An American Immigrant A Novel

A Colombian American journalist tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she'd go—Colombia—in this heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories.

Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long ignored: her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself. 

Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.

Inspired by real-life events, An American Immigrant is a story of culture and community, of abiding commitment to family, and of embracing our culture and the generations that have come before.

Johanna Rojas Vann is a wife, mother, and professional writer with a passion for stories that highlight the complexity and beauty of diverse families. As a second-generation Colombian American, Johanna hopes to use the power of story to foster an appreciation and understanding of BIPOC and immigrant families in the U.S. today.