Andria W. Rosenbaum

Who I am?
Where have I been?
How did I end up here?
Where am I headed ?

I was born in Danbury, Connecticut and wrote my first picture book when I was eleven. Unfortunately, I also did the illustrations! But way back then... I knew I was a writer.

Learning to read was quite a struggle for me. I often didn’t understand what I read, unless I read out loud. But, I was blessed with wonderful parents who were happy to read to me whenever I became too frustrated. (I lacked any talent in the spelling department too, and I’m eternally grateful to the creator of spell check.)

I was lucky to have had several supportive teachers like Mr. Richard Sloane and Ms. Rosen. Together with my parents, they praised my writing and encouraged me to persevere with reading.

Books were always important in our home. My Mom usually read 3 or 4 novels at once and managed to keep the plots and characters of each straight. Mom is a lady of many talents.

My dad used to read to my brothers, my sister and me before bed. Now that was magical! Some nights he read us poetry. Other nights he read us short stories,
or novels. But the moments we all shared together were some of the best of my life.


*******************************************************
THE BEST GIFT
© 2004 by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum

It sailed into my ears
seating me on an elephant’s leathery back.
Acrid scents of unwashed beasts
rained around me as teams of chimpanzees
tip-toed through the tree tops
in a steamy green jungle.
Liquid heat
unleashed muddy streams
down my arms and legs till I plunged
into the dark waters
of the Zambezi River.

I was captured
in a wild world where roars ruled.
Tigers tracked my steps
and drums, tight with tanned antelope skins
thump-bumped a lullaby
in an African night, sown with stars.

It was the best gift
that gave me a Serengeti sunset
and the tall, dry grass of the wide plain
as I rode the voice
of my father on safari
through Tarzan of the Apes.
*****************************************************

Over the years I wrote more than 80 songs, countless poems (received rejections), went to college (received rejections), earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from Bank Street College of Education, worked as a resource room teacher (stopped writing), married my best friend (began writing again), and had 4 FABULOSO children. I proceeded to received many more rejections --and then finally some contracts. Along the way, we adopted my editorial assistant, Buddi, one sweet doodle of a Poodle.

Today, I live in New Jersey with my family. My children are my first readers. They’re also my toughest critics, and great spellers! How’d that happen?

Besides writing, rewriting, and reading as many books as I can I love to:

spend time with my family and friends
take photos
play guitar
walk my dog
haunt book stores
garden
bake
collect seashells
go horseback riding
and travel whenever I have the chance.



Copyright © 2005 by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum.
All rights reserved.