Samoan author Lani Wendt Young has released a new book titled "Mata Lulu" but this publication is special as she collaborates with her daughter.

The new book is her 16th and marks an exciting new direction for Samoa’s internationally acclaimed writer, as her 14-year-old daughter Bella Young did the illustrations, co-wrote one of the stories and also has a story of her own in the collection.

“This is especially exciting for me, because it’s the first time I got to work with one of my children on a book. I’m so proud of Bella’s creativity and hard work. Seeing both our names on the cover is really special,” Ms. Young said in a statement.

"Mata Lulu is a collection of stories for young readers, aged 8 to 12 years old. Inspired by our mythology and by a childhood spent growing up in Samoa, the stories range from suspense and sci-fi, to fantasy and humor. 

"Each one has sketch drawings by the youth artist. It released worldwide last month and was a Number 1 New Release for Australia and Oceania books. 

"It is an ideal text for use in the classroom and many schools in New Zealand have already placed their orders."

What was it like for Bella to work with her mother on the book?

"It was fun and it was stressful. I love drawing but I wasn’t used to making art to other people’s requirements, or making pictures to a deadline. It was a learning experience for sure,” said Bella. 

“The end result was worth it. Seeing the finished book was cool.”

Bella is an avid writer who won first place in a local story contest when she was in Year 7. She co-wrote a story in this collection, ‘Message from the Multiverse’. It tells of a young boy Siaki who is contacted by another version of himself living on a space station in an alternate future reality.

“Bella really guided this story. I’m always so confused in movies about the multiverse, I’m the one sitting there loudly asking What's happening?” said Ms. Young. 

“Bella knows all about that dimensional stuff. She made this story way better than it started off as.”

Both Ms. Young and Bella agree that there will be more books from their mother-daughter duo. They have already started work on a second collection of stories.