Lani Wendt Young's Blog, page 12
December 23, 2011
No I'm not Rich and I haven't met Ezra Taylor.
Wherever I go, I've been fielding a lot of questions about the writing and publishing of the TELESA book. Some of them serious, "How long did it take you to write?...Is the book about Ezra Taylor?...Are you rich now?" And some of them, not-so-serious, "Can I be Leila in the movie version of the book?...Are you afraid the real telesa is going to punish you for writing it?" Once and for all, this post is to answer the serious questions.
Some Random TELESA Book Trivia
.
1. All up, the book took me 6 months to write and rewrite. Another month for editing and another month for formatting. The toughest part was formatting it. I'm hopeless with Word document intricacies and there was a lot of cursing and general witchiness during my attempts to prep TELESA, first as an electronic book and then as a print book. I hope and pray that formatting the second book will be provoke far fewer curse words.
2. No. I did not base the character of 'Daniel' on rugby player Ezra Taylor. I had never heard of Ezra or seen any pictures of him until a few months ago when the book was at the printer and I was planning the TELESA promotional campaign. A sister-blogger ( who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty), pointed him out to me. He's a great role model for our Pacific youth in many ways. I'm grateful that he accepted the invitation to be the cover model and he has generously 'gone the extra mile' and assisted with book/video trailers and more. No, I have never met Ezra in person. Photoshoots etc were arranged via email and Twitter. When I read the TELESA book and as I continue working on the second one, I do not envision Ezra when I'm writing Daniel and Leila's story. It would really kill the creative process if a real person invaded my thoughts while I was writing! Daniel is completely fictional - although many of his qualities were inspired by a blend of characteristics from different boys/men I have met in my life.
3. I can't point to one place or moment where I got the idea to write TELESA. I grew up with the telesa stories and warnings like most young Samoan girls but I found them fascinating rather than frightening because I don't believe in 'witchcraft' or demons etc. It annoyed me that nobody could answer my questions about telesa. I wanted to know more about her and so I resorted to imagination to fill in the blanks. I have used several key names from our Samoan mythology eg. Nafanua, but I have deliberately mis-spelled others eg. Saumaeafe - because I'm NOT writing about the character from the legends and I do not want people to assume that I am. Read the disclaimer at the front of the book - I'm not an expert on Samoan legends/mythology, I've made up everything and anything in the book - so please don't sue me or throw stones at me if the story doesn't 'match' whatever legends you were told as a child. Another source of inspiration was the X-Men. I loved X-Men comics and the idea of mutants, people gifted/cursed with special abilities has always enthralled me.
4. Yes there are more TELESA books coming. I can say with 100% surety that there will be three books but I am also dabbling with the idea of several others after that. (They may not have Leila and Daniel as the key characters though because they will be taking up the storyline of other telesa.)
5. No I have not made lots of money on the TELESA book. Most people are illegally file sharing the e-book with gazillions of friends and relatives. I anticipated this though and so I didn't run out and buy my Hummer dreamcar. I'm grateful that people want to read my book enough to steal it - share it because I'm a nobody writer with her first fiction novel - and even opening my book to the first page, is taking a risk on your part. At this point in the game, I'm thrilled people are reading it, never mind how they got it. I received my first royalties cheque from Amazon in the mail last week for the Sept sales of the e-book - a whopping total of $245 USD, which will allow me to get McDonalds for the Fab5...a couple of times. When someone buys a print book off Amazon for $12, I get $3.00 of that. This is still a better deal than that offered by a publishing company, because most of them will only offer 8 to 10% royalties. So if they sold my book for 12, I would only get $1.20...eek! I had to invest a big chunk of money into printing TELESA books here in NZ - but those sales are the ones that bring in the most return. Enough to pay off my book loan, fund launches, and then reassure me (and my bank) enough to get me a second loan to print another lot of books. Maybe by the time "When Water Burns" is out, I will be able to answer 'yes' to the money question. (When I tell you that the Hot Man has quit his night job as Head Security at an Auckland nightclub...then you will know that the TELESA book is finally making us some money!)
Hope that answered your questions as well..if you have more, please ask away! All comments / questions go in the draw to win one of TWO Telesa book t.shirts. It's been 3 months since the release of the TELESA e-book. To celebrate, and to thank you all for the awesome support on this journey, I have TELESA t.shirts to give away.
T.shirts come in white with EITHER the Daniel book cover image OR the firegirl Amazon bookcover image. Sizes M, L, XL
Leave a comment / question and I will randomly draw TWO winners at midnight on 30th Dec. There will be more T.Shirt giveaways as we welcome the New Year, so stay tuned. Good luck!
1. All up, the book took me 6 months to write and rewrite. Another month for editing and another month for formatting. The toughest part was formatting it. I'm hopeless with Word document intricacies and there was a lot of cursing and general witchiness during my attempts to prep TELESA, first as an electronic book and then as a print book. I hope and pray that formatting the second book will be provoke far fewer curse words.
2. No. I did not base the character of 'Daniel' on rugby player Ezra Taylor. I had never heard of Ezra or seen any pictures of him until a few months ago when the book was at the printer and I was planning the TELESA promotional campaign. A sister-blogger ( who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty), pointed him out to me. He's a great role model for our Pacific youth in many ways. I'm grateful that he accepted the invitation to be the cover model and he has generously 'gone the extra mile' and assisted with book/video trailers and more. No, I have never met Ezra in person. Photoshoots etc were arranged via email and Twitter. When I read the TELESA book and as I continue working on the second one, I do not envision Ezra when I'm writing Daniel and Leila's story. It would really kill the creative process if a real person invaded my thoughts while I was writing! Daniel is completely fictional - although many of his qualities were inspired by a blend of characteristics from different boys/men I have met in my life.
