Outback Odyssey, Excerpt by Paul Rushworth-Brown

1950s Australia. In the wake of war and dislocation, young Yorkshireman Jimmy journeys to the outback, chasing escape but finding something far more dangerous: the truth of himself and the land he now calls home.

What begins as a story of survival becomes a profound allegory of belonging, silence, and identity. As Jimmy collides with love and betrayal, he also encounters the enduring wisdom of the First Peoples — knowledge that most outsiders are too frightened to face, let alone write about.

Outback Odyssey is sweeping and cinematic, a novel of resilience threaded with unexpected twists and allegorical depth. Already under consideration for a screenplay adaptation, it peels back the myths of Australia’s past to reveal what lies beneath: the unspoken histories, the inherited traumas, and the courage it takes to walk a path that others fear.

Excerpt: The Voyage

The tang of salt and sea clung to the air, sharp and fresh after the close quarters below decks. Jimmy leaned against the rail, letting the wind sting his face. Mr Olsen stood beside him, a man of weathered leather hands and a white beard, the anchor pendant at his neck catching the light. He spoke with a strange accent — Dutch cut by an Australian drawl.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it, lad?”

Jimmy nodded. “Yes, it’s something to behold. Sounds like you’ve done this before.”

Olsen’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. Many times. Wait till you see the wonders beyond the Suez. It’s a journey you will not soon forget.”

Days later, in the ship’s saloon, Jimmy found him slouched at the bar, cheeks flushed from drink but his eyes still sharp. They shared stories over lager and margaritas, and Olsen spoke of the vastness of Australia, of treasures hidden in its earth and dangers to match. There was wisdom behind the drink, as though he carried secrets he could never quite set down.

It was near the voyage’s end when Olsen faltered. Jimmy rushed to his side, catching the old man’s hand as he struggled for breath. Olsen’s lips moved, a whisper against the roar of the sea.

“Map… mattress… Amanda…”

And then he was gone.

Jimmy knelt there, stunned, clutching the words as if they were a gift and a curse. A map in his mattress? Amanda? The riddle hung heavy. The sea kept its silence, but Jimmy knew the voyage had left him with more than a passage — it had left him with a mystery that would shape everything to come.

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Meet Paul Rushworth-Brown

Paul Rushworth-Brown was born in England and raised in Canada before emigrating to Australia at eighteen, where he became a citizen. By twenty, he had already travelled the world twice, hitchhiked across Australia, and worked as a navvy in outback Queensland — experiences that gave him an enduring respect for resilience, culture, and the landscapes that shape human character.

He later completed a Master’s degree at Charles Sturt University, honing the research skills that underpin his richly detailed novels. A high school teacher and former professional football coach, Paul draws on a lifetime of experience to bring authenticity and depth to his writing.

His novels are known for their cinematic sweep, allegorical undercurrents, and unexpected twists. Outback Odyssey, his fourth book, is a tale of survival and belonging set against the vast backdrop of 1950s Australia. Beneath its page-turning adventure lie questions of identity, silence, and reconciliation — themes that echo long after the final page.

Paul lives in Sydney, where he writes, teaches, and continues to explore the intersections of history and identity.