Emily asked Paula Brackston:

Hi Paula! I just finished the Silver Witch and wanted to let you know that as a person with albinism, I was ecstatic with the way you portrayed Tilda and Seren. It's very hard to find books that don't have people with albinism as evil characters, so I am incredibly grateful for you portraying albinism accurately and in a positive light. Where did you learn about albinism and what it's like to have albinism?

Paula Brackston Dear Emily, I can't tell you how happy your message makes me. I am so pleased to hear from you, a person with albinism, that you feel my portrayal of the condition was accurate and sympathetic. I wanted to give an honest rendering of the challenges and singular world view facing a person who has these particular characteristics, but of course I was wary of either giving offence or giving a false impression. My aim was to show, as well, how differently a person with albinism might have been viewed a thousand years ago. It was certainly part of celtic culture to celebrate and revere such differences, rather than to scorn people who stood out in one way or another.

As a writer of historical fiction, as well as someone with an interest in magic and its own special history, I am used to researching all sorts of things. Have you read any of my other books? I love the challenge of delving into something I know little about and learning as much as I can about it. The internet can be really useful, but there is an awful lot of rubbish on it that you have to sift through to get to the good stuff. I spent a good deal of time looking at the sites of NOAH and the albinism fellowship, plus trawling the archives of the Guardian and other papers for articles and first hand accounts.

It is true that in fiction and film albinism is often used as a shorthand for weird or evil, and this saddens me. I have had some reviewers criticise The Silver Witch for portraying those with albinism as being magical and different, but I hope that I have done so in a positive way, celebrating those differences, and showing what it might be like to live with them.

Thank you so much for writing, and for making me feel I have done something particularly worthwhile with one of my little stories. All best, Paula

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