Maria Samuela Explained

Maria Teresa Samuela (born 12 July 1972) is a New Zealand writer of Cook Islands descent. She began her writing career in the 1990s, writing stories for children,[1] and has been published in various journals and anthologies.

Early life and family

Samuela was born in Wellington on 12 July 1972.[2] Her mother had emigrated from Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands in the 1950s.[3] Samuela studied at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002.[4]

Career

Samuela returned to Victoria University of Wellington, where she undertook the creative writing programme at the International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML). Upon completion of her studies, Samuela attained a Master of Arts degree in creative writing.[5]

Samuela has been the writer in residence at the Michael King Writers Centre and Victoria University Bookshop. In 2018, she was the University Bookshop Summer Writer in Residence, an award made in association with Robert Lord Writers' Cottage Trust.[6] In 2022, Samuela was awarded a research grant to support her work on a novel about young women from the Cook Islands who migrated to New Zealand in the period from the 1930s to the 1950s.[7] [8] [9] Samuela writes short stories predominantly about the Cook Island diaspora,[10] and her 2022 collection of short stories, Beats of the Pa'u reflects her childhood in the Porirua suburb of Cannons Creek.[3]

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kaho . Simone . 2 July 2022 . ‘Maybe that’s why it took so long’ : Cook Island writer’s first book balances realness and representation . 16 July 2023 . TP+ . en-NZ . 13 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220813061435/https://tpplus.co.nz/arts-music/maybe-thats-why-it-took-so-long-cook-island-writers-first-book-balances-realness-and-representation/ . live .
  2. Web site: 15 May 2023 . Interview with Maria Samuela . live . 15 May 2023 . . 15 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515104353/https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/maria-samuela/ .
  3. Web site: 15 May 2023 . Getting to Know Maria Samuela . live . 15 May 2023 . www.vicbooks.co.nz . 15 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515104353/https://www.vicbooks.co.nz/journal/maria-samuela .
  4. Web site: Roll of graduates . . 19 July 2023.
  5. Web site: 15 May 2023 . Maria Samuela (Writing for the Page, 2017) . live . 15 May 2023 . . 15 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515104352/https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletters/our-students/grad-showcase/maria-samuela-writing-for-the-page,-2018 .
  6. News: What I'm reading Maria Samuela . . Sunday Star-Times. 27 March 2022.
  7. Web site: 2022 CLNZ/NZSA $5,000 Research Grants awarded to four New Zealand writers . 16 July 2023 . Copyright Licensing New Zealand . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717025338/https://www.copyright.co.nz/about/news-and-blog/2022-clnz-nzsa-5000-research-grants-awarded-to-four-new-zealand-writers . live .
  8. News: Cook Islands author gets $5000 research grant. 2 September 2022. Cook Islands News. 15 July 2023. 6 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006015254/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/uncategorised/national/local/cook-islands-author-gets-5000-research-grant/. live.
  9. News: Arts – Four cash grants awarded to support local writers . . LiveNews.co.nz. 26 August 2022.
  10. News: Brown-Pereira . Audrey . 6 March 2022 . Beats of the Pa’u: stories of Aotearoa, land of watered-down milk and honey . en . . 16 July 2023 . 24 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224193257/https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/06-03-2022/beats-of-the-pau-stories-of-aotearoa-land-of-watered-down-milk-and-honey . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Maria Samuela".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.