Magpie: A tender journey into the broken heart of Australia

*BOOK OF THE YEAR, IRISH CAP AWARDS 2023*

Dive into a gripping adventure of survival, mystery, and the transformative power of the Australian wilderness.

Jim Macken talks to trees. He dances around the fire and has made peace with the flies. In a bid to escape a mundane life, the broken-hearted Irish backpacker has gone walkabout in the West Australian Goldfields. The scorched land is hurting. The summer rains never came and the temperatures soar.

On a rare trip to a remote inn, an assault brings Jim's day to a premature close. He sleeps outside, sprawled across the wide front seat of his beat-up truck. Nearby, a body lies in the dirt. The evidence, much of it fabricated, paints Jim as a killer and Kelly Porcini, the disillusioned barmaid, as his accomplice.

Fearing for their lives, Jim and Kelly flee into the hostile interior of the continent. Along the way, the young couple find a beautiful but damaged country. There is the possibility of love and the opportunity for betrayal. Ultimately, an ancient and indigenous Dreamtime landscape may decide how their stories end.

About the Author
Ryan, Alan: - As with most things in his life, Alan Ryan took his time writing Magpie. The idea first germinated thirty years ago when he lived in a tree. Over the intervening years, Alan experimented with different careers, most notably working as a geologist in Australia. In middle age he took up long distance triathlon. Slow and steady, it suited his temperament. Aged in his forties, he set an Irish Ironman record and has known success at world level. Around this time, he became a father. He lives in Wexford with his wife and two children. When not writing, he paints oil paintings, and still enjoys the odd run, bike or swim. You can catch up on all the latest Magpie news or check out Alan's paintings at www.alanryanauthor.com. Follow him on social media. He welcomes feedback from readers.