An Interview with Harry Wallace
Harry Henry Wallace is an Australian writer based in Sydney. He has been happily married to Nelly for more than thirty-six years and is the proud father of three amazing children and grandfather of two cherished grandchildren.
The inspiration for his novel comes from a deep desire to share the enduring magic of true love and the power of dream-building – themes that transcend cultures, traditions, and family values, and are meant to inspire future generations.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The title came to me through meditation. When I meditate, I use breathing exercises to focus, and I use a mantra. Some mantras that I’ve used are ‘peace and love, om shanti,’ which I use when I breathe in and when I breathe out. However, Within and Without came quite naturally, and I have used the ‘within’ for breathing in and ‘without’ for expelling the air when I meditate.
How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?
I felt an accomplished feeling. It was, I must say, slightly breathtaking; feeling the cover and seeing my name and the designs that I have been dreaming of made me jump in the air. I had sore cheeks from all the smiling.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I wanted to write to celebrate the love I have for my wife, my girl and my friend, but I also wanted my children and grandchildren to have the history of who I am, who they are and who their forbears were, and celebrate our family and culture. I feel that I need them to have more than just pictures of me when I’m gone.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I work in program/project management and have a master’s in rail operations, an advanced diploma in program management, and a business management diploma, along with certifications in Lean Six Sigma – green belt. I’ve worked in railways all my life and my grandfather drove steam trains in the fifties. I mentioned him in the novel as I wanted to honour that part of him also.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
Seeing people get emotional. My close friend, whom I’ve known since I was eleven years old and who I have never seen cry, cried like a baby at my book reading. He and I are fifty-seven years old. His parting words to me after the book reading were, ‘Thank you for honouring me in your story and in your history.’ This is one example of many.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
El condor pasa with pan flutes and traditional Andean instruments. That would certainly be the music at the start, if the book were made into a movie.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book?
To feel their humanity and their family as the most sacred thing that there is.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I’m halfway through my next novel, The Tread Between. The feedback that I got from some of my readers was that they wanted more, they wanted to understand the lives of the characters beyond Within and Without. This second book is a continuation of the first one.
How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?
It was excellent. Aspiring authors, if you’re lucky enough to have the chance to get your work published with Atmosphere Press, just do it.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
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