Winner, LGBTQ+ Fiction — American Legacy Book Awards
Finalist, Legacy Fiction — American Writing Awards
Finalist — Page Turner Awards
Finalist — Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards
Winner, LGBTQIA Fiction — Independent Author Awards
Notable Book of the Year — Best Indie Book Competition
Winner — Beyond Boundaries Book Award
Book Excellence Award Winner
The Narrative Voyager Award
Winner, LGBTQ+ — PenMasters Global Fiction Awards
Winner — Book Excellence Award
Notable Indie — Shelf Unbound Competition
“I was so young when it all began that the blame hardly feels like mine. …”
In the lull between the conservative ’50s and the turbulent ’60s, Kyle Ryan Quinn, an introspective, sentimental boy, leads a golden life. He’s rich, beautiful and smart, and he vacations each year on the same island with the same circle of friends: entitled Adonis Trent; acerbic Claudia; practical Dana; and frivolous Carly. Haunted by the ghosts of a tragedy that took place in his youth, Kyle is more sensitive than his privileged friends. He understands loss, and secrets.
When he meets Jack Averill, a quiet, bookish boy, his fateful 18th summer on the island, Kyle falls hopelessly, heedlessly in love. As he befriends and attempts to woo Jack — and tries to integrate him into his tight-knit yet troubled circle — he’s pursued himself by another summer boy, Trey, who will stop at nothing to win Kyle’s love, all while Trent toys with the affections of an island girl. Amid mounting familial, sexual and peer pressures, all four young men make heartbreaking decisions that will steal their innocence, destroy lives and consume them forever.
“As devastating as it is heart-warming, Harker Jones crafts a story that brings together all the best parts of a coming-of-age romance. Until September is a true page turner that moves quickly while still cutting deeply. Throughout the story, Jones’s prose is effortless and expressive, subtly infusing the pages with a sense of lyrical beauty. Although the narrative unquestionably shines, the characters are the crown jewel. With a cast of ultimately flawed but lovable teenagers, the plot is driven by their deep-rooted characterization.” — The BookLife Prize
“Novelist and screenwriter Harker Jones is someone you should know. The Los Angeles–based writer and editor has charmed readers with his first published novel, the beautiful and tender gay coming-of-age story Until September, a book about first love and the fragile nature of friendship.” — The Advocate
“Until September stands as a masterpiece.” — American Writing Awards
“In Harker Jones’ masterpiece, Until September, he weaves a tale that will leave you rooting for the characters through every obstacle. With each turn of the page, you’ll find yourself drawn deeper into their lives and invested in their journey. And the ending? It’s superb. This story will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.” — Midwest Book Review
“Until September by Harker Jones is a beautifully rendered exploration of the human condition, the complexities of friendship, and the transformative power of love. The author’s ability to capture the essence of a particular era while addressing universal themes of self-discovery, longing, and the irrevocable passage of time is a testament to his storytelling prowess.” —A Look Inside, 5 out of 5 stars
“Until September by Harker Jones is an impressive novel with complex, relatable characters. He addresses plenty of existential questions without imposing burdensome answers on his readers. The novel’s conclusion was quite moving, which you rarely find in other stories addressing this theme. This is a solid tale about youth, memories, heartaches, and choices. It sounds simple, but reading it will make you discover that it is far more profound.” — Readers’ Favorite, 5 out of 5 rating
Available at:
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Apple
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Top 5 Finalist, Horror — American Writing Awards
Finalist — Global Literary Book Awards
Finalist in Horror — Reader Views Literary Awards
Runner-up — Halloween Book Festival
Winner — Spotlyts Story Award
Top 3 Finalist, Horror — International Book Awards
Top 5 Finalist, Horror — National Indie Excellence Awards
Winner, Young Adult — Regal Summit Book Award
Winner, Horror — Independent Author Network
Finalist, Horror — Page Turner Awards
Trust no one.
Because it could be anyone.
When eight teenagers in a small Michigan town start receiving texts urging them to play Never Have I Ever, they find themselves caught up in a deadly game of secrets, repentance and retribution that may be connected to a girl who disappeared the year before.
As they start getting killed by someone in a scarecrow costume — or is it a costume? — the school bully sets out to discover who’s playing the prank in hopes of redeeming his past behavior.
And staying alive.
But will he figure it out before that past catches up to him?
Literary Titan Gold Book Award
Best Children’s Book 2025 — Bookshelfie Awards
Nominee — BREW Children’s Book Excellence Award
“A bird who’s afraid to fly is like a fish afraid of the water!”
What are you afraid of?
Sam is afraid to fly.
Being a bird makes this awkward.
His parents don’t understand.
His brothers and sisters don’t understand.
Sam himself doesn’t understand.
He wants to bob with the bats and flit with the fireflies and soar with the starlings.
But he can’t even look over the edge of his nest.
What to do when fear stops you from living?
Appropriate for children ages 7–11. With text by best-selling author Harker Jones and charming illustrations of Sam, his family, and the Italian countryside by award-winning artist Sara Angus, children will be enchanted as they learn lessons about fear, confidence and the strength in acknowledging we sometimes need help.
Midwest Book Review
This book is a valuable resource for helping children navigate their emotions and develop resilience. The artist beautifully rendered the illustrations rich in expression and atmosphere. They bring Sam’s internal struggle vividly to life, making the narrative even more accessible and engaging for children. Harker Jones crafts a thoughtful and meaningful narrative that invites discussion of emotional intelligence, personal development, and social-emotional learning. The story also enriches young vocabularies and offers opportunities for thematic exploration, both in the classroom and at home. This book is a valuable resource for educators, helping them enhance their efforts to nurture empathy and emotional awareness among their students.
— Suzie Housley, Senior Reviewer
Reedsy Discovery
The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly is a wonderfully illustrated children’s book and a true delight. It showed the author’s love of Italy’s beautiful landscape, wildlife, and traditions.
BookSprout
This was a cute read and has a good lesson in it. Highly recommend for younger kids as this has become a top read.