3. I can't point to one place or moment where I got the idea to write TELESA. I grew up with the telesa stories and warnings like most young Samoan girls but I found them fascinating rather than frightening because I don't believe in 'witchcraft' or demons etc. It annoyed me that nobody could answer my questions about telesa. I wanted to know more about her and so I resorted to imagination to fill in the blanks. I have used several key names from our Samoan mythology eg. Nafanua, but I have deliberately mis-spelled others eg. Saumaeafe - because I'm NOT writing about the character from the legends and I do not want people to assume that I am. Read the disclaimer at the front of the book - I'm not an expert on Samoan legends/mythology, I've made up everything and anything in the book - so please don't sue me or throw stones at me if the story doesn't 'match' whatever legends you were told as a child. Another source of inspiration was the X-Men. I loved X-Men comics and the idea of mutants, people gifted/cursed with special abilities has always enthralled me.
4. Yes there are more TELESA books coming. I can say with 100% surety that there will be three books but I am also dabbling with the idea of several others after that. (They may not have Leila and Daniel as the key characters though because they will be taking up the storyline of other telesa.)
5. No I have not made lots of money on the TELESA book. Most people are illegally file sharing the e-book with gazillions of friends and relatives. I anticipated this though and so I didn't run out and buy my Hummer dreamcar. I'm grateful that people want to read my book enough to steal it - share it because I'm a nobody writer with her first fiction novel - and even opening my book to the first page, is taking a risk on your part. At this point in the game, I'm thrilled people are reading it, never mind how they got it. I received my first royalties cheque from Amazon in the mail last week for the Sept sales of the e-book - a whopping total of $245 USD, which will allow me to get McDonalds for the Fab5...a couple of times. When someone buys a print book off Amazon for $12, I get $3.00 of that. This is still a better deal than that offered by a publishing company, because most of them will only offer 8 to 10% royalties. So if they sold my book for 12, I would only get $1.20...eek! I had to invest a big chunk of money into printing TELESA books here in NZ - but those sales are the ones that bring in the most return. Enough to pay off my book loan, fund launches, and then reassure me (and my bank) enough to get me a second loan to print another lot of books. Maybe by the time "When Water Burns" is out, I will be able to answer 'yes' to the money question. (When I tell you that the Hot Man has quit his night job as Head Security at an Auckland nightclub...then you will know that the TELESA book is finally making us some money!)
Hope that answered your questions as well..if you have more, please ask away! All comments / questions go in the draw to win one of TWO Telesa book t.shirts. It's been 3 months since the release of the TELESA e-book. To celebrate, and to thank you all for the awesome support on this journey, I have TELESA t.shirts to give away.
T.shirts come in white with EITHER the Daniel book cover image OR the firegirl Amazon bookcover image. Sizes M, L, XL Leave a comment / question and I will randomly draw TWO winners at midnight on 30th Dec. There will be more T.Shirt giveaways as we welcome the New Year, so stay tuned. Good luck!
December 20, 2011
I went to the White House. And I wasn't speechless with awe.
#2 in the 12 Days of Christmas Traditions - The Christmas Decor of Doom and Destruction.
"Mothers are the makers of Christmas magic and memories." This is my mother's Christmas philosophy. This is what drives her every year to transform our house into a veritable Christmas wonderland. Nobody tops my mother's Christmas creativity. Nobody. I exaggerate you not. When I was 17yrs old, my family was invited to the White House to meet then US President Bush and have morning tea. It was December and the most famous white house in the world had been decked in Christmas splendor from top to toe by the finest interior designers that America had to offer. Were me and my siblings awed? No. Why? Because Mrs Bush's house looked just like ours. ( Ok, so her house was bigger. And whiter. But otherwise, same level of Christmas panache.) That's how amazing my mother's decor is. My mother starts styling our house in early December and she uses an assortment of native Samoa foliage combined with accessories from around the world to create a new Christmas Fantasy house every year.
And we hated it. Why? Because unlike Mrs President Bush, our mother did not have an army of minions at her beck and call to style her house. No. Our mother had the housekeeper, the gardener and us. Transforming a house is exhausting work. We had to clean, chop fir trees, scavenge for shells, coconut shells and flowers. Clean some more. Put up decorations. Take them down and move them over two inches to the left because they weren't 'just right'. Then take them down again and move them over two inches to the left because they clashed with the angel that was 45 degrees over from it. And we had to do this all with a smile on our faces. Or else we got the Christmas lecture. "You lazy, ungrateful children never want to help me. Every year I work my fingers to the bone...Don't you know that mother's are the creators of Christmas magic? Do you think this magic just falls out of the sky?! You're so useless, move away and let me do that..."
And then once the magic had all been successfully installed, we then had to tiptoe around it for the next 29 days and maintain its magicalness. 'Don't touch that. Don't break that....you're ruining all my hard work!"
Christmas Tradition Message There is a fine line between creating Christmas magic memories and instilling a loathing for Christmas decor of doom and destruction. Try not to cross it. I love the beauty of a beautiful Christmas but I'm lazy content to have a tree covered in Little Daughter's handmade (somewhat wonky) glitter cards and Sade's origami creations (that are not color co-ordinated at all). We made a pine wreath to hang on the front door - it's a little crooked but what the heck. And I got a box of empty wine and whiskey bottles from the Hot Man's nightclub job that I did mean to stick taper candles in for a stunning centrepiece...but there they sit on my doorstep still. No doubt proclaiming to one and all that this is a house of Christmas drunks. But it's okay. Because when I want to experience the Christmas Magic in all its wonder, I will just go home and visit my mother. Or it might be safer to stop by the White House - because I don't think Mrs Obama yells at people "Don't touch that! You're ruining the Christmas magic, dammnit!"
