So far as the issue of race goes...I've heard it discussed before with people talking about Tolkien how it is a racist book with the whole idea of the good Caucasian elves, the bad guys being darker of skin etc and so forth...

to all that I say. You write what you know. You naturally write first about what is most familiar to you. Don't know that much about J.K. Rowling but I assume she grew up in white middle class society. And Tolkien from what I understand was an old white guy, influenced by the Industrial Revolution and the age of " the sun never sets on the English Empire " They wrote about what they knew, what they were most comfortable with.

Now...one should not let oneself be limited by what you know and are familiar with...then you miss the two-fold (aesthetic) purpose of writing...Self-expression and entertainment.

I believe in making one's imaginary world rich and varied. I do not think one should write solely to satisfy everyone. Please all, please none. Just me opinion :)

I enjoys writling, LOTR, Harry Potter, Earthsea...An' hangin' upside down by th' tail-bone :)