Stories from Oceania
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’?
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.
She couldn’t sleep. So when the cry came, she heard it immediately. “Help me! Please.” A man’s voice. Calling from the road. “Auoi, ou te fia ola.” The Samoan’s universal cry for survival. I want to live. Iva leapt up with her torch, raced down the stairs and peered out the window beside the front… Continue reading Auoi, ou te fia ola
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?!
It's the Baby Demon's birthday next week. She's turning the big THIRTEEN. So in actual fact, she is not a baby. Something she's been telling me since forever. Since January she's been saying that she's BASICALLY thirteen already. At this rate, soon I will blink and she will be BASICALLY twenty-one. The child who is… Continue reading I quit being the Master of the Birthday Party Universe
Hi everyone, its been a long while! The bad news is that I lost my blog/website with all the latest info and writing on it. (Don't ask what I did/didn't do for that to happen. Just know that I am a pitiful procrastinator of all things related to tech and domains and deadlines and reminders… Continue reading I’m Back. With Demons and a Faikakala Summary
This conversation just happened. "It's the long Easter holiday weekend. I'm looking forward to our camp at the beach with the kids, aren't you?" he asked. "No. I'm not," she said. Actually, it was more of a 'she snarled.' Surprise. "Why? What's the matter? It's a holiday! Time to relax and enjoy family time," he… Continue reading Freeze Your Family for Easter
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
I've been kind of quiet on the writing front because I've been working on three different projects and unsure which one was going to be done first and ready to release. I'm thrilled to tell you that one story has basically got me falling in love and if all goes well - this next book… Continue reading Taking Your Clothes Off
The best writing #roomWithAView....where Telesa stories come from. Where do YOU source your creativity fire? What spaces and places speak to YOUR soul?
Lani Wendt Young 