Is it the White House? No its Plantation House.
"Mothers are the makers of Christmas magic and memories." This is my mother's Christmas philosophy. This is what drives her every year to transform our house into a veritable Christmas wonderland. Nobody tops my mother's Christmas creativity. Nobody. I exaggerate you not. When I was 17yrs old, my family was invited to the White House to meet then US President Bush and have morning tea. It was December and the most famous white house in the world had been decked in Christmas splendor from top to toe by the finest interior designers that America had to offer. Were me and my siblings awed? No. Why? Because Mrs Bush's house looked just like ours. ( Ok, so her house was bigger. And whiter. But otherwise, same level of Christmas panache.) That's how amazing my mother's decor is. My mother starts styling our house in early December and she uses an assortment of native Samoa foliage combined with accessories from around the world to create a new Christmas Fantasy house every year.
And we hated it. Why? Because unlike Mrs President Bush, our mother did not have an army of minions at her beck and call to style her house. No. Our mother had the housekeeper, the gardener and us. Transforming a house is exhausting work. We had to clean, chop fir trees, scavenge for shells, coconut shells and flowers. Clean some more. Put up decorations. Take them down and move them over two inches to the left because they weren't 'just right'. Then take them down again and move them over two inches to the left because they clashed with the angel that was 45 degrees over from it. And we had to do this all with a smile on our faces. Or else we got the Christmas lecture. "You lazy, ungrateful children never want to help me. Every year I work my fingers to the bone...Don't you know that mother's are the creators of Christmas magic? Do you think this magic just falls out of the sky?! You're so useless, move away and let me do that..."
And then once the magic had all been successfully installed, we then had to tiptoe around it for the next 29 days and maintain its magicalness. 'Don't touch that. Don't break that....you're ruining all my hard work!"
Christmas Tradition Message There is a fine line between creating Christmas magic memories and instilling a loathing for Christmas decor of doom and destruction. Try not to cross it. I love the beauty of a beautiful Christmas but I'm lazy content to have a tree covered in Little Daughter's handmade (somewhat wonky) glitter cards and Sade's origami creations (that are not color co-ordinated at all). We made a pine wreath to hang on the front door - it's a little crooked but what the heck. And I got a box of empty wine and whiskey bottles from the Hot Man's nightclub job that I did mean to stick taper candles in for a stunning centrepiece...but there they sit on my doorstep still. No doubt proclaiming to one and all that this is a house of Christmas drunks. But it's okay. Because when I want to experience the Christmas Magic in all its wonder, I will just go home and visit my mother. Or it might be safer to stop by the White House - because I don't think Mrs Obama yells at people "Don't touch that! You're ruining the Christmas magic, dammnit!"
Is it the White House? No its Plantation House.
December 19, 2011
Six Sleepless Favorites
As 2011 wraps up, it's that time of year when everybody and their donkey's aunt starts compiling lists. Today marks the official anniversary of the Young and Restless Family's move from Samoa to NZ. Daaayuum we made it! One year. Looking back over a year of blogging and more blogging, I realized that this blog has reflected a lot on our journey as we have tried to adjust to our new life in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Here's six of my favorites.
1. Who's the Idiot? NZ has given us a lot of new experiences, from huge challenges to small ones. To seemingly mundane ones at the petrol station....In this post we meet the idiot dude who started off looking a lot like Ryan Reynolds. ( everyone sigh with me now) But by the end of my disastrous attempt to refuel our car, the service station attendant had become "the ugliest man I had ever seen."
2. High School is a War Zone Earlier in the year I tried to get a real job as a secondary school English teacher. But times have changed in the field of education. You have to be tattooed from head to toe, have a black belt in Kendo or star as a cage fighter on the weekends - if you want to make it. I was never a martial arts advisor on Kill Bill so I didn't end up working as a teacher this year. Which in hindsight, was a good thing, because otherwise, I would never have had the time to finish writing TELESA - because I would have been too busy kicking Uma Thurman's butt.
3. He's Got Nuts Some of us tried new sports. Little Son Zach played rugby league and I gleefully embraced the visions of Sonny Bill Williams-type sporting glory for my son when the coach pronounced in awe, "Your son's got balls. I mean nuts. I mean excuse my language, he's tough." Yes, yes, that's wonderful, but how soon can I - oops, I mean- he- be friends with Sonny Bill?
4. Shakin my Bootie at the Market When I lived in Samoa, I was rich. Or at least I was married to a really rich man and thus by osmosis, that made me rich. In NZ I am not rich. (Yes, that's right, I'm married to a different man...still Hot but not rich. Is credit to Hot Man's hotness that he can be poor and STILL be Hot.) So I tried my hand at being an entrepeneur, baking cinnamon rolls for the Saturday Market Fair. Ha. Quickest way to feel like a total waste of earth-space LOSER.
5.No Sex Allowed My biggest worry before we moved was whether or not our children would be able to adjust well. Would they make friends? Would they cope with new schools and more? Big Son quickly alleviated those fears when he met a most engaging young woman at school...and yes, the long-dreaded horror ocurred. My first-born, my 16yrd old baby, my precious darling...got himself a girlfriend. So what does a 21st century Samoan mother do when she meets her son's girlfriend for the first time? She gets up close and personal.
6.The Journey to be prettier than all his Ex-Girlfriends put together. Begins with Cookies. For me, discovering life in NZ has been synonymous with discovering all the food that NZ has to offer. So I finally faced the fat facts and joined the gym. My fitness goals began as deliciously as they ended - with cookies. Now? I'm embracing my luscious self. In all its multi-layered lusciousness. Bring on 2012!
