Australian writers rock. We know it, and we love them. But it’s not always easy to discover the Australian talent that is right under our noses.
From Australia With Love Blog Hop introduces you to 18 Aussie authors across a variety of categories and genres. Each author is hosting three of their fellow blog hop participants between now and Valentine’s Day to let you find out more about them. So follow them on twitter, like their Facebook page and visit their blogs during the blog hop period to discover more great Australian writers.
And to show how much these Aussie authors love their readers, they’ve donated some great prizes for you to win!
Today I have K.A. Last stopping by.
When I sat down to write my first book, Fall For Me, I had absolutely no idea
what I was doing. I decided to follow the advice of write what you know, and
what I know pretty well (in my opinion) is Australia. You’d hope so anyway,
since I was born here and—apart from a three year stint OS at a young age—I
grew up in this great land.
The setting for Fall For Me may not seem overly Australian at first, but its roots
lie in and around an Aussie country town. That town is surrounded by state
forest, which is why I use the term forest instead of bush. I changed the place
names because for some reason I felt weird typing the real ones. Who knows why,
I just did, so my fictional names stayed. Although, if I told you the real
names you’d be able to see how I came up with them.
The fact that I’m an Aussie living in
Australia plays a big part in shaping the stories I write. Today I want to talk
about some of the things I’ve mentioned and used in Fall For Me that absolutely scream Aussie for me.
Ute:
This car is an Aussie icon, and every farmer I know has one. I know a lot of
city people—often tradies—who own this little piece of Australia as well
*raises hand*. Not only are they practical work horses, but they’re pretty
cool, too. I love my ute, and some days I miss being the one to drive her every
day, because hubby now uses her for work.
Bedford
Truck: Every farm in Australia would have one of these,
or something
similar. It’s like a crime not to have a rusty, falling apart truck somewhere
on your property. Sometimes even several. I’m sure it’s the same in other parts
of the world, but the rusted panels, grass growing out of the engine bay, and
possums nesting in the front seat, scream Australia to me. This truck is on my
parents’ property. It, and the country side surrounding it, is the inspiration
for some parts of the Tate Chronicles, but I’m not going to tell you where it
is because I’m mean.
Cicadas:
This summer the cicadas have been out in force, to the point where you can’t
talk to the person standing beside you because the little buggers are so loud.
You know summer is well and truly here when the cicadas start up before you’re
out of bed in the morning.
Moreton
Bay Figs: (Ficus macrophylla)
These large, majestic trees are a native of most of the east coast of
Australia, and their common name comes from Moreton Bay in QLD. They have huge
root systems called buttress roots, and are best known for this beautiful
feature. The tree in the image below is in a little NSW country town which also
inspired parts of the Tate Chronicles. This particular tree is where I had my
wedding photos taken, so it has a special meaning for me.
About
the author:
K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western
Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was
eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and
graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart,
she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a
vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in
love with it. K. A. Last is currently studying her Bachelor of Arts at Charles
Sturt University, with a major in English, and minors in Children’s Literature,
Art History, and Visual Culture. She resides in a peaceful, leafy suburb north
of Sydney with her husband, their two children, a rabbit named Twitch, and a
guinea pig called Squeak.
Title:
Fall For Me (The Tate Chronicles, #1)
Author:
K. A. Last
Genre:
Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Date
of Publication: January 17th 2013
Number
of pages: Paperback – 312
Word
Count: 71,000
Formats
available: eBook and Paperback
Purchase
Links:
Book
Blurb:
“Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love,
especially with each other. But for the record, you were worth it.”
Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and
Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made
to be broken…
Until now the fight against evil has been
simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when
it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the
wrong person?
All hell breaks loose, that’s what.
At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is
as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most
important ally.
Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and
friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace
tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be—or wants
to be—saved.
SACRIFICE IS FREE AT iBOOKS UNTIL FEBRUARY 19th
Title:
Sacrifice – A Fall For Me Prequel (The
Tate Chronicles
#0.5)
Author:
K. A. Last
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Date
of Publication: May 24th 2013
Number
of pages: Paperback – 114
Word
Count: 23,000
Formats
available: eBook and paperback
Purchase
Links:
Book
Blurb:
Seth’s heart is breaking. He knows his
decision will hurt the one person he keeps breathing for, but he can’t take it
anymore. He can’t be near Grace knowing she will always be just out of reach.
Grace is oblivious to Seth’s turmoil. She
loves him unconditionally, but not in the way he wants. They both know that in
Heaven physical love is forbidden, and to break the rules is to defy everything
they’ve ever been taught.
When Grace and Seth are sent on a mission
to save a young mother and her unborn child, Grace must face the fact that Seth
won’t be returning home. She doesn’t understand Seth’s decision and hates him
for it. But what neither of them realise is how big a part that single decision
will play in shaping their entire future.
What would you sacrifice for the one you
love?
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in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild
bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.
