By Angela Valente Romeo
Rose King is an artist – she sings, dances, cooks and writes. She is an inspirational speaker drawing on her own life experience. Rose lost her eyesight to Retinitis Pigmentosa more than 20 years ago. But that has not stopped her from living life out loud.
“I wrote Wosie the Blind Little Bunny because being different does not make one less human. In the story Wosie can’t see the mountains, the trees and the world around her. Wosie wanders away from all that is familiar to her. As she becomes lost she encounters others who are different than her. As the story unfolds Wosie and those she meets along the way learn acceptance. When we accept each other for who we are, we forget what make us different and why we are more alike,” said Rose. “I know people see me differently but why? Like Wosie, being blind cannot be helped. Blindness did not define Wosie. It certainly does not define me!”
Rose’s book may appear to be a children’s story. The text is simple. The illustrations are eye catching. “The book is typecast a ‘children’s story’ but it is not. The story is universal. Every day we all face prejudice – our own and that of others. By focusing on traits, like blindness, we block out what make us special and forget what makes us alike. This blocking prevents us from being truly compassionate. Wosie personifies that compassion. I want people to focus less on the ‘traits’ we cannot control, be it skin color, height, ethnicity or blindness. ”
Wosie is the first in a series of seven books. “There are six other stories involving Wosie, Bobo and other unique friends. Fernando the Frog lives in a wheel chair and Daphne the Pig is deaf. These characters have what some may call a disability. Actually what they have is a special way of interacting with the world. Each adventure will introduce a new ‘Bobo’. A Bobo is a person who reaches out to help someone with no other motive other than to do the right thing,” noted Rose. “These stories are designed to show humanity in its simplest forms. The Golden Rule of doing unto others is universal – it does not distinguish blind from deaf or any other trait. It says we are to treat each other as we wish to be treated. Wosie and her friends just show how that rule can be adapted to various situations”
Rose self-published the first Wosie book and it can be purchased on Amazon, Alibris as well as at www.luvwosie.com. She is looking for funding to self-publish the remaining six books. “Finding a publisher is very difficult. I know these stories resonate with all people of all ages. While I look for a publisher I am setting up a Go Fund Me account to help with the self-publishing costs. The books are like Wosie. They need a little help. I am certain my Bobo is out there!” smiled Rose.
To purchase the book or learn more about Rose visit www.luvwosie.com
