2026 is the 15 years anniversary of publishing my first novel TELESA. I can’t quite believe its been fifteen years since?! Which has me reflecting on my writer road, how did it begin and where I am now. (And yes its making me feel super old too.)
Born and raised in Samoa, I’m number three of six children of Tuaopepe Felix and Marita Johnson Wendt. Educated at Apia Primary, Leifiifi Intermediate, Samoa College, National Cathedral Girls and Georgetown University (Washington D.C, USA). I completed a degree in English Literature & Women’s Studies at Victoria University NZ, and then a Postgrad Diploma in Education/ Teaching. Married Darren while I was at Uni, and we were both fulltime students when we had our first baby in 1995. (Our son was attending his first University lectures when he was a few months old!)
Returned to Samoa and started working as an English teacher at Samoa College in 1996. Baby two was born in 1998. I worked as a teacher at Church College Pesega and then RLS Secondary School. The only writing I did in these years was sending fiapoto letters to the Samoa Observer. I was too busy with our children and trying to work fulltime as well. (Never been too busy to be fiapoto though.)
Then Baby three was born in 2002. I was super sick during this pregnancy. She was an emergency delivery and almost didnt make it, born at 28 weeks size so we decided I would stay home fulltime. Thats the year I started my blog, Sleepless in Samoa and slowly but surely, became a writer who actually wrote words for other people to read. The years I spent writing on my blog are where I started finding my writer voice and also finding my audience. When I began I was talking to myself and then by 2011, I had strangers on airplanes and in shopping malls coming over to tell me ‘I read your blog!’ It was disconcerting and that’s when I started using code names for my family (a belated attempt to protect the innocent.) Thats when my (patient) husband Darren became the #HotMan on my blog. Its through my blog that I also met an incredible network of Pasifika women writers who were all blogging from their different parts of the globe.
WRITER JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS
2002 – Telecom Samoa Writing Prize, Winner for ‘My Sister’s Story’.
2002 – Started blog SLEEPLESS IN SAMOA
2003 – Baby four born.
2006 – 1st story published, NZ School Journal, ‘Shark Day’.
2008 – Baby five born.
2010 -1st book published, narrative non- fiction. PACIFIC TSUNAMI GALU AFI. (Commissioned by Hans Joe Keil)
2010 – Highly Commended, Commonwealth Short Story Competition – THE BEAST THAT CAME FROM THE SEA.
2011 – 1st novel published, TELESA
Moved to NZ with family.
2011 – USP Press Literature Prize, Fiction, Winner for SLEEPLESS IN SAMOA Collection.
2012 – Novel, WHEN WATER BURNS
2012 – Novella, I AM DANIEL TAHI
2012 – First ever Keynote, SPACLALS Conference, Apia Samoa
2013 – Novel, BONE BEARER
2014 – More stories for NZ School Journal
Moved back to Samoa with family.
2015 – Weekly columnist, Samoa Observer.
2015 – Novel, SCARLET LIES
2015 – Novel, SCARLET SECRETS
2016 – Novel, (published under pseudonym).
2017 – Established SAMOA PLANET (Co-founder, editor & contributing journalist.)
2017 – United Nations Climate Change Conference Fellowship, for 10 Outstanding Journalists from the Pacific. Germany.
2017 – Journalism Fellowship, ABC News, Melbourne Australia.
2018 – ACP Pacific Laureate (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Commission)
2018 – Signed limited print rights only contracts for six of my books, with publisher ONE TREE HOUSE PRESS NZ. (Telesa 1 to 3, I am Daniel, Afakasi Woman, Oceans Kiss)
2018 – First Keynote in NZ, National Writer’s Forum, NZ Society of Authors. WRITE TO LIVE, LIVE TO WRITE.
2019 – Collection, AFAKASI WOMAN
2019 – Novel, SCARLET REDEMPTION
2019 – NZ Society of Authors Waitangi Day Award.
2019 – STORIES FROM THE WILD /Adapt or Die, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Lecture.
2020 – Optioned for Film, 5 books in TELESA SERIES. By producer Kerry Warkia. First option.
2020 – Novel, FIRE’S CARESS
2020 – Novel, OCEAN’S KISS
2020 – NZ Notable Book Storylines Award (Afakasi Woman)
2020 – NZ BOOK AWARDS, YOUNG ADULT Shortlisted Finalist, (Afakasi Woman)
2021 – Novel, MATA OTI
2021 – Anthology, VA (Co-editor & publisher, Contributor.)
2021 – Novel, LOVE BY NUMBERS
2021 – NZ BOOK AWARDS, YOUNG ADULT, Shortlisted Finalist (FIRE’S CARESS).
2022 – Film option renewed, 5 books in the TELESA SERIES. Second option.
2022 – Novel, EARTH’S EMBRACE
2022 – Collection, MATA LULU
2022 – Children’s Illustrated Book, HALU BONGO!
2022 – Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Youth Novel (FIRE’S CARESS).
2023 – Finalist, Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Youth Novel (EARTH’S EMBRACE)
2023 – Film option renewed, 5 books in the TELESA SERIES. Third and final option.
2024 – Anthology, FUA (Co-editor & publisher, Contributor)
2025 – Established TALASAMOA.COM
Not listed here are all the blogs, articles, columns, and short stories I’ve written and had published in various newspaper, magazines, journals and websites in between and throughout the years.
When I look at this list, I realise why people say Im a “prolific” writer. I also dont feel so bad about taking a break from writing books after my Dad passed away in 2023. I look at this list and it makes me tired 😫 Especially when I remember that I dont just write my books, I also publish, market, and distribute them myself.
So what’s next for me?
I’m writing again. And it feels good. My next collection of short stories. Aptly titled, FIAPOTO WOMAN 😆 Returning to be a person who writes regularly is like coming home. I am glad.
Except for the days when the writing gets painful, when I accidentally tiptoe too close to the hole of sadness that is my grief. It will drown me if I let it. So I must be careful. I know well what the beast named depression can do to me. And I dont want to go there again.
It’s a catch 22 though. When it comes to my father and how much I love and miss him – there’s so much that needs to be delved into. So many words I want and need to write. How else shall I ever untangle grief if not with my writing? So I shall go slowly. Proceed with caution. Not sure how long this collection will take me. Im being gentle with myself for this project. No strict deadlines.
What will definitely be released this year though is my book, HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOK – A GUIDE FOR MOANA WRITERS. (More info about this one another time.)
Fantasy and magical realism are there for me too. My go-to favorites to escape into. I’m writing a movie script and I love the challenge of this new form. My first time writing a script and Im excited. (More info about this project, coming soon!)
As I pause to look back since my first Telesa book was released, I send out my gratitude to everyone who embraced that story of Leila and Daniel. I wrote TELESA for me, and it continues to surprise and delight me that so many others connected with it too. Thank you for reading, sharing and celebrating that first book of my heart, and then my other books since.
To be continued…
Lani Wendt Young 