Stories from Oceania
I won? That shout you heard last night from my house here in Lotopa, startling all the birds asleep in the mango tree outside - was me. Finding out that my book FIRE'S CARESS was announced in Wellington NZ, as the winner of the BEST YOUTH NOVEL award in the 2022 Sir Julius Vogel Awards.… Continue reading Best Youth Novel – Sir Julius Vogel Awards
A long time ago, the Hot Man promised to love me above all others. Above all else. But that was before he got his Holden Crewman. But I must admit, it is beeyootiful. Im half in love with it myself... When we lived in New Zealand, the Holden only got brought out of its sacred… Continue reading When He Doesn’t Love you Best
Confession time. 1.I've never been to a REAL concert. 2. I really enjoy Eminem's music. The poetry and raw power of his lyrics, the story behind his rage and hurt and passions, and the journey you take through his music from the 'beginning' to now. 3. I wrote quite a lot of TELESA to Eminem's… Continue reading Im Not Ready For the Rapture
2013 PIPA Graduates. Photo - Letti Wickman. A Keynote Address given at the 2013 Graduation ceremony for the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, Auckland. I’m delighted to be here with you young and restless graduates, and with your families and friends, as we celebrate your achievements. I stand in awe of you. Not just because… Continue reading Be Worthy
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
The Hot Man was sad today. Bella had 'Fairytale Day' at school and her class was having a shared lunch. She had to dress up in her funnest fairytale clothes and take a plate of yummy treats to share with the class. The Hot Man is new to this kind of thing. It's 8am and… Continue reading How to Be a Shaamaazing Parent.
I used to say that the only way I could ever get a holiday from my Demented Domestic Goddess duties - was to get pregnant. Because then I would have to go live in New Zealand for a few months before and after the baby busted out because I have a small problem with sustaining… Continue reading When Your Husband Runs Away From You
Sometimes, daughters can drive you nuts. Big Daughter is a writer and a poet. She is a disgustingly intelligent child. I can even concede she is far more intelligent then I will ever be. (Not that I’m biased or anything. What do I know, I’m just her mother.) I am very proud of Big Daughter… Continue reading When Daughters Drive you Nuts
Hedgehogs live in New Zealand. I didn’t know this until I saw one creep, creep, creeping across the driveway and over the lawn. A spiky little splodge with feet. I shrieked. The hedgehog probably had a mild heart attack. (But it concealed it well and carried on about its creeping business.) The children were entranced. Bella followed… Continue reading Hedgehog Lies
Sometimes it sucks being a parent. When they're babies, you cant wait for them to get big enough to make their own food, see to their own hygiene and possibly massage your feet and tell you what a wonderful mother you are. Then they grow up and start thinking for themselves and you wish they… Continue reading Being a Parent Sucks.
Lani Wendt Young 