The Bone Bearer Book Launch Party, Auckland

01/08/2013
PRESS RELEASE

The Bone Bearer Book Launch Party, Auckland

The much awaited release of Lani Wendt-Young’s third book in the Telesa Trilogy series has finally arrived. THE BONE BEARER is set to be launched in Auckland, on Saturday 17 August 2013 at BNZ Manukau.

Thanks to the vital support of major sponsors, the BANK OF NEW ZEALAND at Manukau, BLUESKY SAMOA, 531PI RADIO STATION, TALOFA NEWSPAPER & SHOPSAMOA.COM; the SAMOA BUSINESS NETWORK INC (SBN) invites you to the OFFICIAL Auckland launch of THE BONE BEARER.

“It is massively exciting for the Samoa Business Network to host this launch in partnership with the Bank of New Zealand Manukau”, said spokesperson, Rasmus Pereira.

“BNZ Manukau have been staunch supporters of the Samoan Business Network right from the beginning and they continue with their support of Pacific entrepreneurship, with the launch of Lani Wendt Young’s third book in the Telesa Trilogy.”

The launch is a fun family day out celebrating Pacific literature, art, music, dance, creativity & entrepreneurship and showcasing an array of Pacific and local businesses in South Auckland.

Lani Wendt-Young, has made huge waves internationally with the release of her first two books in the Telesa Series in 2011 and 2012. Thanks to the books availability in both print and digital format worldwide, this fiery adventure series has found a global audience. The author’s passion for nurturing literacy in our Pasifika youth and sharing the richness of the unique Samoan culture via her writing, has led to her making the first TELESA e-book free for students, with over 50,000 people grabbing a copy this way.  All the TELESA books have featured on the Amazon bestseller listings for Young Adult fiction. This has resulted in an explosion of interest in Pacific literature, particularly from young Pasifika readers - which her uncle, Albert Wendt, would no doubt be proud of. The BONE BEARER is the final chapter of Leila and Daniel’s epic story and one which draws in characters and elements from many other Pacific nations in an explosive and fiery conclusion.

All the books in the TELESA Series will be available for purchase on the day and the good news is that Lani will be personally signing copies of the BONE BEARER, with the first 50 customers receiving a complimentary poster as well!

When:  Saturday 17 August 2013
Time: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Where:  BNZ Manukau, Cnr of Great South Road and Cavendish Drive, Manukau (across from Manukau McDonalds)
Contact: Laura Keil Hall – 021659072 / Rasmus Pereira – 0275161125
Email – [email protected]
Website(s) www.thebonebearer.com & www.samoabusinessnetwork.com

---

about lani wendt young

Author of the Telesa Trilogy, Lani Wendt Young

Lani is a Samoan/NZ writer who blogs as a (slightly Demented) Domestic Goddess at Sleepless in Samoa,. Her award-winning short fiction has been published in collections in NZ, Australia and the UK. In 2009, Lani was commissioned to research and write her first book, a narrative account of the disaster which devastated the islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Northern Tonga. The printing of ‘Pacific Tsunami – Galu Afi’ was funded by the Australian government and all proceeds from the book go to survivors who shared their stories for the project. A qualified teacher who has taught at the secondary and tertiary level in Samoa, Lani is a frequent guest speaker at schools, libraries and writing events.

Lani is married to Darren Young (who is probably the most patient man alive) and when she’s not writing, blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking and living in other worlds of adventure and mythological fantasy ( in her head) - she’s the full-time mother to her five fabulous children. (Who are also very patient people)

The Telesa Series: Romance Pasifika Style

Lani published her first novel ‘Telesa: The Covenant Keeper’ as an electronic book in October 2011 – a first for a Samoan author. Telesa is the first book in a Young Adult contemporary Fantasy series set in Samoa and within two months, it had reached number one on the Top Rated Fantasy Romance List on Amazon, the world’s largest e-book distributor. On June 10th 2012, the second book in the series, ‘When Water Burns’ was launched on Amazon, making it to Amazon’s ‘Hot New Releases’ listing within the first 24 hours and is an Amazon bestselling Mythology and Children’s Fantasy book. A third book in the series, a novella entitled, ‘I am Daniel Tahi’ was released in December 2012. ‘The Bone Bearer’ will be the concluding book in the series which tells the story of Leila and Daniel. All the Telesa books are available globally in both electronic copy and print from Amazon.com. ‘Telesa: The Covenant Keeper’ is now a required text for Pacific Literature courses in several universities around the world and has been the inspiration for other Pacific creative artists in the fields of fashion, music, art, bone carving and dance. The series has a dedicated global following and it encourages reader engagement via social media. There are Telesa and author fan pages on Facebook with a combined 10,000+ followers. The TELESA audience is a global one with readership divided between the USA, NZ, Australia and Samoa. 80% of her readership is female and between the ages of 18 to 45yrs. The recent cover reveal for the upcoming TELESA book reached over 46,000 engaged Facebook users, with even the author of Fifty Shades of Grey, E.L James – liking and sharing it with her followers.

In NZ, the books are available from Paper Plus stores, Shop Samoa outlets, various University Bookshops and selected retailers. Schools and libraries can acquire Lani’s books from Shop Samoa Books. Worldwide, the books can be purchased in both digital format and print from Amazon.

Awards

2011 USP Press Fiction Award, ‘Sleepless in Samoa.’ Short story collection.
2010 Commendation Award, Commonwealth Short Story Competition. ‘The Beast that Came from the Sea.’
Winner of the 2002 Telecom/National Univ of Samoa Short Story Competition. ‘A Sister’s Story.’
In the Media:  Lani and her writing has also featured in -
· Drive Time with Waleed Aly, ABC Radio National, Australia
. ABC Radio Australia with Geraldine Coutts.
. Radio NZ
. Spasifik Magazine, NZ
. TV One NZ The Good Morning Show
· Campbell Live, TV3, NZ.
. TV3 Samoa
. TV1 Samoa
. STARCH – NZ Literary Journal
· Tagata Pasifika
· JAAM Magazine, NZ
· Samoa Observer Newspaper.
· Samoa News, American Samoa.
· School Journal Series, Learning Media, NZ
· Newsline, Samoa.
· Commonwealth Foundation Short Story Winners. Recorded for worldwide radio broadcast.
· Event Polynesia Online News· Various USA and UK Book Blogger Review sites.​
​