About the Author
Rosa M. Fernández
Cuban-American author · Storyteller · Former social worker
Rosa didn’t just research Cuba—she lived it. Born in Santa Clara, she fled with her family at five years old. The whispers of relatives left behind, the taste of cafecito, the guilt of leaving—these live in her bones. Decades later, as a social worker helping children and families, she saw firsthand the power of words. That inspired her to write Dulcita La Balserita, her first middle-grade novel, which brings a spirited girl in Havana to life.
Career & Calling
- Social work (30+ years): Helping children find their voices through creativity and cultural pride.
- Writing: Transforming family stories into novels that speak to young hearts.
Life Today
Now based in Florida, Rosa wakes early to write where palm shadows dance. She spends her day:
- Writing stories that honor family and culture
- Exploring new places and finding hidden histories
- Loving life with her partner, two rescue dogs, a cat who thinks he’s Hemingway, and Pudd’nhead Wilson, and a tortoise
Why Read Her Work?
For thirty years as a social worker, Rosa saw how stories heal. Kids who couldn’t speak their pain would draw it. Teens hid poems under mattresses. This taught her: forbidden stories grow thorns. Dulcita La Balserita is her love letter to every child who hides their truth.