A book titled 'Fire's Caress' by Samoan author Lani Wendt Young has been announced as the recipient of the 2022 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel.

The award was announced at a ceremony in Wellington, New Zealand last Saturday night. The Sir Julius Vogel awards are administered by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand (S.F.F.A.N.Z.) and recognises excellence in science fiction, fantasy and horror over a variety of creative fields.

There were four other shortlisted finalists up for Best Youth Novel this year: 'Welcome to the Inbetween' by Kate Haley; 'A Lair of Bones' by Helen Scheuerer; 'Spark Hunter' by Sonja Wilson; and 'The Thaumagician's Revenge' by Gareth Ward.

Ms. Young's novel, set in contemporary Samoa, is the 6th in her Telesa World Series and was published in New Zealand by One Tree House Press.

It was also shortlisted for the 2021 New Zealand Youth and Children's Book Awards, where judges called it "a novel of brilliant collision as the roiling, arcane powers of Sāmoa’s mythological past confront modern-day corporate hegemony. Global themes of environmentalism, neocolonial resistance, and the vitality of traditional stories are embodied in deftly written characters, who crackle with intensity and life.”

The Samoan author and husband Darren self-published her first 'Telesa' novel in 2011 after it was rejected by multiple publishers in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. She is now the author of 16 books, and a recipient of multiple writing awards.

Ms. Young, who is in Samoa, called the award "a lovely surprise" and the cause of much "shouting and choo-hoo's here at our place at Lotopa."

She thanked S.F.F.A.N.Z. for the honour, and her publisher who nominated 'Fire's Caress' for the award.

Ms. Young then paid tribute to her readers, saying: "You embraced my stories from the start, and have been amazing about celebrating the Telesa World books - long before traditional publishers, critics, and award panels ever even heard of them. Faafetai lava."

All the books of the Samoan author are available for purchase online in both digital and paperback format. In Samoa, you can buy her books from Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B.).