In the past decade, Carolyn Jones has evolved from living on a sailboat to landlubber, married to single, drinking herself into oblivion every night to sober, nurse to author, photographer, and publisher, and from living in a van that she renovated, to homeowner. While still living in the van, she traveled the Western States and Baja, photographing wrought-iron entrance gates.

"Opening the Gates of the Heart: A Journey of Healing," is a book of photographs of these old wrought-iron gates and uplifting prose that tells the story of Carolyn’s journey in sobriety, from the depths of despair and praying to die, to joy and inner peace. Her book shows by example that inner peace is achievable and that, once reached, peace with those around us is possible, too. The book’s pages contain photos and prose that relate to the uplifting character of true inner strength and the understanding of one’s inner path, as well as to the true helplessness and utter despair that one’s soul may endure.