‘So Many Islands’ shares a unique collection of stories and poems from Commonwealth island writers from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

Giving voice to their challenges and triumphs, these writers paint a vibrant portrait of what it is like to live, love and lose the things most precious to them on the small islands they call home.

“Samoa is the first country to launch this book and the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel is the perfect place to hold the book launch,” says Little Island co-owner Evotia Tamua.

“One of Samoa’s most famous tusitala or teller of tales is Scottish born Robert Louis Stevenson who passed away in Samoa on 3 December 1894 - almost 123 years ago to the day that ‘So Many Islands’ was launched at a hotel named after him.” 

Samoan writers in the anthology are Fetuolemoana Elisara and Sia Figiel.

“Even though the writers are spread around the world, they are all connected through their shared experience of living on an island,” says Little Island co-owner Evotia Tamua.

Writers Mere Taito from Rotuma and Tracy Assing from Trinidad and Tobago were in Samoa to take part in a series of events organised by Little Island which include a Pacific publishing seminar, book launch, Pacific short films screening and panel discussion.

“Like the many stories from the many islands in the book, it takes many people to put together our events here in Samoa.”

“Little Island Press would like to thank the following people; Janet Steel from the Commonwealth Foundation, authors Mere Taito and Tracy Assing, filmmaker Katherine Reki, Dionne Fonoti from the NUS Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa and Nigel Stowers of Business Systems Ltd.”

Books are available from Business Systems Ltd (BSL) in Taufusi Apia & Salelologa Savaii Samoa.