INTERVIEWER: SARA ABDELGHANY

I have met Mr. Seumas Gallacher (www.seumasgallacher.com) at a Bahrain Writer’s Circle (BWC) monthly meeting; where we all discussed our passion for writing and our unique styles. To my amazement, Mr. Seumas was a writer who not only wrote four novels, with the fifth on its way, but he is a Harvard graduate with a passion his own troubleshooting business. So, let us all know more about Mr. Seumas, and how he unleashed the writer within.

 INTERVIEW

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Seumas, tell us more about your origin. Where did you grow up, and did that have an affect on your writing?

Seumas Gallacher: I grew up in the Govan Docklands area in Glasgow, a tough, uncompromising living environment, but populated with people with some of the biggest hearts and generosity you could ever imagine. I think every part of an author’s life will consciously or subliminally find a way into whatever writing he/she produces.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: I understand you have your own troubleshooting business; can you give us an inside look into your job?

Seumas Gallacher: My base career and profession embraced old school Scottish banking, a far cry from the ‘glorified pawn-shop’ arena into which much of the industry has somehow evolved. Along the way, I was privileged to enjoy participation in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Graduate School of Business in the mid-1980s. This led to being the ‘go-to’ guy to restructure and reorganize companies within the holding company to which I belonged at the time. Ever since, I’ve enjoyed engagements across a broad range of corporate, financial institutional and government agencies, as well as family-owned groups. I derive greatest pleasure from watching the positive transformation of people in these organizations as they go through the ‘turnaround’.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Would you recommend ambitious young businessmen to endeavor into the field of troubleshooting? If so, what advice would you give them?

Seumas Gallacher: It’s not for everyone. Experience in a range of business fields and disciplines are a must, and that’s unlikely to be acquired until a person reaches a certain commercial longevity. It demands not so much being a master of all trades, but certainly a master of many trades. Man-management and motivational skills are imperative.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: When did you realize that you enjoy writing and would love to publish your own novels?

Seumas Gallacher: All my life, I’ve dabbled in poetry and short stories, but seven years ago, it occurred to me it ‘was time’ to write ‘that book’ we all have in us. Since then, I’ve immersed myself 100% in the whole ‘business of writing’, which includes not just the writing, but the social network activity that goes with being a modern author. I’m now working on my fifth novel in the series.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Seumas, you are a light-hearted Scottish man who enjoys laughing, how come your novels are crime based and thrillers?!

Seumas Gallacher: I find humour a tremendous defence and outlet versus the travails that so-called ordinary life throws at each of us. My blog is intentionally lighter, hopefully in parts educational, interesting, entertaining and empathetic to other authors. It’s a good offset to the heavy-duty crime fiction I produce in my Jack Calder crime series.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What advice do you have for aspiring writers, especially when it comes to publishing?

Seumas Gallacher: Like any other trade or calling, serve your apprenticeship. Follow writers whose work you admire. Don’t be scared to ask for advice. Funnily enough as a writer, I find it imperative to read, read and read the works of others. So much can be learned about style, tone, character development, plot arcs and developing your Author’s Voice. Amazon Kindle was an easy route for me to pursue self-publishing, as it is still difficult for new authors to acquire an Agent and /or a Publisher. However, be wary of falling in love with your own‘masterpieces’. Close friends and relatives are NOT the best opinion-givers on your work. After six years, along came my current publisher, and I’m delighted with that association, particularly as I now have an assigned professional editor to review my manuscripts.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Do you consider writing a business or a hobby?

Seumas Gallacher: It’s absolutely the ‘business of writing’ for me, as I’ve alluded to already a couple of times above, but I derive enormous pleasure from it.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Do you recommend people turning their hobbies into businesses?

Seumas Gallacher: If you are fortunate enough to be able to convert your hobby into a money-making enterprise, that’s a huge bonus. However, being ‘good at’ a hobby or pastime seldom translates into commercial success, as the hard, uncompromising element of financial competition makes it difficult. The ‘hobby’ pleasure may disappear quickly.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Seumas, I understand that you have traveled to many countries and lived in a few of them. What life advice would you like to pass on to everyone?

Seumas Gallacher: Regardless of their station, treat everyone you meet with respect and afford them the dignity you would wish for yourself. And smile. Smile often. Then smile some more.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Thank you so much for sharing your valuable experience with us.

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