‘A New Dawn’ named a finalist

Continued from page 1

And there is more.

One of the books she published, “A New Dawn”, was named as a finalist in the Ngaio Marsh Awards, announced on 10 August.

Written by Emeli Sione and illustrated by Darcy Solia, “A New Dawn” was named as one of the five finalists for the best non-fiction award. These awards will be presented later this year at a place and date yet to be announced.

That announcement came on the same day as “A New Dawn” featured as a finalist in the New Zealand Children and Young Adult Book Awards, which were presented during a ceremony at Pipitea Marae.

Mila’s Books is the first award winning all Pasifika publishing team in the world. They champion and produce Pasifika children’s books that help tamaiti to be seen, heard and valued.

“There is a Pasifika revolution happening where we are realising our own value and that our stories have the power to change the world for us and future Pasifika generations of tamaiti, creators and entrepreneurs,” Dahlia says.

“What is also important to note is that we are everywhere.

“I am only one of many and there is a whole village of creatives who are creating more brown spaces for us to shine in a world that has kept us in the dark for so long.

“But when we unite, connect and shine together we are capable of creating our own opportunities and succeeding as ourselves.

“Like Mila’s Books, together we can be unstoppable,” Dahlia says.

SALES

Les Whiteside les@wsn.co.nz 021 360 008

Unsurprisingly, the Aotearoa Book Trade Industry Awards judges were full of praise for Mila’s Books.

“In four years Mila’s Books has solidified a reputation for producing culturally rich, accessible and quality stories and resources that reflect Pasifika values, languages, cultures and most importantly, our tamaiti,” the judges said.

Dahlia has a background in education and regularly visits schools and organisations across Aotearoa through different Mila’s Books initiatives and Te Pou Muramura Read NZ’s Writer’s in Schools Programme.

She and her Mila’s Books team have also been acknowledged at the Pacific Business Awards and Creative New Zealand’s (CNZ) Pacific Awards.

NATIONAL

SALES

Sam Barnes sam@wsn.co.nz 021 109 4406

CLASSIFIED SALES classifieds@wsn.co.nz

“Through the various Mila’s Books projects, the stories of over 90 first-time Pasifika authors (children, students, educators, parents) across Aotearoa have been shared with the world advancing Pasifika storytelling, with Pasifika, by Pasifika, for all of us.”

The Aotearoa Book Trade Industry Awards are jointly sponsored by Booksellers Aotearoa NZ and the Publishers Association of New Zealand.

A lack of Pasifika literature available, particularly for children was a big factor in Dahlia’s move into publishing.

She wanted to ensure that Pasifika children, including her own, would have books that celebrate their culture, language and stories.

In October last year, Dahlia received the $7,500 Emerging Pacific Artist Award for her role as a writer, publisher and educator at CNZ’s Arts Pasifika Awards.

Three important projects Mila’s Books have recently published are“Pasifika Navigators”, “v sifika” and “A New Dawn”.

The world’s first Pasifika student poetry collection “Pasifika Navigators” shares the voices of 52 Pasifika students across Aotearoa.

“v sifika” shares the stories of Pasifika families who are living with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

The book has helped to spread awareness and acceptance of ASD and given voice to another part of the Pasifika community that thoroughly deserves to be heard.

Another Mila’s Books title,“A New Dawn”, tells the story of the dawn raids, and was released on the first anniversary of the New Zealand Government’s apology for the raids.

Mila’s Books is celebrating this story with its new project – “A New Dawn Across Aotearoa”.

This project will see schools and Pasifika community groups across the country receiving free copies of “A New Dawn”, which usually sell for $30.

Mila’s Books has partnered with the Ministry of Pacific Peoples to create this project, which aims to: of Pasifika stories, esnsuring increased access to these narratives; and and healing by encouraging talanoa and sharing experiences related to the dawn raids.

Schools and Pasifika community groups interested in participating in the project can register their interest at www.milasbooks.com.