Rusty Young is an Australian-born author known for his international bestseller Marching Powder, which tells the true story of an English drug smuggler in Bolivia’s notorious San Pedro Prison. He is also the author of the bestselling novel, Colombiano, a compelling fact-meets-fiction revenge thriller about a Colombian boy who sets out to avenge his father’s death.

Rusty grew up in Sydney, Australia, and pursued studies in Finance and Law at the University of New South Wales. His journey into writing began while backpacking in South America, where he encountered the story of Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who led tours inside Bolivia's infamous San Pedro Prison. Intrigued by McFadden's popularity, Rusty joined one of these tours in La Paz, forming a solid friendship with McFadden.