Thank you for hanging out with me on Sleepless in Samoa this year. What was YOUR favorite blogpost?! (and don't you dare say the one about Jason Momoa's tattoos. Because we are not allowed to talk about tattoos anymore on this blog!) Hoping you all have a blessed festive season with much fun, laughter and peace with your loved ones.
1. Who's the Idiot? NZ has given us a lot of new experiences, from huge challenges to small ones. To seemingly mundane ones at the petrol station....In this post we meet the idiot dude who started off looking a lot like Ryan Reynolds. ( everyone sigh with me now) But by the end of my disastrous attempt to refuel our car, the service station attendant had become "the ugliest man I had ever seen."
2. High School is a War Zone Earlier in the year I tried to get a real job as a secondary school English teacher. But times have changed in the field of education. You have to be tattooed from head to toe, have a black belt in Kendo or star as a cage fighter on the weekends - if you want to make it. I was never a martial arts advisor on Kill Bill so I didn't end up working as a teacher this year. Which in hindsight, was a good thing, because otherwise, I would never have had the time to finish writing TELESA - because I would have been too busy kicking Uma Thurman's butt.
3. He's Got Nuts Some of us tried new sports. Little Son Zach played rugby league and I gleefully embraced the visions of Sonny Bill Williams-type sporting glory for my son when the coach pronounced in awe, "Your son's got balls. I mean nuts. I mean excuse my language, he's tough." Yes, yes, that's wonderful, but how soon can I - oops, I mean- he- be friends with Sonny Bill?
4. Shakin my Bootie at the Market When I lived in Samoa, I was rich. Or at least I was married to a really rich man and thus by osmosis, that made me rich. In NZ I am not rich. (Yes, that's right, I'm married to a different man...still Hot but not rich. Is credit to Hot Man's hotness that he can be poor and STILL be Hot.) So I tried my hand at being an entrepeneur, baking cinnamon rolls for the Saturday Market Fair. Ha. Quickest way to feel like a total waste of earth-space LOSER.
5.No Sex Allowed My biggest worry before we moved was whether or not our children would be able to adjust well. Would they make friends? Would they cope with new schools and more? Big Son quickly alleviated those fears when he met a most engaging young woman at school...and yes, the long-dreaded horror ocurred. My first-born, my 16yrd old baby, my precious darling...got himself a girlfriend. So what does a 21st century Samoan mother do when she meets her son's girlfriend for the first time? She gets up close and personal.
6.The Journey to be prettier than all his Ex-Girlfriends put together. Begins with Cookies. For me, discovering life in NZ has been synonymous with discovering all the food that NZ has to offer. So I finally faced the fat facts and joined the gym. My fitness goals began as deliciously as they ended - with cookies. Now? I'm embracing my luscious self. In all its multi-layered lusciousness. Bring on 2012!
Thank you for hanging out with me on Sleepless in Samoa this year. What was YOUR favorite blogpost?! (and don't you dare say the one about Jason Momoa's tattoos. Because we are not allowed to talk about tattoos anymore on this blog!) Hoping you all have a blessed festive season with much fun, laughter and peace with your loved ones.
The Christmas Fight
I grew up in Samoa. There were six of us children. Our father is Samoan and our mother is a New Zealander so we grew up with a western/British flavor added to our tropical island Christmas celebrations. Christmas is about family and inevitably as the day draws near, I am reminded of my family Christmas traditions and celebrations - and what I can learn from them and carry on with my own children. May I present...the Twelve Days of Christmas Traditions.
* The Christmas Fight . It's a stone cold fact that the Christmas season can be a conflict-ridden one. Stress levels can be riding high, there's angst as Xmas wishes war against budget constraints, and a home is crowded to incendiary levels as alllllll your children are home for the holidays. Growing up, our home was no different. Our parent's celebrate their wedding anniversary on Dec 15th and so without fail, they usually have a domestic bliss squabble of some kind around this date and then we six must tiptoe around their silent treatment for a few days. Usually its because my father hasn't paid tribute to the anniversary in a Wife-approved manner. As in, "Perfume?! Chanel No5 AGAIN? Can't you ever think to buy me anything else?"and "Orchids? What on earth possessed you to think that I would want four orchid plants for my anniversary? You know they won't stay alive for very long!" Thankfully, their scrap always clears up in time for Christmas Day, leaving the home filled with joy to the world feelings. It took her a few years but finally my mother figured out how to fix this problem of having a husband who could not read her mind and decipher her deepest wishes. She buys her own anniversary present now. This year it was a baroque pearl necklace (which to me, looked suspiciously like a string of warty slugs - but then I am a very unrefined and uncultured woman who thinks Kmart is the height of shopping bliss). And a delicious pair of sky-high pink platform shoes. I was coveting those shoes in a very Biblical way. My mother is 70 years old. She rocks. I am hopeful that I can walk in such shoes by the time I'm 70. Because I tried them on and fell over.
Christmas Tradition Message? Don't get married just before Christmas. It has the potential to put a damper on your future family festive celebrations. Me and the Hot Man celebrate our anniversary on Dec 26th. Much better. And everyone knows the Boxing Day sales are amazing places to buy that perfect anniversary gift (for one's self.) This year I'm getting me a delicious pair of pink platform shoes. Only roof-high ones though. I'm not as cool as my mum. Not yet.
So - what causes Christmas season tension in YOUR house?!
Yes, post Christmas Day, this will be my skanky feet walking past. Happy anniversary to me!
