Irish Convict – Outback Shepherds

The Irish Convict historical fiction novels are based on many true stories of New Zealand’s early pre European history. Books 1 – 4 are adapted from the original Irish Convict novel published in 2019 by a different publisher. The books in this Irish Convict series are smaller and easier to read with additional chapters and better formatting.

Book One: Lost Sons
Book Two: Outback Shepherds
Book Three: New Zealand
Book Four: Homeward Bound
Book Five: Troubled Waters
Book Six: Solider of Misfortune – due out 2025

Adapting to his new life as an Irish convict in the New South Wales penal colony was more difficult and frightening than Maurice O’Brien could have imagined. From a tiny, well-ordered and relatively peaceful rural community in the south-west of Ireland, he was caged up with some of the roughest men in the British Isles for three months at sea.

His new home is a strange, dry and inhospitable land living and working with angry, dangerous men on a remote sheep station as a shepherd. He must become as hard and tough as those around him to survive. The death sentence hung over them for minor offences and escape is almost impossible.

Escaping his own despair and the extreme loneliness of the outback is another daily challenge that Maurice must survive. His only companions during the day are sheep, three dogs… and the Blacks.

These are the true stories of some of the men who laid the foundations of Australia’s tough outback folklore. Some convicts who escaped their sentences found themselves in the wild, unruly land of Maori people – New Zealand. 

Each chapter is based on true stories of convicts in the Outback of the continent now known as Australia as well as Sydney town and Port Jackson. By the end of this novel, Maurice lands in Hokianga, New Zealand after sailing a ship called the Industry across the Tasman Sea – another true story woven into this historical fiction novel.