It’s frustrating when characters with disabilities only exist to create angst.

I dislike historical fiction that is grim and dark, or self-serious.

And I wanted it to be funny and exuberant.

I wanted to write something that is the complete opposite of the usual stereotype: a man who has been blind all his life and is already fully independent and capable when the story begins, who doesn’t need a woman to be a nursemaid or carer people at the fringes of polite society, rather than only the super rich characters who are gay and bisexual, because they definitely existed back then. If we look at real history, though, there were blind men who achieved great professional and social success in Georgian London, such as John Fielding, brother of Henry Fielding, and John Stanley, a composer and conductor who was an inspiration for Tom. Often the happy ending can only come after his sight is miraculously restored, as if people with disabilities can’t live full, rich lives. So often, the plot is about an impossibly wealthy man who is recently blinded, and is angry and bitter, until a self-sacrificing woman comes along and by passively loving him, helps him get over himself. I was frustrated with the stereotypes and clichés about blindness and disability in historical fiction, particularly the 18 th century. This witty, lively novel is a picaresque romp through high and low Georgian society among rakes, rovers, thieving whores and demireps, highway robbers, bigamists, and duelists, bisexual opera divas, castrati, mollies, and cross-dressers, lecherous aristocrats, and headstrong ladies. She’s not about to let anything get in the way of her rising career, certainly not a lowly assistant conductor who keeps flirting with her. Tess Turnbridge is an aspiring opera star who auditions at Tom’s theater. If people condescend to him, that’s their problem. He doesn’t let his blindness get in the way of living the high life with his low-class friends. Tom Finch, blind from childhood, works as an assistant conductor in a Covent Garden theater, and as a composer of popular tunes. The setting is London, 1735, the early Georgian era. The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman, historical fiction My name is Lucy May Lennox and I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, USAĢ) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre? Today we have another interview, this time with Lucy May Lennox, author of The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman.ġ) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Love in touch by lucy may lennox