* The Christmas Fight . It's a stone cold fact that the Christmas season can be a conflict-ridden one. Stress levels can be riding high, there's angst as Xmas wishes war against budget constraints, and a home is crowded to incendiary levels as alllllll your children are home for the holidays. Growing up, our home was no different. Our parent's celebrate their wedding anniversary on Dec 15th and so without fail, they usually have a domestic bliss squabble of some kind around this date and then we six must tiptoe around their silent treatment for a few days. Usually its because my father hasn't paid tribute to the anniversary in a Wife-approved manner. As in, "Perfume?! Chanel No5 AGAIN? Can't you ever think to buy me anything else?"and "Orchids? What on earth possessed you to think that I would want four orchid plants for my anniversary? You know they won't stay alive for very long!" Thankfully, their scrap always clears up in time for Christmas Day, leaving the home filled with joy to the world feelings. It took her a few years but finally my mother figured out how to fix this problem of having a husband who could not read her mind and decipher her deepest wishes. She buys her own anniversary present now. This year it was a baroque pearl necklace (which to me, looked suspiciously like a string of warty slugs - but then I am a very unrefined and uncultured woman who thinks Kmart is the height of shopping bliss). And a delicious pair of sky-high pink platform shoes. I was coveting those shoes in a very Biblical way. My mother is 70 years old. She rocks. I am hopeful that I can walk in such shoes by the time I'm 70. Because I tried them on and fell over.
Christmas Tradition Message? Don't get married just before Christmas. It has the potential to put a damper on your future family festive celebrations. Me and the Hot Man celebrate our anniversary on Dec 26th. Much better. And everyone knows the Boxing Day sales are amazing places to buy that perfect anniversary gift (for one's self.) This year I'm getting me a delicious pair of pink platform shoes. Only roof-high ones though. I'm not as cool as my mum. Not yet.
So - what causes Christmas season tension in YOUR house?!
Yes, post Christmas Day, this will be my skanky feet walking past. Happy anniversary to me!
December 16, 2011
"A kind of Sex in the City meets hex in the bush... ancient mythology meets teenage biology"
Photo by Ana Faatoia What can be more of an honor and a privilege for your book - then to have an award-winning poet and scholar write an original performance poem about it and then have her present it at your book launch? I was nervous about what such an internationally renowned leader in Pacific fiction would have to say about my book - and Dr Selina Marsh blew me away with this creation. For the launch of Telesā by Lani Wendt Young(13 December 2011, AUT, Manukau Campus)Written and performed by Selina Tusitala Marsh
Mills and Boon Pasifika style this novel is notit's more than corny romance set to a cliché plot
it's contemporary mythology so that the next generation Relates to our pre-colonial stories in post-colonial fabulation
or should I say, 'ab'ulation, given the stunning coverand the page by page reminder of this ab-flexing Samoan brother
you see, when I read it on the boat, or in the English department kitchenI blush a little when some one says 'hey girl, that's my kinda fiction'
and my husband wasn't too thrilled with my recent bedside reading trendthe kids kept saying 'hey mum, whose ya one armed tattooed boyfriend?'
'Salapu your mouth, get to bed' and my husband would give me the eyethen Air, Water, and Earth would Fire Waiheke skies!
But enough about me...
Lani's first novel is a kind of 'Sex in the City meets hex in the bush'when our heroine Leila is finally pushed
to discover her Samoan roots, her internal 'Other'and finding Nafanua, her estranged mother
a sophisticated stilhouetted goddess reincarnatedthis classic story of teenage identity angst is exacerbated
by supernatural elements grounded in Samoa of oldthe reading and seeding of myths and legends and lores untold
genealogy and story strung in the integrity of linePacific epistemologies wrapped in passion sublime
the unexpected plot turns allow our eyes to seeinto the fire's bluest flame of Pasifika sensuality
with the earth and its the elements, and the unspoken but unforgottenthe telesā who reigned from afar, and the daughter once begotten.
She's Leila Folger, who grows bolder and bolder, throughout her identity journeycourageously endeavouring to answer questions that have kept her constantly yearning
she is fallible and relatablethe key to a captivating heroineshe is courageous and scared, intimidated and feared a smouldering contradiction.
There's Nafanua- the Covenant Keeper, absent mother, Grim Reaper, entrepreneur and fashionista
holder of knowledge ancient before time bestower of gifts through a supernatural line
but she is the embodiment of power without heartmanifesting an imbalance wrenching apart
cultural and social equilibriumbut throw the first stone, you without sin
she's a recognisable part of our communitywe as humans, do not have immunity
to the corruption of power, the sway of greed the dictatorial serving of our own need.
And then there's Daniel- almost inflammable
who needs a manual to read his instructions?Turn to page 'torso', paragraph 'muscle', line 'ab' to get reader-combustion
but this boy raised by his grandmother is intelligent and caring toohigh moraled, and determined to protect Leila's virtue
(much to her own disappointment-it's true)
Those cool blue black midnight pools in secret locationsgive us great cause for contemplationwhen we witness their romantic ruminations her lava illuminationsthe climactic culminationof Leila's over-active imaginationDaniel, superb control without deviation Leila's growing, pent up frustrationbut there won't be any fire and damnation cos their relationship would stand up to any Biblical investigation.
Halleluah! There's a book my teenager can read without any sex-before-marriage implication!And who could forget gregarious Maleko and fobalicious Simoneand Jase, that blond blue eyed surfer-professor honey?
Its ancient mythology meets teenage biologyPele's fire meets adolescent desireit's Matavanu's eruption meets after school detention it's him always staring at her, it's pesky mate Sinalei's 'whateverrrr...' it's a finished malu and it's painful bleedit's salty limu seaweed, raw fish and coconut cream.
It's when love comes right down to the wirefevers, night sweats, nightmares and fireit's when lava would rather cover all desireit's when the heart of Pele begins to inspire.
