Luke is a widely published poet and journalist, the author of five books of poetry and a regular columnist for several journals (see "Columns" section).

Until his recent retirement from the state to run his own consulting firm running campaigns for progressive Democrats, Breit Strategies, he was the Press Secretary to the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He also served as the late Mayor Joe Serna's appointee to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

He serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Poetry Center and is a former Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of California Poets In The Schools.

His books include Unintended Lessons (QED Press, 1999), Messages - New & Selected Poems (QED Press, 1989 - this book can be ordered at the "contacting Luke" link), In This Picture, We Are Laughing (WUFAHTIBOOTDA Poetry Press, 1983), Words The Air Speaks (Wilderness Poetry Press, 1979) and Celebrating America Within (Golden Mountain Press, 1973).

His work has appeared in dozens of literary journals and anthologies including The New Yorker, Haight Ashbury Literary Review, Poetry Now, Hika, Oro Madre Magazine, bombay gin, Mendocino Review, Kuksu, Beatitude, The California Bicentennial Poets Anthology, Editor's Choice II: Fiction, Poetry & Art from the U.S. Small Press,Watching from the Sky and Landing Signals.

Luke formerly was the Associate Director of Californians Against Waste, the nation's largest recycling advocacy organization, sponsors of California's Bottle Bill and the Integrated Waste Management Act, and also served as the Campaign Director of the California League of Conservation Voters.

During the 1980s, Luke served as Special Assistant to Assembly Speaker Willie Brown on the Environment and Energy, and also as Mr. Brown's principal speechwriter. He served as Chief of Staff to Assembly Members Peter Chacon and Dan Hauser from 1994-1989, when he left government service to open his own consulting and government advocacy firm. He has lived in Sacramento since 1981.

He is, miraculously, the father of two startlingly wonderful children, Yannis, 22, and Nicole, 17.

In his introduction to Messages, Norman Mailer wrote: "In boxing, there are subterranean dreams of being knocked down by blows so artfully delivered that they pound nothing out of you. The fall is free. You wake up refreshed. Breit can put three or four perceptions together in a row that have something like that effect... Luke is a rainmaker. Put him in a desert, get him to recite, and clouds will gather...If I could be a poet, I wouldn't mind at all being as good as Luke Breit." The complete introduction is here.