More Books Coming From Albert Wendt

Western Samoan author Albert Wendt, whose second book (of short stories), Flying-fox in a Freedom Tree, was published recently, is cur rently working on two other novels, preparing for publication his first collection of poems, and editing two anthologies of Pacific Islands writings.

Flying-fox in a Freedom Tree is a collection of eight short stories and a novella, all set in the neighbourhood of Apia, Western Samoa, and is selling well in New Zealand. It’s published by Longman Paul.

The same publishers have read the first of his two novels and have asked him to shorten it before publication, possibly in 1977. It’s currently 600 pages in length. His second novel, which is almost com pleted, is shorter and will probably be published before the long novel.

The two anthologies are by Pacific Island poets and Island short story writers. They will be published as soon as he completes his editing.

Wendt’s own collection of poems covers the period from 1960 to 1974, and will be published either at the end of this year or the be ginning of 1976.

Albert Wendt is currently working at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, and plans to stay there another two years before return ing to Samoa. In Suva he says, “We miss our homeland, but here at the USP Vve found the time and freedom to do my writing”.