by Deborah Knight Snyder, Correspondent 
Mansfield News, Mansfield, MA

May 6, 2003

Evora Jordan, a retired abuse counselor, consultant, and teacher, has utilized her understanding of the underpinnings of abuse to pen three unique books, each completely different from the other.

Her book, "Annie Love," is a true story of animal abuse. "Annie Love" recounts the story of a dog who was abused for the first two years of her life and who was subsequently adopted by Jordan.

From her experience of having counseled hundreds of abused people, Jordan recognized that the dog was exhibiting the same abuse symptoms manifested by abused humans. So started Annie's road to recovery.

Jordan describes the book as "a true story of abuse and sadness, survival and hope, recovery and happiness."

Another book by Jordan, "Twenty-One Days With a Vulture," is a story about a woman who goes on what was supposed to be "the vacation of a lifetime" with a trusted colleague and supposed gentleman, only to realize after the first day that the man was not what she thought he was, and that she was in serious trouble.

The account of the woman's 'terrifying and bizarre experience" traveling with a man who turned out to be a vulgar, obsessive con man is based on a true story.
A third novel, "Tainted Sand," is a fictitious story inspired by a true, unsolved murder which took place in Massachusetts. The tale relates the story of murder and cover-up inside a New England family.

Jordan's alter ego, Hannah Gray, plays a prominent part in all of the books.
In March, Jordan spoke at Mansfield High School on the topic of what it is like to be a published author.

Jordan, now 71 years old, describes herself as a "retired everything," She's been a teacher, counselor, politician, farmer, carpenter, office manager, logging truck driver, waitress, and Sunday School teacher, among other things.
During her many years as an abuse counselor, Jordan, who holds a master's degree in education and counseling, conducted child abuse prevention in New England and even in Russia. She has been recognized for her work in the child abuse prevention area by the State of Maine, and a fund established in her honor awards scholarships to high school graduates who choose to work with children.

Now she spends her time writing and publisher her books and says she is "working at changing the definition of retirement."