But for me, Leila's ultimately love story takes place within her moathe synchronising of two spirits in the afakasi diaspora
Lani's tackled the afakasi / half caste myth and imploded it on the pageshe's tenderly captured the fissures, ruptures, and deep volcanic rage
of what it means to always be seen as 'less than', always incompletehalf of someone, two warring sides, always ready to compete
rather, Leila discovers, like all of us, her power lies within no one can think less of us, without our permission
Leila, rather than being 'less than' is 'more than' and then some morethe deficit half caste is rendered full afakasi embracing several shores
the afa, the rope of many stories, that characterises these lovers' livesand kasi- tasi - one weave, binding all our cultural ties.
This is the tale from Lani Wendt Youngas writer, teacher, wife, daughter and mumthis is the tale sung from her tonguelucky for us, she's only begun
Lani, with Telesā you've set the bar for this Young Adult Teen Supernatural Romance-Thriller
full of SamCo students, church goers, earth healers and psychotic mother killers.
Congratulations forever Lani, you've begun a page anewbut while evil Sarona is missingand schemexy Daniel is kissing we're hanging out for number two!
Award-winning poet and scholar, Selina is the first person of Pacific descent to graduate with a PhD in English from the University of Auckland, where she now lectures in English and Pacific literary studies. She established Pasifika Poetry, an online hub that celebrates the poetry of tagata o te moana nui, the peoples of the Pacific. Her first collection of poems, Fast Talking PI, was published by Auckland University Press in 2009, winning the 2010 NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry.
December 15, 2011
Christmas Tree Killer
My Xmas tree is dead. Or at least its dying a whimpering, withering death. This is our first Christmas in NZ. I'm an island girl who grew up with sweltering rainy season Christmases. But I also grew up on Enid Blyton and Swiss Chalet girls books, so I wanted a
real
Xmas tree. I wanted the house redolent with the fragrance of fresh pine. I figured drinking eggnog and eating hot gingerbread in front of a roaring fire was out of the question since it's summer here...but at least, we could have a
real
tree. The Hot Man questioned my desire. 'What the heck do we want a real tree for? Isn't that a waste of money when a fake tree will last forever?' Clearly he did not grow up reading Secret Seven, Famous Five or daydreaming about being a schoolgirl in the Swiss Alps. So I ignored him. (You just know how this is going to end, don't you!?)
I even went one step further and got our tree set up early this year. On December 1st to be exact. We had our tree. And I was inspired by Plantation House 'From Our House to Yours' Xmas photoshoot.
I made a pine wreath using leaves from the trees in our yard. I meandered pine all over my mantlepiece, my living room. Artfully strewn with Xmas baubles. My niece was awestruck with my creativity. 'Wow aunty, you're so clever. How do you know how to do that?!' I waved off the applause nonchalantly. I was Xmas woman personified. A bottle of ginger beer - and Enid Blyton and me would have totally been best buddies. I just know it.
And then the stupid tree started dying. It's sitting in water so I don't know what the heck its problem is. It's getting brown. Withered looking. It's shedding everyday. My living room looks like the place where Xmas goes to die. My brother remarked (sneeringly) 'Well what did you expect? You can't even keep potplants alive, how did you think you were going to sustain an entire tree?" I hate it. Every rotting pine needle screams 'Lani is a Xmas tree killer!' I want to take it down and replace it with a lovely fake tree bu the Hot Man is shaking his head at me and I already spent the alloted Xmas Tree budget on a tree. That's now a dead tree.
He hasn't said 'I told you so' yet. (what a nice man) He has helpfully suggested that we wrap the fossilizing monstrosity in layers of tinsel. Kind of like applying makeup to a cadaver and sending it to a party in a Lady Gaga dress. No, nothing can save it.
The Christmas tree is dead. Bring on the bonfire.
I'm going Gaga-tree-style for Christmas.
I even went one step further and got our tree set up early this year. On December 1st to be exact. We had our tree. And I was inspired by Plantation House 'From Our House to Yours' Xmas photoshoot.
I made a pine wreath using leaves from the trees in our yard. I meandered pine all over my mantlepiece, my living room. Artfully strewn with Xmas baubles. My niece was awestruck with my creativity. 'Wow aunty, you're so clever. How do you know how to do that?!' I waved off the applause nonchalantly. I was Xmas woman personified. A bottle of ginger beer - and Enid Blyton and me would have totally been best buddies. I just know it.And then the stupid tree started dying. It's sitting in water so I don't know what the heck its problem is. It's getting brown. Withered looking. It's shedding everyday. My living room looks like the place where Xmas goes to die. My brother remarked (sneeringly) 'Well what did you expect? You can't even keep potplants alive, how did you think you were going to sustain an entire tree?" I hate it. Every rotting pine needle screams 'Lani is a Xmas tree killer!' I want to take it down and replace it with a lovely fake tree bu the Hot Man is shaking his head at me and I already spent the alloted Xmas Tree budget on a tree. That's now a dead tree.
He hasn't said 'I told you so' yet. (what a nice man) He has helpfully suggested that we wrap the fossilizing monstrosity in layers of tinsel. Kind of like applying makeup to a cadaver and sending it to a party in a Lady Gaga dress. No, nothing can save it.
The Christmas tree is dead. Bring on the bonfire.
I'm going Gaga-tree-style for Christmas.
December 14, 2011
Telesa - Auckland Launch Night
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 Natasha Urale-Baker, and a (surprise) taualuga dance at the closing. Many leaders from the NZ academic, government, business and Pasifika community were present. As were many Sleepless in Samoa readers and awesome sister bloggers. Books were sold and signed. Refreshments were served. My mother (the most creative woman in the world) had flown in from Samoa to be there. The Hot Man was chasing the naughty Bella Beast all over the building. The rest of the Fab5 were helping to sell books. My big sister gave a Telesa reading. (But her most valuable contribution to the launch was allowing me to borrow her MENA puletasi. Thank you sis!) My little brother was there with his family. Uncles, cousins, friends, tweeters and FB - all came out to support a hermit as she stepped out of her cave. Thank you everyone for making it a much less scary adventure to launch my first fiction novel in Auckland.
