Stories from Oceania
It’s been more than two years since we saw Big Son. He went to New Zealand for a job interview, got a fabulous job and stayed there. He’s living his best life. It’s been more than a year since we saw Big Daughter. She’s in New Zealand too, living her bestest life, working a fab… Continue reading Dogs are Better than Children.
My ongoing #lockdownDiary of random observations and fiapoto thoughts! From my privileged position of being able to lock down with my teenager, both of us working/schooling from home, while Darren goes to work at Young Steel. Samoa locks down for two weeks and goes from one community Covid case to 2000+. Either we are doing… Continue reading Living with Covid in Samoa?
Surprise! I released my new book early. Because I really really wish all my favorite authors and favorite shows would take pity on me and release their next books/seasons early! 😭 (Hello Im looking at you Yellowstone, Bridgerton, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs…) Is anyone else weary sad from pandemic plagues and wars and lockdowns and… Continue reading My New Book is Here
I was an English teacher in Samoa for several years. The challenge was how to help nurture a love for reading in my students – when usually all we had were books written by white people, set in white people places, in a world where white people did all the thinking/talking/acting/feeling, and the rest of… Continue reading Why did I write ‘Afakasi Woman’?
Bella brings me her maths work and reports theres just one problem she cant figure out, can I help her? I look at it, have no clue what's going on, and tell her, dont worry about that one, just leave it. Darren overhears me. Shocked. "Just leave it? What does that teach her? When theres… Continue reading Maths and Me dont Match
When I was a kid growing up in Samoa, there were no Samoan or Oceania fantasy novels, no Young Adult series set in Samoa or anywhere in Pasifika, no Samoan speculative fiction, no Samoa/Pasifika zombie apocalypse stories, no Samoa chick lit /romance. And now there are. 😉😍 I am glad and #blessed to be a… Continue reading Va – Stories by Women of the Moana
3 months ago - I start training to do my first half-marathon. The Ironman in my house points out that I havent done a 5km. Or a 10km race. So maybe I should set smaller goals first? I ignore him. Because pffft those are so LITTLE. And EVERYBODY does those. I wanna do something big.… Continue reading I cried. Died. Then kept going..
I'm going to stop saying IM TOO SLOW TO CALL MYSELF A RUNNER…IM NOT A REAL TRIATHLETE…NO IM JUST A SLOTH SLUG… Because this week I found myself: Moving my long run to Tuesday, because I'm doing a triathlon on Saturday instead. Like, WHO EVEN AM I ?Running 10km nonstop. Since when have I done… Continue reading I’m not a sloth slug anymore.
So if you’re a hermit introvert (with the added plus of an anxiety disorder) like me, then you will already know about the incredible amount of energy and angst that can go into leaving the house for a social gathering. It doesn’t matter if it’s an event you’re really looking forward to, with people you… Continue reading Why I deserve a Gold Medal
The coastal village of Matala prided itself on being a community that worked together. United to carry out village projects. Their village had won first place in the Teuila Festival National Dance competition, for the last five years running. Their cricket team was unbeatable in Upolu. And they were awarded certificates every year in the… Continue reading Warriors from Weavers
Lani Wendt Young 