Stories from Oceania
I'm thrilled to have FIRE'S CARESS shortlisted alongside some brilliant books in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Congratulations to all the authors! FIRE'S CARESS is the sixth book in the Telesa world. The judges said of Teuila and Keahi's story - "Lani Wendt Young brings her characteristic linguistic flair… Continue reading Some fia-show, fiapoto news!
This year is the 10th anniversary of my first novel, Telesa. The book of my heart that was rejected by 30+ agents/publishers, so we published it ourselves - has since become the story that has lit a #PasifikaReadingFire in so many worldwide. I am honored that Telesa has influenced and inspired many other Oceania creatives… Continue reading Has it really been TEN years?!
We all know I'm a hermit with meagre social skills - which is why the internet is such a gift. I can be as isolated as I like, revel in all the unassigned air in my extended personal space AND still chat, laugh, commiserate, rant, rave and rejoice with people. But what happens when you… Continue reading I Found Love Online!
NZ readers can pre-order a limited number of SIGNED copies of Daniel's Novella here. They will be available in New Zealand on January 30th and posted out to you. The novella is in paperback format and 146 pages. Please indicate on the order form what name you would like your book signed to. Cost - $20.00 NZD (This… Continue reading NZ Telesa Readers Only – Get in Quick
So Im doing this NaNoWriMo thing where hundreds of thousands of people the world over sign up to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It's so massively huge that probably even Martians are doing NaNo. It's my first time doing it. In theory, its a fabulous concept. You commit to sitting down and… Continue reading Skinny (NaNoWriMo) is for Fools
Ok, so I tried this vlogging thing. You dont even want to know HOW LONG it took me to figure out the blasted video tech stuff. Ugh. Anyway, here it is. The first in the "Fiapoko Woman" series where I talk about writing stuff, answer your TELESA questions and generally ramble about random things (when I… Continue reading I Vlogged! (Can I get anymore CLEVER!?)
I was answering some questions for an interview with a new Pacific women's magazine that's coming out soon and got stuck on one of them. "How does it feel to be successful?"Umm...I don't know.… Continue reading You are Not Famous. You are not Cool.
The thing about being a full-time writer and domestic slave to too many children, is that it means the only work clothes you own are sweats and pyjamas. Which can be a problem when you get invited to fly to another city to do a book thing at your old university. Somehow, I didn't think… Continue reading Taking it All Off…
Everybody has those daydream fantasies when you're a kid growing up. No, not the ones where Han Solo knocks on your door and says, 'I've been searching the galaxy for you, come let us fly away into hyperspace together...' NO. I mean the fantasies where you think about what you want to be 'when you… Continue reading Fantasy Realization
Last night my book Telesa was launched here in Auckland, NZ at an event jointly hosted by Auck. Univ of Technology and Auckland University. It was an evening of poetry, dance, music and Pasifika-style celebration with Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh giving the keynote address, a Telesa siva performance by AU graduate Filoi Vaila'au, music from… Continue reading Telesa – Auckland Launch Night
Lani Wendt Young 