I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Luke Harrower, an emerging author who enjoys comedy and fantasy writing. We spoke about his creative process and inspirations behind his works, as well as his experience performing comedy. Read on to find out what he has to say!
Luke’s first novel, Flatrock, is available now, and the author can be found on Twitter @LukeHarrow.
Tell us about your book?
A: Flatrock is cosy slice-of-life comedy novel following two unlikely friends, Milo and Heidi, as they live out their lives in a crappy little town called Pending. Every chapter is intended to read like episodes of a sitcom (with continuity throughout), ending on a final chapter where everything comes together.
What is the PRIMARY benefit, above all others, that your potential reader will gain from reading this book?
A: I want people to realise that the world is a much bigger and more interesting place than they realise. While Flatrock is technically a fantasy novel, parallels with the real world should be abundantly apparent.
If you had to compare this book to any other book out there, which book would it be?
A: Everyone compares my book with Discworld and Hitchhiker’s Guide, which makes sense. I was inspired to write this book after reading Sourcery, and some of my writing style is ripped strait from the first Hitchhiker’s book. If you imagine a low-stakes version of those books, then you have Flatrock.
Hundreds of thousands of books come out every year. Why should someone buy THIS book?
A: Call me ignorant if you like, but I don’t think books of this style get written an awful lot, or at the very least, don’t get publicity. You will struggle to find a book shop with a dedicated comedy category, and since my two primary influences have been dead for some time, no one has come to fill their shoes. You also don’t get a lot of cosy stories without them being murder mysteries, and it makes me wonder when people got so used to killing in media that a murder mystery could be considered cosy.
Who is your target audience?
A: My target audience would most likely be people like me: Adults who still feel like children that don’t really know what they want to do with their lives. I hope this book appeals to anyone, regardless of age and gender, after all, humour is universal.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage?
A: Most of the locales in the book are based on places I live near. The towns are all based on towns I visit often, and the main pub in the book is directly inspired on an awful pub I used to visit (which has since been renovated for reasons that was obvious for most of the patrons). I was also raised on watching a lot of sitcoms and stand up comedy, which is probably why I’m more comfortable writing a comedy novel over something else.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
A: Having people tell me that my writing is very professional. This is my first full length novel, so any compliment is nice to hear.
How would you describe your writing style?
A: As I said before, everyone compares my book with Discworld and Hitchhiker’s Guide, so Pratchett-esque and Adams-esque are the best words I could use.
Are your characters pure fiction, or did you draw from people you know?
A: The two leads are loosely based off two version of myself (as pretentious as that sounds). Milo is the part of me that is reclusive, work motivated, and wants a peaceful life. Heidi is the part of me that wants to try new things, see the whole wide world, and be friends with everyone. To some extent, the two also remind me of my parents, who were probably the biggest influences on my two personalities.
Are you more of a character artist or a plot-driven writer?
A: I like character above everything else. A good plot is fine, but if I hate the main character, I can’t get invested in their struggles. Meanwhile, I’d happy watch a really well written and likeable character doing the stupidest sh*t imaginable.
What do you hope to accomplish with your book other than selling it?
A: I don’t expect, nor do I think I want, fame. What I really look forward to is finding this book 20 years in the future, reading it again, and laughing at the jokes I forgot I wrote (I am, after all, my own target audience.)
How can our readers get in touch with you?
A: The place I’m most like to see messages is my email: lukeharrowerwrites@gmail.com. You could also check my twitter @LukeHarrow.
Where can our readers purchase your book?
A: My book is currently only available on Amazon, though I plan for other outlets soon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRYH2BG5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
