The Sense of Sight – RJ Scott’s Autism Awareness Blog Hop & a Free Book!
I’m honoured to be part of RJ’s Blog Tour for Autism Awareness, highlighting the Five Senses.
An interesting fact you may not know about autism is: People with an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) who are hyposensitive to smell may have no sense of smell at all, and fail to notice extreme odours (this can include their own body odour). Some people may lick things to get a better sense of what they are.
When I found out this blog tour would revolve around the five senses, my first thoughts went to Isaac Brannigan from Blind Faith. He was one of my first characters I ever wrote. A very stubborn, impatient, and wonderful man, who just happens to be blind. Writing a character with vision impairment wasn’t easy, and I learned a lot in my research when I decided the character in my head had a story to tell.
Sight is a fundamental sense that a lot of people take for granted. Having it taken away is a life changing event, and one Isaac Brannigan had to overcome. To write his story, I researched a LOT, I spoke to people with vision impairments, I joined forums, I read and read, and I learned.
People who are vision impaired live full and rewarding lives and I was, and still am, in complete awe of how these people live their day-to-day lives without missing a beat. Careers, children, public transport, shopping, reading, sports, arts, everything full-vision people do every day, and take for granted, every single day. They adapt to their environments, make adjustments and push forward. It’s incredibly inspiring!
Do me a little favour, and imagine this: a normal morning routine for some…
Wake up at 6:30 a.m. Shower, dress for work, including hair and make-up, or shave your face (whichever is your normal morning routine). Wake the kids up, get them breakfast, pack school lunches, get them dressed, do their hair. Get them on the school bus, while praying for good weather. Rain makes everything more difficult… Catch your bus, pay your fare, and hope there’s a seat. Maybe you could take a cab. It’s easier but more expensive to do on a daily basis. Get to work, manage the revolving doors, then the stairs, or elevator, find your desk, log in to your computer and check emails…
All this and it’s not even 8:30 a.m.
Sounds like a normal, but hectic, morning, right?
Now imagine doing it blind.
Imagine doing every one of these steps without using your sight. Does your shirt match your pants? Are you wearing two different coloured shoes? Who else was watching your kids get on that bus? Who else was watching you walk off alone, unassisted? Did you catch the right bus? Did you pay the right amount? Did the bus driver short change you $10? How would you know? Did you get off at the right bus stop? Are you even in the right suburb? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
Scary, huh?
Downright frightening, if you ask me, yet people with vision impairments do it every day.
A lot people disliked Isaac Brannigan. Said he was too brattish, too short-tempered and one lovely reviewer said he was “too blind.” Yep, not even kidding. I also had two separate people contact me, who have/had blind spouses, and said I absolutely nailed the characterisations, the frustrations, the outbursts, the longing for independence but fear of it at the same time. And that, that acknowledgment to my research and dedication to character, has been a highlight of my writing career.
I will admit without shame, that I love Isaac. I love his faults, and I love his strengths. And what I’m doing is making Blind Faith FREE on Amazon for four days. Starting today (April 7th) until April 10th, you can download Blind Faith and meet Isaac, Carter, and of course Brady the wonder dog. 🙂
The universal link for Blind Faith is HERE! Go forth, click and read!
Thank you for taking part of RJ Scott’s annual autism awareness blog hop! You can check out all the other awesome authors taking part HERE <3
18 Comments
Rj Scott
Thank you so much for taking part… hugs xxxxx
nrwalker
You’re very welcome <3
debby236
My mother-in-law is blind and she does wonderfully.
nrwalker
That is awesome! I’m still amazed (and in awe of) anyone who is blind. Thanks for reading and commenting! <3
ouremuk66
I loved this book, and the others in the series. I’d never given in depth thought to how much harder life is without sight; I mean, I’d thought about it but in passing and a kind of “so glad it isn’t me” kind of way.
Isaac’s story gives so much information, as well as being a great read.
nrwalker
Awww thank you! <3
jenf27
That was a really interesting fact you started with – one I was not aware of – so thanks.
I, too, loved Blind Faith and highly recommend it.
nrwalker
I didn’t know that either, so we both learned something new 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Shirley Ann Speakman
An interesting post I’ve always admired people who are sight impaired especially how they adapt and function in a hetic world we all live in. I enjoyed “Blind Faith” to, it’s a great book.
nrwalker
Me too! It’s an incredible accomplishment 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting!
dejamew
Thank you for taking part in the hop and most especially for putting Blind Faith up for free. I have not read this series so it will be a great introduction for me.
Marcine
dejamew@centurylink.net
nrwalker
I hope you enjoyed it! <3
Lyn
Loved these books. Like others I am amazed at the way visually impaired people manage the every day.
Have to say, also, that I have a real soft spot for Isaac, which is why I re-read Blind Faith a lot!
nrwalker
Thanks Lyn,
I have a real soft spot for him too! He’s a wonderfully complex character, that really just needed to be loved. <3
Linette Hol
I wanted to thank you for participating in Autism Awareness and gifting your book! I’d been considering reading it for a long time, but wasn’t sure. So, I thought that now was the time to pick it up. I am SO GLAD I did! I quickly read all 3 books of the series and LOVED them. The characters, your insight, the realities and humor, and of course the romance…I loved it all! Thank you!
Lin
P.S. Of course I should have known I would love the series as I think I have the Thomas Elkin series pretty much memorized from the number of times I’ve read it…Lol!!
nrwalker
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed the Blind Faith boys, as well as Tom and Cooper <3 Thanks for commenting!
Cristina Manole
Thank you for the interesting info on autism, there is so much I didn’t know!
As for Blind Faith, it was a marvelous book, you did such a great job portraying Isaac and his travails.
Hugs!
nrwalker
Thank you so much!! <3 <3