This week's column - I take on the recent raging ruckus about the use of Samoan language in the Miss Samoa pageant AND that pesky Mormon church "banning" the use of Samoan in Brisbane. And you have two options: 1. If you don't feel like reading, you can WATCH/LISTEN to me tell you all about… Continue reading The Samoan Language: Why do Beauty Queens and Brisbane Mormons Need it?
Author: Lani Young
Lani Young is an international bestselling author of YA fantasy, contemporary romance and literary fiction. The 2018 Pacific Laureate, her work is inspired by the diverse mythology of Oceania and the richness of her cultural heritage as a Samoan / Maori woman.
Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
The nice thing about being married to a man who owns his own construction company, is he can design AND build your house for you. The Hot Man is freakishly clever like that. How lucky am I??? I went out with him for his sexilicious self and had no clue he actually had like...skills...talents...housebuilding moneymaking potential... But then that's… Continue reading Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
The Next Book in the Telesa Series
I'm working on a new book in the Telesa Series - that picks up the story of Teuila, Keahi and a few of the other characters, about eight years after 'The Bone Bearer' story finishes. I don't have a title yet and its very much a work in progress, but I'm excited about the new… Continue reading The Next Book in the Telesa Series
Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
In this week's Samoa Observer column, I get to talk about breasts. Yay fun! "if breastfeeding is so good for everyone involved, then why is there sometimes an air of indelicate shame and discomfort about it in the ‘modern’ palagi country I currently live in?...The reaction to a woman feeding her baby in public as opposed to… Continue reading Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
Love Your Body. (or try to)
I stopped at the store with a van full of children (don't ask me where they all came from...pesky pests are like mosquitos you can't get rid of) - to buy stuff to make a salad. I left them in the car ( of course) and dashed in. Where I was promptly distracted by sugar… Continue reading Love Your Body. (or try to)
Samoa: A Sexist Culture that Oppresses Women?
In this week's Samoa Observer column, I get to rave a little about feminism stuff in Samoa... I have a five year old called Bella. The very last child that will ever alien-grow in my uterus, she is the supreme ruler of our universe - and woe be it unto any creature who does not… Continue reading Samoa: A Sexist Culture that Oppresses Women?
Children are Dream-Killers
One woman. Running over 104km of scorching road...over jagged mountains and through expansive rainforest...can she endure? Can she summon the strength and will to battle onward? (cue kickbutt powerful theme music here) Can you see it? Can you hear it? Wouldn't it be awesome?! Last weekend, I went to support a friend of ours as… Continue reading Children are Dream-Killers
Sex Talk in the Samoa Observer
My second column in the Samoa Observer went live while I was there for the book launch... As a Samoan woman, I know it can be difficult for us to talk with our parents, children, friends and our partners about certain things - things like intimacy, emotions and relationships. But the world is talking about… Continue reading Sex Talk in the Samoa Observer
Why You Shouldnt Ignore Your Husband
When you dont listen to your husband when he tells you NOT to drive his car in Samoa because the radiator needs to be fixed...and then you drive it a lot and smoke pours out of it...and its about to blow up...so you go have a cafe breakfast and wait for it to cool down - When all that… Continue reading Why You Shouldnt Ignore Your Husband
Where is this Sleepless Woman?!
Checking in from Samoa with a few quick announcement s: 1. Brisbane was a blast and you can read all about it here - 'Bone Bearer Launched in Brisbane' 2. Then I dashed home to Auckland to hug the Fab 5 before coming to Samoa for a week of book events. It kicked off with… Continue reading Where is this Sleepless Woman?!
Lani Wendt Young 