Joy Road: My Journey from Addiction to Recovery

Joy Road is a memoir by Julie Evans, a change-of-life baby born in 1956 who spent much of her Midwestern childhood nurturing her alcoholic mother and chronically ill father. Both parents died while she was still a teen. She takes readers on a tumultuous ride from the 1950s through the 1990s as she struggles to find herself, developing addictions to sex, drugs, alcohol and nicotine. In the end it's her experiences as a wildlife rehabilitator, and the wise counsel of a country pastor that rescue her and usher her into a life of service. Julie's compelling story is set in colorful locales, including Minneapolis, Phoenix, Key West, New Orleans, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, and finally, upstate New York. Peopled with a memorable cast of characters, her saga is by turns shocking, humorous and inspiring. Today Julie lives on Joy Road in Woodstock, New York, with a loving husband. She's a healed healer, a writer and a motivational speaker with a thriving massage practice.