Creating Space for Autistic Characters
The inspiration for the Dryburgh Chronicles struck me on a train journey through the Scottish Borders with my husband. We were visiting his family, and it was just a few weeks after a psychologist first mentioned "Asperger's" to me, though I hadn’t yet received an official diagnosis. Anyone diagnosed late in life can understand those tumultuous feelings that swing between "This can't be true" and "This explains everything." In those early days of self-exploration.
As I reflected on my life and how others perceived me versus how I saw myself, Lilian emerged in my mind. She was a version of me who embraced her individuality with grace. She stood proudly in her uniqueness, yet was gentle enough to acknowledge the complex emotions that accompanied it. Listening to my husband share tales of Scotland's witchy history, I turned to him and declared, "I'm going to write a book."
But this wouldn't be just any book. It would be a story where people like me could find themselves reflected in the heroine. It would combine the things I love (History, Fantasy, All things witchy) while simultaneously exploring the challenges of a relationship with someone on the spectrum, portrayed with authentic examples of what it is like to love someone who moves through life differently. It would also be an easy read - people on the spectrum are already so misunderstood that I didn't need to complicate that world more but creating a character who was inaccessible to all readers.
When I finally finished the Dryburgh Chronicles I had no intention of actually publishing it, but with the gentle encouragement of my own personal Edgar (Thanks Husband!) I released it. The feedback from others on the spectrum has made the whole process worth while. Notes from readers saying they felt authentically represented made all of my fears subside.
While the story certainly is not everyone's cup of tea, the validation I have received from individuals living a life like mine made every anxious moment worth it.
To every single person who has taken the time to read the story of Lilian and Edgar - Thank you. You are opening the world of literature to allow people like me to finally see themselves as the hero of this own story.
L.P. Halliday
The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows
As I reflected on my life and how others perceived me versus how I saw myself, Lilian emerged in my mind. She was a version of me who embraced her individuality with grace. She stood proudly in her uniqueness, yet was gentle enough to acknowledge the complex emotions that accompanied it. Listening to my husband share tales of Scotland's witchy history, I turned to him and declared, "I'm going to write a book."
But this wouldn't be just any book. It would be a story where people like me could find themselves reflected in the heroine. It would combine the things I love (History, Fantasy, All things witchy) while simultaneously exploring the challenges of a relationship with someone on the spectrum, portrayed with authentic examples of what it is like to love someone who moves through life differently. It would also be an easy read - people on the spectrum are already so misunderstood that I didn't need to complicate that world more but creating a character who was inaccessible to all readers.
When I finally finished the Dryburgh Chronicles I had no intention of actually publishing it, but with the gentle encouragement of my own personal Edgar (Thanks Husband!) I released it. The feedback from others on the spectrum has made the whole process worth while. Notes from readers saying they felt authentically represented made all of my fears subside.
While the story certainly is not everyone's cup of tea, the validation I have received from individuals living a life like mine made every anxious moment worth it.
To every single person who has taken the time to read the story of Lilian and Edgar - Thank you. You are opening the world of literature to allow people like me to finally see themselves as the hero of this own story.
L.P. Halliday
The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows
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