Ana Faatoia was the photographer documenting the event and I invite you to look through her pictures and experience the Auckland Launch of Telesa for yourself. Click on the link -
Faatoia Fotos: Auckland Launch of Telesa
Don't Get Busy with a Quickie Workout.
What should you NOT do the day before you launch your book?
You should NOT try to attempt a new workout program called Kettleworx for the very first time. (Because of course you know better than to think that enthusiastically throwing kettle weights around will magically make you ten pounds lighter...magically in time for all the cameras that will be flashing at your book launch. Noooo, I mean who's dumb enough to think that? Not I.) You should especially NOT attempt a new workout program before a launch because your partner will warn you not to. And when you ignore him (because you reeeeally want to have that fab fit feeling when you pour yourself into your MENA dress you borrowed from your sister) he will reprimand you. "You're going to be sore tomorrow and you have so much to do for the launch. You should stop that workout right now. You'll be sorry!" And you get annoyed with him because he just doesn't understand, he's stopping you from attaining that fab fit and high feeling.
But you really should have listened to him. Because if you do try a new workout program, you will wake up on the morning of your Auckland book launch with every muscle in your body screaming in pain. (Who knew I even had any muscles? I didn't.) And then when you try to walk, you will be so stiff and sore that you shuffle. And stick your butt out in a very unattractive manner. And when you sit down - you won't be able to stand up without assistance because your legs cramp up. And when you climb up stairs you need to hang on to the rail and pull yourself up and you will totally look like you're a woman in labor about to drop a baby out of her 'special place' at any moment. OR you will look like a woman who's had a bit too much excitement the night before. Great, just great. (As if there wasn't already enough fiery innuendo at a Telesa launch with all the Leila and Daniel references...)
And then when you're shuffling about, your partner will say 'I told you so.' And you will have to agree with him and tell him that yes, you should have listened to him. And when you're wearing your sister's beautiful MENA dress which requires that one constantly hold one's salubrious stomach in - the task will be that much more difficult because everything hurts dammnit. And you're not very good at smiling anyway, and so the thought of smiling at a book launch AND trying not to look like you're in agony? Is daunting.
Conclusions?
1.Listen to your partner. He's usually right.
2. If you want a quick way to get that Fab, Fit and High feeling? Don't get busy with a quickie workout. Eat some lettuce. Wash it down with a Diet Coke. And just get busy. (Of course I meant busy with your launch preparations. Of course. Why, what else did you think I meant?!)
Yeah - thats how I was walking afterwards. But I wasnt smiling. Oh, and the muscle tone was missing as well.
You should NOT try to attempt a new workout program called Kettleworx for the very first time. (Because of course you know better than to think that enthusiastically throwing kettle weights around will magically make you ten pounds lighter...magically in time for all the cameras that will be flashing at your book launch. Noooo, I mean who's dumb enough to think that? Not I.) You should especially NOT attempt a new workout program before a launch because your partner will warn you not to. And when you ignore him (because you reeeeally want to have that fab fit feeling when you pour yourself into your MENA dress you borrowed from your sister) he will reprimand you. "You're going to be sore tomorrow and you have so much to do for the launch. You should stop that workout right now. You'll be sorry!" And you get annoyed with him because he just doesn't understand, he's stopping you from attaining that fab fit and high feeling.
But you really should have listened to him. Because if you do try a new workout program, you will wake up on the morning of your Auckland book launch with every muscle in your body screaming in pain. (Who knew I even had any muscles? I didn't.) And then when you try to walk, you will be so stiff and sore that you shuffle. And stick your butt out in a very unattractive manner. And when you sit down - you won't be able to stand up without assistance because your legs cramp up. And when you climb up stairs you need to hang on to the rail and pull yourself up and you will totally look like you're a woman in labor about to drop a baby out of her 'special place' at any moment. OR you will look like a woman who's had a bit too much excitement the night before. Great, just great. (As if there wasn't already enough fiery innuendo at a Telesa launch with all the Leila and Daniel references...)
And then when you're shuffling about, your partner will say 'I told you so.' And you will have to agree with him and tell him that yes, you should have listened to him. And when you're wearing your sister's beautiful MENA dress which requires that one constantly hold one's salubrious stomach in - the task will be that much more difficult because everything hurts dammnit. And you're not very good at smiling anyway, and so the thought of smiling at a book launch AND trying not to look like you're in agony? Is daunting.
Conclusions?
1.Listen to your partner. He's usually right.
2. If you want a quick way to get that Fab, Fit and High feeling? Don't get busy with a quickie workout. Eat some lettuce. Wash it down with a Diet Coke. And just get busy. (Of course I meant busy with your launch preparations. Of course. Why, what else did you think I meant?!)
Yeah - thats how I was walking afterwards. But I wasnt smiling. Oh, and the muscle tone was missing as well.
December 10, 2011
Why I will Never be a World Famous Best-Selling Author.
See? JK Rowling oozes with calm, elegant, best -selling author sophistication.I have had an epiphany. A revelation of earth-shaking proportions. I will never be a world-famous, internationally best-selling author. Why? Because I am just way too un-cool. I have no calm ,elegant, nonchalant, best-selling sophistication at all. None.
I would never be able to catch sight of my book pictured on a poster somewhere without hyper-ventilating. Or see it in a bookstore without embracing it. (even if it was in the bargain bin. Embrace, embrace.) I wouldn't be able to handle knowing that kazillions of people are reading my book. Or comprehend a movie being made of it. Fall down and die right there. A telesa doll at KMart? Hanging out with BARBIE?! Oh miraculous blessed day...to be on a shelf with that epitome of plastic perfection? All my childhood dreams are now realized. Nope. Just the thought of Telesa world domination is making me ill. I will never make it.
