La Espina

The fact that Joanna Johansen was adopted was never a secret, but she rarely talked about it with her long-time school friends, Amy, Lauren, and Janene. There came a moment however, when Joanna answered their questions and disclosed her birth box left by that long ago mother.

Following the death of her adoptive mother, Joanna launches a journey that takes her to Mexico, following clues toward the discovery of this unknown mother. Honoring the pact of their childhood, each friend plays a role in the search, experiencing fragments of the richness of Mexico-it’s contrasts, its powerful history and remarkably romantic setting. They watch as Joanna finds unexpected romance, questions her future, and achieves solace.

The reader catches glimpses of Dixie, the birthmother, whose childhood pain left a permanent spine in her heart. Hers has been a life of fleeing from deep turmoil. La Espina is a story of friendship, loyalty, love, searching and healing.

Author Biography

Carol Alford, a Colorado native grew up on the family farm tilling the rich soil, caring for animals and learning teamwork with her parents and three brothers.Carol’s many years as a 4-H member brought opportunities for learning new skills, for working with all age groups, for earning recognition and for traveling, which inspired her to become a teacher. She proudly spent most of her thirty years teaching in the high school where she graduated. Her greatest delight, however, was raising a daughter and a son.She continues to teach as a substitute in local schools but her most cherished joys include sharing time and making memories with family members which include both grandchildren and great grandchildren.Prior to his death, she and her husband traveled throughout the United States and Canada in their motorhome. They also spent twenty-two winters in Mexico where Carol explored the wonders of the Mexican culture.Inventing poems and songs for family and friends, writing the stories of other’s lives, recording the history of her childhood country school, authoring her memoir, entitled Country Roads, and crafting fiction works, creating new characters and scenarios as a fiction writer fulfills Carol’s desire to create.