Book Signing with Victoria Rowell at Disney's Hollywood Studios January 18

Book Signing with Victoria Rowell at Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Event: The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir, Book Signing
Special Guest: Actress and Author, Victoria Rowell
Event Date: Friday, January 18
Event Times: 12:00pm - 1:00pm & 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Event Location: The Writer's Stop at Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir
The story of a remarkable woman's rise out of the foster-care system to attain the American dream�and of the unlikely series of women who lifted her up in marvelous and distinctive ways.
Born as a ward of the state of Maine�the child of an unmarried Yankee blueblood mother and an unknown black father�Victoria Rowell beat the odds. Unlike so many other children who fall through the cracks of our overburdened foster-care system, her experience was nothing short of miraculous, thanks to several extraordinary women who stepped forward to love, nurture, guide, teach, and challenge her to become the accomplished actress, philanthropist, and mother that she is today. Rowell spent her first weeks of life as a boarder infant before being placed with a Caucasian foster family. Although her stay lasted for only two years, at this critical stage Rowell was given a foundation of love by the first of what would be an amazing array of women, each of whom presented herself for different purposes at every dramatic turn of Rowell's life.

In this deeply touching memoir, Rowell pays tribute to her personal champions: the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, mentors, teachers, and sisters who each have fascinating stories to tell. Among them are Agatha Armstead, Rowell's longest-term foster mother, a black Bostonian on whose rural Maine farm Rowell's fire to reach for greatness was lit; Esther Brooks, a Paris-trained prima ballerina, Rowell's first mentor at the Cambridge School of Ballet; Rosa Turner, a Boston inner-city fosterer who taught Rowell lessons of independence; Sylvia Silverman, a mother and teacher whose home in a well-kept middle-class suburban neighborhood prepared Rowell for her transition out of foster care and into New York City's wild worlds of ballet and acting and adulthood.

In spite of support from individuals and agencies, Rowell nonetheless carried the burden of loneliness and anxiety, common to most foster children, particularly those "orphans of the living" who are never adopted. Heroically overcoming those obstacles, Rowell also reaches a moment when she can embrace her biological mother, Dorothy, and, most important, accept herself.

About Victoria Rowell
Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was raised in foster care for 18 years. At the age of eight, Rowell received the Ford Foundation scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. After eight years of training, she flourished as a dancer, garnering scholarships to both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theater by the age of 16.

After dancing professionally with various companies � that is, the American Ballet Theater II Company, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Contemporary Ballet, Twyla Tharp Workshop and the Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program with Anthony Tudor � Rowell accepted guest-artist teaching posts in New England.

While teaching, the opportunity presented itself for her to pursue a career in modeling. Soon, she began gracing the pages of various magazines, including Seventeen and Mademoiselle before auditioning for her first television role.

Rowell auditioned and landed a role on the highly-rated NBC sitcom, "The Cosby Show." In fact, Bill Cosby was so impressed by the young actress's poise and talent that he cast her as his daughter in the feature film "Leonard 6." He also gave her a recurring role on "The Cosby Show" as the character of Paula, the biological mother of Olivia Kendall, portrayed by Raven-Simone.

Once the acting bug bit her, she decided to pack up and move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting. She began working with some of Hollywood's award-winning leading men, including Beau Bridges, Jim Carrey, Dick Van Dyke, Mario Van Peoples, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Samuel L. Jackson.
Finally, fate lent a helping hand and Rowell landed the role of Drucilla Winters on CBS's highest-rated daytime drama, "The Young and the Restless." At Rowell's suggestion, Sony Television supported a foster care and adoption storyline on the number one daytime drama, which reaches an audience of millions weekly � that is, domestically and internationally. In addition, the storyline has been praised for its portrayal of the foster care system, receiving local and national honors, including congressional recognition.

Having spent eighteen years in foster care, Rowell became a passionate voice for children like herself. In 1990, she founded the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan (RFCPP), which enriches foster children through artistic and athletic expression. In addition to facilitating job opportunities with Viacom television productions, she assisted youths in getting jobs with other companies, including BMG and Oxygen. For more information about her charity, visit www.rowellfosterchildren.org.

Rowell has been recognized for her contributions in educating and supporting foster children. She has received the first National Arts Award from the National Association of Counties and the United Nations Association Award for her continuous efforts with foster care and adoption as well as her work on human rights and world peace. Recently, Rowell received honorary doctorate's degrees from the University of Southern Maine and Wheelock College in Boston. In addition, Rowell has been honored as a National Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

Event and all other information described herein are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

More info is available at DisneyGallery.com

-- Posted January 9, 2008