How do I know this? Take the following as disturbing evidence:
*I see someone's profile name on Twitter is "TeamDaniel" or "TeamTelesa" and I shriek for the Fab5 to come check it out! (and they're like, yeah, yeah, so?)
*I jump up and down and do a delighted touchdown dance when readers say stuff like, "My little sister has a wave shaped birthmark. I want to take her to the beach, throw her in the ocean and see if she has any telesa powers." and "It's raining in Melbourne today. Telesa matagi weather." and "I hate my boss. She's a real telesa Sarona type." and "Reading Telesa on the bus, missed my stop." and "I can't concentrate at work. Keep thinking about Telesa." Or "Dreaming about me and Daniel. I love U Telesa." Or I stumble across a Twitter conversation where people are discussing which telesa woman they most wish they could be and I want to be an anonymous Tweeter and join in with my opinion. (what did I tell you? Sooo uncool. Capital L on my forehead.)
*I see someone's profile pic on Facebook is the Telesa bookcover and I want to be best friends with them right away. Maybe bake them cookies. They share their fave quotes and scenes and I want to host a massive Telesa party with fireworks (and Ryan Reynolds aka Jason) - where they're the guests of honor.
*When I get beautiful emails from readers sharing their experience reading the book - I want to cry. (ok, ok so I did cry. Just once or twice dammnit. Hayfever. )
No, I definitely don't have what it takes. I am that annoying, pesky author who will stalk you if she sees you reading her book in a library, on a bus, at a mall. Or shower you with shrieking hugs if I hear you discussing the symbolism contained in chapter 5. Or butt in when you're complaining to a friend about how annoying Leila can be - so I can add my agreeing two cents worth AND my detailed explanation of why she's the way she is. (To that reader at the bookshop in Samoa...I'm sorry! I promise I'm not usually that jittery and uncool. Truly.)
Lots of people everywhere seem to really be enjoying Telesa . And I still can't believe it. Other people actually are as obsessed as I am with Daniel and Leila's story! How cool is that? Gleeful skittery skipping all over the place. The beautiful Jillian Dodd ( author of That Boy) has compared an author's books to her children. I agree. You spend so much time writing them and preparing them to go out into the big bad world and you worry whether everyone will 'be nice' to them. And when, ohmiflamingTelesaFireHeck your book finds people who actually love it, stay up all night to read it, read it 3,4,5 times, watch the book trailer every morning....well, you get kinda ridiculously buzzed. Wow.
I want to tell you that I am so grateful to all of you that have taken the time to read Telesa . Maybe you've reviewed it, tweeted about it, shared it on Facebook, or encouraged a friend to read it. Maybe you have sent me an email or left me an online message about the book. I read them all. And yes, I squeeeee and tell the Fab5 to come quick and check it out. (and yeah, they roll their eyes and tell me to try to at least pretend to be cool.) And yes, I've probably cyber-stalked your Telesa conversations (because that's what Loser Uncool Authors do.) I am so grateful for your encouragement and support. I'm new to this. I have so much to learn and a long way to go - but it's exciting to be taking this journey with all of you!
I can't promise that I will ever be blase, nonchalant, reserved and cool if you try to Telesa chat with me. (Because my L for Loser is stamped pretty strong on my forehead.) But I can guarantee that I will always be appreciative. And yeah, I'll probably invite you over for cookies and Diet Coke.
December 8, 2011
Possessive "Angry Face" Love
Show your angry face!There are cousins staying at our house. Which we are really enjoying because there are children all the same age as my Fab5 so plenty of fun, laughter and festive season spirit around here right now.
Except for Bella. Her place as the youngest has been usurped by her 3yr old cousin Isaiah, a gorgeous little boy with near blonde hair and an impish smile. It's difficult to be the spoilt rotten, Princess of the house when there's another child younger than you are. Last night as I was putting her to bed, she confided, "I love you and Dad and everybody. But not Isaiah. I don't love him."
"Oh, that's not nice. He's your cousin and your friend. I love him."
She burst into tears. "No Mama, don't love him. Dont!"
It was getting late and I wanted her to hurry and go to sleep so I could do very important things. Like read Game of Thrones Book 3. So I rushed to shush and agree with her. "Ok, I won't love him. I only love you. Now go to sleep."
That wasn't enough for her. She needed more. "Don't smile or be happy to him. You have to show him your angry face. Your mean face."
I wanted to protest that of course I don't have a mean face. How dare! But like, I said, I really needed to get to that very important task that was waiting for me. Finding out what Jon Snow was up to. And who the Dragon Queen was blowing up next with her dragons. "Ok, ok, I wont smile at him. I will only look super mean and mad."
That wasn't enough for her. She still needed more. "Practise it Mama. Go on. Practise your angry face so I can see it."
So we did a few practise 'angry face' demonstrations until finally she was satisfied. And went so sleep. Finally. Game of Thrones!
I thought the matter was resolved. Bella was feeling a little neglected and just needed a little bit of extra reassurance and love. She would be fine. She would forget all about this conversation. Ha. This morning I walked out into the kitchen where Isaiah was having breakfast. I smiled and said, "Good morning handsome!"
Bella frowned. Burst into tears. Stamped her foot. "Mama, where's your angry face! Don't be nice to him. Show him the angry face!"
I think dealing with a pack of angry Wildlings or even a Dragon Princess would be easier than soothing the troubled waters of Bella's little cousin rivalry. Possessive love. It's vicious. I wonder though, do we grow out of it as adults? Hmm, have you ever been guilty of a little 'angry face possessive love'?
