Rusty Young

Who is Rusty Young?

Rusty Young is an Australian-born writer known for his book, Marching Powder, published by Pan Macmillan Australia in 2003, and based on real life experiences in a Bolivian prison. Rusty Young is a commerce/law graduate from the University of New South Wales, who has lived most of his life in Sydney, Australia.

Rusty Young currently lives in Colombia where he teaches the English language. He plans to keep writing and has a plan for two or three more books. It was also reported on the UNSW Law website that he is working as an executive in a corporation in Colombia. "At times it can be dangerous, so they’ve given me a bullet-proof car. I wake up every morning and know I’m a long way from my days at UNSW."

Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's famous San Pedro Prison. Curious about the reason behind McFadden's huge popularity, the law graduate went to La Paz and joined one of Thomas's illegal tours. They formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record Thomas's experiences in the jail. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas. The memoir, Marching Powder, was released in 2003. A film adaptation of Marching Powder has been announced with little information released so far in regards to its production. Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment production company, Periscope Entertainment and Reason Pictures have the rights to the book. Don Cheadle has been cast as Thomas McFadden and is additionally credited as producer.