The Map of William

The Map of William is a gripping, adventurous tale about the triumph of friendship, and the price of survival in a land with its own ancient story to tell.

Western Australia, 1909. William Watson’s beloved father is set on an expedition to the north-west to map water sources in the Pilbara. Invited along, fifteen-year-old William embarks on the outback journey of a lifetime.

At sea and on land, William will forge lasting friendships with his fellow travellers, and transform his relationship with his father as together they face the darkness in some men’s hearts – including the cruel and vengeful Sergeant Jardine.

This is a classic rite-of -passage novel that follows one young man on his journey of growth and self-discovery.

Author Biography

Michael Thomas was born and raised in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and spent his formative years travelling across the vast Gascoyne-Pilbara region with his father, who was a shearer. After graduating from university, he returned to teach in the Gascoyne-Murchison before eventually settling in Perth. He retired in 2021 to write his memoirs but gave up when fact and fiction became entangled. The Map of William is his first novel.