Samoa’s award-winning newspaper, the Samoa Observer, is extending its regional short story competition to American Samoa and Hawaii.
The Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition kicked off last month, and the Samoa Observer is excited to extend its promotion of literacy to the adult population of the Pacific Islands.
This Pacific competition for adults — where entries can be submitted in English or Samoan— is something they have thought about for quite some time, say owners of the Samoa Observer, Muliaga Jean Malifa and Savea Sano Malifa.
They hope the contest not only will encourage a resurgence in Pacific Islanders telling their stories, but will provide well-written literature for the world to enjoy.
Marj Moore, Samoa Observer’s Newspapers in Education co-ordinator, said the Pacific competition is for adults 18 and older.
Moore said only one original, previously unpublished entry per writer will be accepted. There are no restrictions on genre, setting or theme and entries must be no more than 5,000 words.
The contest regions are Samoa, Australia/New Zealand and other Pacific Islands, including: American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Entrants must be citizens of the areas specified.
Moore said judges will choose the best English story and the best Samoan story from each of the three regions.
One overall winner in English and one overall winner in the Samoan will be determined.
The six regional winners will receive $1,000 each; the two overall winners will receive an additional $2,500 each. The awards will be presented in August in Samoa. Entries must be submitted by June 1.
For format instructions and more information, visit www.tusitalacompetition.com.
