Ronald McGill
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The Expatriate
What prepares a man for a life far beyond the borders of his birth? In this deeply reflective memoir, the author traces an unexpected journey that begins in the lowest ranks of the British Army during the turbulent final days of the Aden conflict, when Britain’s imperial presence was collapsing. For a young man searching for direction, the army became discipline, structure, and ultimately a turning point. Determined to reshape his future, he fought his way into higher education and university life, refusing to be defined by his beginnings. From north-west Cumbria to London, and into international professional life, ambition and wanderlust steadily expanded the map of his world. That journey eventually led to Malawi, and to the demanding role of city manager in one of Africa’s fastest-growing capital cities. There, alongside his young family, he encountered the layered realities of expatriate life: the reserved British community, the openness of American colleagues, and most importantly, the warmth, complexity, and resilience of the Malawian people. From market traders to government officials, from urban planning challenges to cultural misunderstandings, this is a story of determination, reinvention, and the human connections that shape a life lived across continents. The Expatriate is not simply a memoir of travel; it is a portrait of personal transformation in a changing world.
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New Release
Three Royal Terrace
A deeply moving memoir told through the voice of an autistic son, Three Royal Terrace explores family, identity, and the lifelong journey of understanding autism. Roddy does not speak, but his story will change how you understand autism. Three Royal Terrace is a deeply moving autism memoir told through the imagined inner voice of a severely autistic, nonverbal son, offering rare insight into a world few ever get to see. From early childhood, Roddy struggles to understand himself, his emotions, and the people who love him, trapped inside a body that will not obey his thoughts. Inspired by the film The Accountant, Roddy’s father gives his son the voice he never had, telling a powerful nonverbal autism story that explores what it means to live with autism without language. As Roddy grows from childhood into adolescence and adulthood, the book reveals the invisible battles, the overwhelming moments, and the quiet longing to connect with family and identity. What does it feel like to be trapped inside a mind the world cannot hear? But this is not only Roddy’s story. It is a raw and honest portrait of a family navigating life with autism, the heartbreak, exhaustion, guilt, and fierce love that define the parental journey with autism. Through Roddy’s reflections, readers witness the impact of his condition on his siblings and especially his mother, and the sorrow he carries for pain he never intended to cause. Three Royal Terrace is an unforgettable autistic son memoir about empathy, resilience, and unconditional love. For readers seeking a true story about living with autism, family bonds, and the courage to give voice to the voiceless, this book offers a perspective that will stay with you long after the final page. This is not just a book about autism, it is a story about being human.
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THE THREE THEMES
A poignant and powerful account of fatherhood. Ronald gives a voice to those who are often unheard in our society, offering hope and clarity to families everywhere.
Advocacy Today
Praise & Reviews
A deeply moving and essential narrative. Ronald McGill masterfully bridges the gap between a father's personal devotion and the broader societal need for awareness. This is storytelling with a purpose.
The Literary Reviewer
Masterful urban management insights combined with a gripping personal narrative of service. Ronald captures the essence of the expatriate life with honesty and unmatched expertise.
International Planning Journal
About Ronald McGill
I was born in Berlin, British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), just after World War II, of Scottish and German parents. I moved to Edinburgh when I was six, when my parents divorced, being brought up by my father. I never saw my mother again. I ran away when I was seventeen, joining the British Army. After Aden, I left “to get an education”. I worked in town planning in the UK before breaking into international development, mainly in Africa and with the UN in New York City. I have published two technical books and twenty-four journal papers. My first non-technical book was Three Royal Terrace. The Expatriate is the second and last.