Thursday, February 13, 2014

From Australia With Love Blog Hop: Australian Icons in writing with K.A.Last



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
Cover Artist: KILA Designs 
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
Cover Artist: KILA Designs 
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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