Logotaeao Vaeoso, of American Samoa, and Suisala Mele Maualaivao of Samoa have been named overall winners of the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition.
The competition is the Pacific’s first regional short story competition.
A panel of local and overseas judges named four other regional winners as well as selecting a group of Highly Commended entries.
The winners were announcement during a dinner at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Apia, was a particular triumph for author, poet and the Samoa Observer’s Editor-in-Chief, Savea Sano Malifa.
He had persisted for several years to present a fitting forum for all Pacific writers to tell their stories in the English or Samoan languages.
And last night, in front of over 150 guests from academic circles, the government, the diplomatic corps, supporters, the media and sponsors, the waiting for the results of the 2015 competition was over.
The Judges praised Vaeoso’s winning entry titled ‘Onosai ma fa’ataali i le taimi a le Ali’i.” They were happy about its “simplicity and the way it flowed”.
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Of Suisala’s story called “The Rat and the Octopus’, judges said, “The subtext offered by the mythic title and its accompanying moral is simply superb.”
Regional winners writing in Samoan were ‘E le valea uma Valea’ by Miriama Alalatoa Pomare, Australia/New Zealand section and ‘O le tautua fia matai e fa’amaga ai le ele’ele’ by Matiu Tautunu, Samoa.
Juliana D Feaver from New Zealand took out the regional prize in the Australia/New Zealand section with ‘The Girl with Diamond Eyes’ while ‘The One in 10’ written by Pouari’i Tanner of the Cook Islands was judged best of the Rest of the Pacific section.
Entries were submitted by writers living in three regions – Australia and New Zealand, the rest of the Pacific and Samoa.
From those regional winners, the two overall winners were then selected.
Information and advertising about the competition went out to the Pacific via the Internet and entries were largely submitted online keeping organizational costs to a minimum.
“We wanted to put most of our sponsor’s funding into prize money befitting a Pacific-wide competition,” said a member of the Organising Committee.
With close to 200 entries received, the Committee is confident that future entries in the annual competition will grow in numbers and quality.
A publication is planned showcasing a collection of the best entries.
“We are particularly proud that all sponsorship for the prizes and related costs of the competition, came from local Samoan companies, organizations and businesses.”
They included the New Zealand High Commission, the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Samoa Stationery and Books, the Bank of the South Pacific, Samoa Commercial Bank the ANZ Bank, Digicel, Vailima Breweries, Apia Bottling, Ah Liki Construction, Samoa Shipping Corporation, Ace Hardware and Samoa Builders Supplies, Signs Studios, Business Systems Limited, SMI, Samoa Spare Parts and Le Well.
OVERALL WINNERS OF THE 2015 SAMOA OBSERVER TUSITALA SHORT STORY COMPETITION
Samoan
Onosai ma fa’atali i le taimi a le ali’i - Logotaeao Vaeoso, American Samoa
English
The Rat and the Octopus – Mele Maualaaivao, Samoa
REGIONAL WINNERS - SAMOAN
Australia/New Zealand
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
O mea uma e lila by Tine Masani, Australia; Tautai le Atua I le folauga by Puniloa Tapaleo, New Zealand; E maua foi e tamati Sului’e teine Pisikoa by Solinuu Mamea, Australia.
1st place: E le valea uma Vale – Miriama Alalatoa Pomare, Australia REST OF THE PACIFIC
1st place: Onosai ma faatali i le taimi a le ali’i - Logotaeao Vaeoso, American Samoa SAMOA
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
O le faiva by So’oalo Matatia; O le a’ai o pua’anifo by Tapu Aumua;
E sili si mea magumagu e maua le filemu by Nile Tolovai Talofa ua mou atu va’aiga ma aga by L. Fualaga La’ala’ai.
1st place: O le tautua fia matai e fa’amaga ai le ele’ele – Matiu Tautunu
REGIONAL WINNERS - ENGLISH
Australia/New Zealand
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Silence by Pinesa Nathan, Australia;
Samoan Dreams by David Stringer, Australia;
Quitting by Wendy Stephenson, Australia;
The Samoan Wife by Maureen Fepuleai, New Zealand In Masina’s Shoes by Moana Leilua, New Zealand.
1st place: The girl with diamond eyes – Juliana D Feaver, New Zealand
Rest of the Pacific
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
A Miscall by Poe Mageo, American Samoa;
Fitiutouto by Adria Hekau, Niue; Box of Broken Tunes by Kelera Tuvou, Fiji;
The soul of a rose by Serene Shrestha, Fiji.
1st place: The One in 10 – Pouari’i Tanner, Cook Islands Samoa
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
A haunting thought by Seiuli Seti; Turtle Rock by Jenny Bennett; Moso’oi Petals by Leaniva Ioane; Unborn Child by Sina Retzlaff.
1st place: The Rat and the Octopus – Mele Mauala
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