[1] His first novel, Not Untrue and Not Unkind, dealt with foreign journalists reporting on African conflicts.

[2][3] It was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2009[4] and shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Fiction award in 2010.

[8] His fourth novel, This Eden, a metaphysical thriller about money and technology, was published in June 2021.

[9] Before turning to fiction, O'Loughlin worked for twenty years as a newspaper reporter, including fourteen years as a foreign correspondent in Africa and the Middle East for the Sydney Morning Herald, Age of Melbourne, Independent of London, The Irish Times, and others.

[10] Following the success of Minds of Winter, with its themes of mapping and exploration, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.