Born in Ascot, England, in 1983, I grew up in the UK and in 2005 graduated from the University of Bath with a First Class honours degree in Modern Languages and European Studies.
In 2007, whilst working in London, I met my partner, a Kiwi, and since 2009 have been proud to call New Zealand home. In November 2015, I became a fully fledged NZ citizen!
My debut novel, SAM, was released in September 2016. Watch this space for updates on my next novel, 1968!
lukefharris 
I loved SAM but it was so sad. I’m torn between wanting Tom to meet someone new that he can love and be loved by for the rest of his life (perhaps the new Sam?) and wanting Tom to just travel the world meeting and having short-lived but meaningful and rewarding relationships along his travels. It makes me sad when one half of a couple dies and the other half meets someone else and falls madly in love. I know, I know, I’m very selfish. Have you thought about writing a sequel to SAM called TOM where we learn what’s transpired in his life since leaving for South America and maybe even letting himself love someone else. There relationship wasn’t very developed, but the story still worked somehow and the reader is left caring about the characters separately and as a couple, so maybe in Tom’s book his next relationship and how it develops and grows with all the angst and guilt of falling in love with someone else when you thought you had already loved the love of your life. We got to know Sam in SAM but I’d like to know more about Tom.
Sad yet very good story.
Looking forward to 1968. Will it also be an m/m story? Can’t remember if you wrote that it was or wasn’t. Although I’m a heterosexual female, I prefer m/m books as the characters have so much more to tell, have experienced so much that straight people can’t even fathom, and the relationships seem more real than the straight romance books. Oh, and the sex is better, too! 😉 I live in a small, very conservative small town about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia, in the US and I’m so tired of the haters and the politics involved in the “gay issue” when there shouldn’t be any politics involved and there isn’t an issue except for ignorant haters, of course. I’ll never understand why gays had to wait around for the government to decide that it was ok for them to get legally married. That’s such bull. It’s nobody’s business! Why does any government think they have any say in what someone does in their private life (as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone) and why do gays even have to come out of the closet? Straights don’t live in a closet and then come out to friends and family and announce “hey everyone, guess what? I’m straight.” Why do gays have to do that? The hiding and pretending not to be gay makes me so sad and mad. So many kids (and adults!) are terrified of being themselves and some end up denying themselves the opportunity to live the life they want because they fear the repercussions and that sucks. I wish people would be accepting of all the differences that make up the human race and get over themselves already.
Ok, off my soapbox now. 😉
Hi Elaine, thank you so much for taking the time to read my book and for your kind words! They mean a great deal to me. I was really nervous about publishing SAM. I am new to the writing game and am well aware that writing is an art and that I have a lot to learn. The positive feedback I have received has been very humbling, indeed. Yes, my next book, 1968, will have a m/m theme. Stick to what you know, I reckon 🙂 So far I have written 19k words, of a target of approx. 80k, so I have a wee way to go, but I am pleased with what I have produced so far. I think a sequel to SAM is a fantastic idea, and one that I have been considering. I aim for 1968 to be the first in a series, so perhaps once I have finished that I can write TOM! I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year. Kind regards, Luke.
Luke, just finished SAM. It was a beautiful, heartwrenching, difficult read. Stylistically (not being a writer, so I may be completely off the mark here) difficult as the chapters are scattered in time and sometimes written from Sam’s perspective and ocassionally from Tom. After the first couple of lines it becomes clearer though. Also difficult because of the issues that never really get resolved, family violence, religion, straight relationships that break up and the difficulty guys have about talking to each other. All very painfully true to life. I think you got the Kiwi guy personas and way of talking down well. Very different from the Brits. This is from your neighbour on that slightly bigger island to the west! We share some words like “pipis” that might confuse the rest of the world. I love remembering the places you mention and have a friend in Kaikoura. Hope there are no more earthquakes there. Please take all this as encouragement to keep on writing and getting your unique voice out to the world. I look forward to your next novel.
Hi David, thank you so much for reading my book and for taking the time to message me. It means a lot! I am really pleased you enjoyed it. I know that I am very much at the beginning of my writing career, so I welcome all feedback. I’m now working on my next story, trying to fit writing in around work and everything else. It can be quite a challenge at times! I would love to know what you think of my next book. Hopefully, I’ll have it published in 2018. Kind regards, Luke.
Hello Luke,
What a fantastic website you have here – hope the writing is going well and on-track! I am writing to you from the University Book Shop in Dunedin. We have received an order for your book and I’m trying to track down where I can get it from. Are you able to supply us with a copy? If so, please reply to my email address (textbooks@unibooks.co.nz) and I’ll create a purchase order etc. and send through to you with more details.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Kind regards,
Kirsty Gordge – Academic Assistant at University Book Shop, Dunedin’s Finest Book Shop.
Hi Kirsty, thanks for your message! I’ve just replied via email. Kind regards, Luke.
For a first book, or a fourth for that matter, I thought Sam was well written and once I knew the novel was going to hop around a bit in time and person I enjoyed the writing style as well. I am always about the characters and the message and Sam was very good at giving the characters life and making one care for them. Tom, I wanted to understand more but that’s what sequels are all about. I look forward to reading your second novel.
Mark Kurtz
Hi Mark, Thanks so much for your message. Receiving positive feedback always makes my day! I’m about half way through the first draft of my next book. Hopefully it’ll be finished by 2018! Best wishes, Luke
Hi Luke. Just read and very much enjoyed SAM. With all the sh$ite going with our “unaware, deceptive and immature bully of a President” in the U.S., I needed an escape and SAM was just the thing. I am glad you didn’t go for the stereotypes and also that you showed that gays die of things other than infectious diseases especially nowadays. The Christian element was both welcome and painful at the same time. I used to live in Miami and now am in Charleston SC where the “deep south” fundamentalism is alive and kicking (although Charleston is more progressive than the rest of the Red state). Wish you well and looking forward to 1968. Very fun website btw!
RM
Hi Rudy! Thanks for getting in touch! I’m really pleased you enjoyed SAM. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it. It is always great to hear that people have got something out of the story. I’m making good progress on 1968. Should have the first draft finished in the next few months. I look forward to hearing what you think of it! All the best, Luke
Recently, I finished a good read- ‘SAM’. Honestly, most books with one word titles always seem to deliver, and by that, I mean draw the reader into the space that the author crafts- out.
I really enjoyed your Seaways throughout. Splendid read.
Hi Hebron, thanks so much for getting in touch. I’m really pleased that you enjoyed the book! I hope my next story, 1968, will be able to live up to expectations 🙂 All the best, Luke.
Hi Luke –
just finished SAM – got it via my Kindle and the Amazon Prime lending program.
Really liked it a lot – brought up lots of emotions – so as a writer – Kudos for achieving that!
Rarely leave comments – but thought the book was worth navigating to your website and leaving a note. Congrats – a great read!
Hi Tom, thanks so much for getting in touch! I’m really glad you liked the book 🙂 It always makes my day when somebody takes the time to message me, so thank you! All the best. Luke