Firsts & Lasts
My marketing questionnaire had asked me: ‘Why should people read your book?’
My immediate, genuine and sooky answer was: ‘Because I worked really fucking hard on it! 😭’
While I still stand by that as a totally valid and reasonable response, I suppose I should do my best to sell it a little more, with a tease of the plot and a little behind-the-scenes of the creation.
PLOT . . .
Firsts & Lasts is set in a small, beachy town called Woodston Bay. The book is a dual POV with alternating, short chapters from Pia ‘Ducky’ King and her bestie-since-birth, Logan Hamilton. This makes for a fun little aspect and allows readers to see exactly where their miscommunications complicate things. Especially for our hot-headed Logan who has been hiding the fact that he’s been in love with Ducky since he was a child.
The story begins 22 days before their high school graduation—an unlikely time for any new students to enrol at Woodston High. But when hottie-with-a-body, Oliver Carter appears in Mr Buttler’s English class on a rainy Wednesday morning, Ducky’s uncharacteristic ogling causes Logan to panic that any potential confession to his best friend may be too late now.
With Ducky being completely oblivious to how Logan’s always felt about her, she tries to soothe his loathing towards the friendly new student. However, it doesn’t help the situation that Oliver has invited Ducky to attend an upcoming party as his date… and she’s said yes.
Emma Seston’s party sets things in motion for a strong romance to heat up, an unnecessary heartbreak to recover from, new friendships to form and, eventually, someone to get hurt. Badly. Class attendance—while previously at the top of Ducky’s priorities list—becomes near impossible for her. Graduation—Logan’s only schooling goal for the past 12 years—now may not come at all.
EXTRA DETAILS . . .
Firsts & Lasts is set specifically in 2015 as that was a very important year to me personally. Woodston Bay is loosely based on one of my favourite places along the south-east coastline: Happy Valley and Bulcock Beach at Caloundra. Woodston High is heavily based on where I went to school—MacG, rep—because I feel like it looked like every other school, too. ✨ Reminisce Away ✨
None (and I deadset mean NONE) of my characters are based on anyone I know in real life. I always tell people that I’m pretty sure I manifested my husband by creating Logan—a tanned, dark haired guy with green eyes and a stubborn temper—so I will admit that I have added further physical aspects and traits (e.g. piercings, love for anime, etc.) to him since I met Jarrod. But at the end of the day, I knew Logan before I knew J—so Logie’s still technically not based on him.
In the editing process, it was suggested that I change quite a few terms that may not be fully understood overseas (e.g. bubblers, doona, etc.), but I’ve stuck to my patriotic guns and kept them in. In some sort of way, I’ve written this story for young Australians to enjoy. People overseas can just look it up if they need to 😉
WHY YOU’LL LIKE IT . . .
The characters! They’re just so gosh darn loveable. If you don’t love Ducky and her obsession with perfection, then you’ll love Oliver. And if you don’t love Oli and his downright Labrador personality, then you’ll love Logan. And if you don’t love Logan and his smartarse, sarcastic ways, then maybe just go read Stephen King or something?
Personally, I’m getting tired of reading about toxic guys who are meant to be portrayed as passionate and darkly protective when, in truth, they’re downright abusive and manipulative. Oliver and Logan are far from toxic and I would love for my children to grow up viewing the relationships in Firsts & Lasts as attainable.
I also believe each of my characters have relatable aspects to their audience. I myself, probably relate to Emma a little more than I care to admit, but I think everyone will be able to find themselves somewhere in this story.
Once you’re able to read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you have any questions relating to the creation of the story or the characters themselves (they’ve felt like real people to me for the last ten years, so I can even tell you things like their favourite colours and movies if you’re interested 😂) then please shoot me a message or comment on any of my socials.
All my love and thanks for your support!
Kit Hindmarsh x
