Welcome ... I invite you to wander around my website, see and read about things I'm passionate about; learn about FASD and adoption; check out the extensive Resources section, and look at some pretty luscious photos – gardening, Toronto Island and photography being subjects that spike my adrenalin.
But the focus of this website is mainly about my new memoir Not Exactly as Planned: A Memoir of Adoption, Secrets and Abiding Love, and issues related to its themes, particularly Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), adoption, infertility, and ADHD. From time to time in my writing career, I’ve had the luxury of writing about matters I truly care about. I was thrilled to see excerpts from my memoir published in the Globe and Mail and Canadian Living magazine; even more thrilled winning the Readers Choice Award in the 2013 CBC’s Canada Writes Creative Non-Fiction competition for my story, Wolf Howling at Moon (epilogue of my book). It has been an honour having my blog, MuchMoreThanMom, chosen as one of North America’s Top 10 Blogs about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, the condition our 26 year-old son was diagnosed with at age six. Clearly, the latter is a topic near and dear to my heart, and a key theme in this website. Not Exactly as Planned...About the book...
Not Exactly As Planned - A Must Read Book About Family and Disability “I cannot tell you how much I loved this book … This book is not just about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and it's not just about adoption. It's about family, personal histories and the effects of disabilities on our children and all who love them.” – Donna Thomson, author of The Four Walls of My Freedom. Read full book review here. "Not Exactly as Planned is a powerful story filled with a wisdom and humility that can teach us all something about family, life and love. Despite the difficulties raising her adopted son with FASD, Rosenbaum’s book is filled with a zestful happiness that will touch everyone who reads it. I couldn’t put it down.” —Bonnie Buxton, co-founder of FASworld and author of Damaged Angels (Knopf Canada) “Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is the most common cause of developmental disability in North America. Linda Rosenbaum’s book is a mesmerizing personal account of this epidemic. Her unique ability to capture the powerful effects of FASD and deliver it as a stellar narrative makes it ‘a must read.’” —Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk Program, the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto * * * I grew up in the 1960s, believing that the world could be changed for the better. In the course of my struggle to raise our child with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), I realize the hard truth that my generation faces: we can’t fix all that is broken. Learning to live with the reality of what is, rather than what I had hoped for, was the true, and only path to “peace and love.”
I am an American transplant, a refugee from the political cyclone of the 1960s, a first-hand witness to the racial hatred of my hometown Detroit and the victim of an incident in Washington, D.C., that prompted me to flee to a more peaceful Canada. Years later, after our son is diagnosed with FAS, I am determined to change his prognosis, make peace with my new reality and live with as much joy as possible. Not Exactly as Planned is more than a story of motherlove; It’s about bird watching, bar mitzvahs, saving the Toronto Island, the collision of ‘60s ideals with the real world, family secrets and woodcarving. Please check out the Pats On The Back page of this website for further info about the book. *********Please take a Read************: http://www.shalomlife.com/culture/29341/exclusive-an-interview-with-author-linda-rosenbaum/
|
Readings, interviews, Articles, Reviews...Honoured my book was chosen as the 2016/2017 book club choice by MOFAS, the Minnesota Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a non-profit that does amazing work for families and individuals living on the spectrum. Listen to the one hour Q&A with me, hosted by Kim Pleticha, Communications Coordinator and interviewer-extraordinaire.
https://soundcloud.com/mofas-1/live-chat-with-author-linda-rosenbaum-of-not-exactly-as-planned ********* Enjoyed opportunity to do a conference call with Jeff Noble, FASD trainer and 75 of his Caregiver Kickstart trainees in October. Like last year, Jeff interviews me about my book and experience raising Michael. ********* Was honoured by invitation to speak at the Greater Detroit Jewish Book Fair in November/15. Their week-long tribute to books and authors was a real celebration. Please join me on International FASD Awareness Day in Kitchener, Ontario on September 9/15 at the Family Centre, for a reading from my book. 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., 65 Hanson Ave. Discussion and book-signing to follow.
I will also be reading at The Book Shelf in Guelph, Ontario on September 9. 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reading, discussion and book signing. Hope to see you there. ****** I was honoured to be Keynote Speaker at the FASD: Practical Supports for Caregivers conference organized by FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE), held at Children's Aid Toronto. I love giving readings, especially the one I gave at City Shul here in Toronto. For this audience, I got to read the heart-warming/wrenching chapter about our son's Bar Mitzvah. Not a dry eye in the house (including my own). I was thrilled about the article on my book in the Toronto Star: "Toronto Author Pens Memoir about raising son with fetal alcohol syndrome." Very sad to hear about the death of the reporter, Barbara Turnbull.
Thanks to all the wonderful people who showed up for my Book Launch. As one tweet described it: "A crowd scene." Lots of bubbly, good food and book-friendly people. Couldn't have been happier. Great interview with Karen Gordon on CBC's weekend morning show, Fresh Air. Good questions gave me chance to talk about adoption, FASD, and of course, my book. Fun review of my book in Canadian Gardening Magazine! Canada Writes asked me some tough questions in their CBC's Canada Writes interview about writing Wolf Howling at Moon, winner of the 2013 Reader's Choice award. Tune in to the one-hour interview with me by Dr. Gordon Atherley on VoiceAmerica's internet radio show, Caregivers Unite! First aired on October 13, 1:00 p.m. EST, now available on-demand. Please read an excerpt from Not Exactly As Planned in the wonderful "Brain, Child" magazine along with interview. Their question "What books have influenced you most in your life" was a real stumper for me. "The Day Our Daughter Met Her Birthmother" in Canada Adopts! Please contact me for readings, talks or interviews about FASD, adoption or advocating for children with special needs...perhaps for your parenting group, book club, workshop or conference. In honour of FASD Awareness Day, September 9, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) asked me to write a piece, now posted on their website. "FASD: A Parent's Perspective". Selections from my Blog
|
Aftermath of my book launch! My neighbours, waiting to board the ferry to take them back to Toronto Island.