As The Luke Bright Series concludes this year, I’m taking the next few months in the lead up to A Long Lost Time’s release to reflect back on the previous books in the series. What I’ve learnt along the way, what went on, and how it sets up for the epic finale that concludes Luke’s adventures. This week, I’m starting with the book that began it all, Atlantic Split.

Atlantic Split begins in the wake of a world split apart by war. The Atlantic Split arose in the mid 1970s in the alternate reality of the series. The fallout left the UK and the USA divided, trying to erase the other from their history, convincing the generations below that the two should remain enemies.

It all changed when Luke Bright began his first day of work at Kensington Police Station. There he met two American prisoners and realised there was more to their arrest than was let on. Meeting them changed everything for him, and set him off on an adventure which he never expected he’d be part of.

Luke’s story of growth really develops over this book as he goes from a sheltered, naive, temperamental teenager into a man who will risk anything for his friends. He learns a lot about how he’s been held back, by his family, in his relationships, in his career path and that plays a big part in the remaining books of the series. Ultimately, this book is a coming of age series, with other themes tied in, but the main story is that of Luke’s life over the four books and how he changes and grows throughout the crucial years the series takes place over.

So, what can I say I’ve learnt about this book since publishing? Well, I’ve learnt that a lot of things that occur in the book are still relevant today. The embellishing of history, police brutality, the prejudice and racism that still occurs. I’ve learnt how critical a place this book is in the creation of Luke the leader of the fight against the Atlantic Split and as I edit and re-read A Long Lost Time, the parallels between them are fantastic to see. They make nice book-ends (literally) to each other and I’m excited for you to see how they tie into one another.

Atlantic Split was my debut novel and one I’m very precious about. Having spent time writing it for over 12 years and then publishing it back in 2018, it’s come a long way since it began in draft form. And I hope it’s been one others can learn from. So, if you want to buy a copy if you haven’t already then make sure you check out the links on my website. It’s a great place to start, and next week I’ll be sharing what happens in the second book of the series – At Liberty To Live and how Luke’s story continues.

Atlantic Split, At Liberty To Live and An Undercover Dream, the first three books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! The final book of the series A Long Lost Time will be released in 2020!

Please follow me on my blog and social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post

N.A.K