In 1850s Manhattan, 18-year-old Georgiana Cartwright witnesses the downfall of her father, a renowned actor who disgraces himself performing under the influence. When he deserts the family, Georgie is expected to save the day by marrying well. But she aspires to the stage, hoping to earn an independent living like her idol, the great actress Charlotte Cushman. Hired as a supporting actress for a prominent theater company, Georgie launches her career with the help of a trio of young friends, including Clementine, a budding scribe determined to make her mark on the literary landscape―and to win Georgie's heart. Early reviews garner Georgie the promise of a bright future, but then unwanted sexual advances from within the company threaten to derail her career. Following Cushman's lead, Georgie regains her footing in “breeches roles” parts written for men but performed by women. A thrilling gender-bending turn in a Shakespearean role boosts her confidence―until her harasser renews his efforts. Will she be able to vanquish him and find success and love on her own terms? “Grounded in the nitty-gritties of 19th-century theatrical life,  Dear Miss Cushman  is a sparkling coming-of-age story about the roles free spirits shape for themselves, both on and off stage. Credible, engrossing, entertaining stuff.” —Emma Donoghue, award-winning author of  Room, The Wonder  (Netflix film 2022), and  The Pull of the Stars “Paula Martinac’s vivid, mesmerizing prose transports us to the gritty streets of New York City at the height of the Victorian era in this unapologetically queer and deeply empowering story.  Dear Miss Cushman  is a triumphant portrayal of one young woman's determination to forge a path of independence—complete with all the splendor, hope, and ugliness of this iconic period. Simply unforgettable.” —Amber Smith,  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Last to Let Go  and  Something Like Gravity “ Dear Miss Cushman  is an adventure steeped in the American theater. Deeply researched, it challenges the traditional view of 19th-century gender and sexuality, exploring what it takes to be the hero of one’s own story.” —Tana Wojczuk, author of  Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America's First Celebrity PAULA MARTINAC is the author of seven published novels and a collection of short stories. Her debut novel Out of Time won the 1990 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction. She has published three nonfiction books on lesbian and gay culture and politics as well as numerous articles, essays, and short stories. She teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.