About

Lani Young is an international bestselling author of YA fantasy, contemporary romance and literary fiction. The 2018 Pacific Laureate, her work is inspired by the diverse mythology of Oceania and the richness of her cultural heritage as a Samoan and Maori woman.

Author of the Telesā Series, the Telesā World books, the Scarlet Lies series, the Afakasi Woman collection, the Tagata Oti apocalyptic fiction series, and the non-fiction book Pacific Tsunami Galu Afi. She’s also a writer of stories for children. She publishes her own books through Nafanua Press. Co-editor of the Va Anthology and the FUA Anthology through Tatou Publishing. 

Winner of the 2022 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel, shortlisted for the 2021 and 2020 NZCYA Book Awards, and winner of a 2019 Storylines Notable Book Award. 

Born and raised in Samoa, she attended university in the USA and New Zealand before returning home to work as a high school English teacher. Her first book was published in 2010 and she became a full-time writer, columnist and publisher in 2013. She lives in Samoa and New Zealand with her husband and four children.

                                                   **********

Lani’s Telesā novels are published and distributed in New Zealand and Australia by One Tree House Press NZ. For distribution and order inquiries, contact Christine Dale.