Indie Author of the Month: J.S Harman

teganfairleywrites
Nov 6, 2025
3 min read

Author of Dark Sands

J.S. Harman is a fresh voice in accessible sci-fi, blending survival, adventure, and existential themes with classic tropes. His stories fuse introspection, action, and mystery to explore the human experience.

About the Author

Author S. K. Stapar sitting on a chair — Author - J. S. Harman

J. S. Harman is a new voice in the world of accessible Science Fiction. Specialising in tales of survival, adventure and existentialism, Harman's work melds classic science fiction tropes with explorations of the universal human experience. A lifelong fan of sci-fi adventure and horror, Harman’s style combines introspection with non-stop action and mystery.

Heralding from Melbourne, Australia, Harman has a background in Social Work and Community Services, having spent years working in disability, homelessness and acute mental health spaces, and has maintained a passion for providing personalised and dedicated support to others. Harman has been a passionate reader and writer since his earliest years, completing his first story at age 10.

There’s something out there… in the sands…

DARK SANDS is a fast paced, action-packed thriller with a perpetually expanding mystery and cliffhanger after cliffhanger, culminating in a mysterious conclusion that will leave you curious for more, and questioning much of what took place in the story you just experienced. DARK SANDS explores the impacts of loneliness, isolation, and the universal feeling of things not turning out the way we planned.

Humanity has spent years surveying the depths of space, searching for another planet like Earth.

In Cahros, they might have found one.

Among the first wave of specialists deployed to the planet is Tarlo, a young and optimistic biologist who has spent his life dreaming of adventure among the stars. For all his excitement, he feels a little out of his depth – everyone around him seems so much smarter, stronger, and better equipped to deal with whatever challenges may lie ahead.

The team finally sets down on Cahros, but is surprised to learn that the planet is home only to a barren, lifeless desert. All is quiet.

That is, until night falls.

A nightmarish series of events leave Tarlo and the remaining colonists struggling to survive in a world that is so much more than a benign sea of orange. Here on Cahros, nothing is as it seems, and deep within these endless deserts lie untold, deadly secrets.

Available Now - and check out our Goodreads to hear what people are saying:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235435289-dark-sands

Fast Facts about J. S. Harman

Favourite Trope: "I have fallen in love with writing sci-fi – it allows for endless possibilities, and I feel can encompass almost all other genres if you’re creative enough! The sub-genres I’ve enjoyed the most are thriller and horror."

Plotter, pantser, or chaotic gremlin: "Pantser all the way – but there is a method to the madness!"

Fun fact: "Growing up, I was obsessed with two things: biology and astronomy. My chosen career in adulthood is social work, but guess which 2 of these 3 things show up in my work?"

Writing Fuel : "Snack: 90s trance music. Refreshment: Full strength coca cola."

Theme Song for Dark Sands: "I love this question! Mountains – Interstellar. The one where they’re on the water planet with the gigantic waves…"

Best Advice for Writers: "Here’s 3: 1. Buckle in for the long haul, this doesn’t happen overnight. 2. Always keep your focus on what you can control. 3. Avoid taking advice from people like me."

First to Hear the News: "I actually have no idea! It might have been a tie between my parents, my partner, and one of my sisters."

Elevator Pitch: "A naïve, optimistic biologist travels to a new world in search of life. Everything goes wrong."