were moments when the book made me ache a little. The prejudice he meets in town feels eerily familiar. Still, the story never falls into hopelessness. It keeps lifting itself up, often because of the farm, the trees, and the quiet steadiness of Big Jim. I liked how the book painted Jim as tough but fair. No speeches. No miracles. Just a man who sees effort and decides it is worth backing. The pacing surprised me at times. Some chapters rush with danger while others slow into a gentle hum. I liked that. Life isn’t even. It jumps and stumbles, and the story captures that feeling well.
By the end, I felt proud of Miguel in this strange way, like I had watched him build himself again layer by layer. I would recommend Where The Pecan Trees Grow to readers who enjoy character-driven stories, especially ones rooted in real emotional stakes. Anyone who likes tales about migration, perseverance, and the quiet strength of ordinary people will find something meaningful here. It is a great choice for book clubs, too. There is a lot to talk about, and even more to feel.
Pages: 163 | ASIN : B0G5M3CDRX
LITERARY TITAN 