A PASSIONATE READING EXPERIENCE 

Victoria Rowell pens memoir that applauds foster care 
By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer 

There isn't enough meaning be hind the word passion to describe Victoria Rowell. 

When speakirig about her role in the world, her life in foster care and the need for mentors, the actress/ dancer enunciates every word with such power as if it could be her last. 

Asked what made her decide to write her memoir The Women Who Raised Me about Jier journey as foster youth, "The Young and the Restless" star didn't pause for a second to give an answer.

"This book is a reflection to reflect on all of those people in the world who are unsung heroes," she said from her hotel room in New Orleans. "That's why I was summoned to write this book. It's not my story exclusively. It's the story of millions of people out there." 

A candid and warm memoir, Row- ell pays special respect to women who entered her life as foster mothers, caregivers, social service workers, neighbors, friends, teachers, grand dames and mentors who guided and raised her after her birth mother could not. 

Calling herself a conduit, Rowell says she's living her life to bring message of hope. 

"Not only to my 500,OOO-plus foster brothers and sisters but a message to the world that children matter" she says. "The message of this book is bigger than me being in foster care. It's about the people out there who are faceless - the children as well as the mentors. This is to bring attention to the world pandemic of children and orphans that we need mentoring and we need parents." 

A mother of a 17-year-old daughter Maya, and a 11-year-old son Jasper by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, Rowell says she began writing letters at age 9 as an act of reciprocity to her second foster mother Agatha Armstead when she had gone away during the summer to take advantage of her first ballet scholarship. 

"To revisit these people who were so colorful and rich in character and wisdom was as joyous as it was painful," she said. "It was the most cathartic experience. But caution reconcile with your life so you can go into it freely and rejoice and celebrate as I did. celebrated my experience very much so but that's after much reconciliation." 

"Agatha wrote so beautifully, not only was her penmanship art but she wrote in such a vivid passion that I was inspired to write back in the same way," she says. "So she became my first writing tutor" 

If Agatha had the opportunity to read The Women Who Raised Me she would undoubtedly be proud of Rowell's own vivid passion from the first sentence to the last. 

If you've witnessed the enthusi asm in Rowell when she acts or the gracefulness in her body when she dances, then you expect nothing less in her first book. 

*Tve already started writing second book TheMen Who Raised Me? said Rowell. "I'm not finished because writing is never final. There is always more." 

Rowell who will host alecture and book signing May 3 at the Madame Walker Theatre Center says she can't wait to meet her fans. Calling them "brothers, sisters and extended family." She also says she's aware they aren't coming only to have their favorite actress sign a book. 

Speaking on the 30O fans that filled a small bookstore in New Or leans she says, "People didn't show up exclusively because it was me signing their books. They came because of the soulful experience and that's some thing you can't put a price on " 

And that she says makes her proud of the women who raised her. 

"They poured everything they had into me. They never watered down a lesson; they never thought I was unlovable or not teachable," Rowell emotionally says. "They just gave me everything they had for the measly $87 a month they got in return. It makes me feel proud and I hope I'm doing them proud."