Happy 1st Birthday hibiscusthree.com
Updated: Sep 29, 2021
26.9: celebrating one year of the home of #hibiscusthreecommunity
WHAT'S IN A NAME
hibiscus: the flower that reminds her of home (Papua New Guinea)
three : for her 3 children who are a significant part of her writing and creative life
WHAT WE DO
publish , promote, and strive for social impact by encouraging, investing in, creating and supporting opportunities for Papua New Guinean writers.
#ForUsByUS #bukbilongpng #buildingliteraturepng #PapuaNewGuineanAuthor
THANK YOU FROM OUR FOUNDER
Today marks a culmination of ideas, experiences and countless words written across eight years, as I navigated my way towards creating this (for me; magical) online space. I feel incredibly fortunate to have figured out early on that to develop my writing to a level I envision, I would thrive alongside collaboration; a community.
I wrote about in 2014, when I entered the Essay category of a national literary competition for Papua New Guineans. I didn't win, and I haven't written as satirically since, but I've included it below ; for a belly laugh, reflection, and hopefully unite us in agreement that working together and supporting each other as as Papua New Guineans writers and readers of our wantoks' creative writing, may just be the path to ensuring Papua New Guinean-authored books about Papua New Guinea - land and people, are indeed published.
Regis Stella's 'Imagining the Other' remains a key text in my approach of urgency in involving Papua New Guineans to speak by way of writing for ourselves, about ourselves. Whilst I attribute my steady pursuit of independent publishing to the powerful messaging delivered by Lani Wendt Young, in her NZ Book Council Lecture; Stories from the Wild; Reading and Writing in the Digital Age.
Thank you to #hibiscusthreecommunity for participating, sharing and uplifting all the Papua New Guinean writers and creatives whom access hibiscusthree.com as a space to share, communicate and contribute to #buildingliteraturepng . Enjoy this post, enjoy looking back on the incredible year we've had, what we're looking forward to in the coming year. Make sure to read on to the end :)
- Rashmii Bell, Hibiscus Three
COLLABORATING WITH PAPUA NEW GUINEAN WRITERS
It has been an absolute privilege for Hibiscus Three to be able to connect, read and share the work of these incredibly talented Papua New Guinean writers. poets and playwright.
Top L -R: Thyatira Kauapa, Vinzealhar Nen, Abigail E Seta, Duncan Gabi, Betty Chapau, Pearl Walters, Betty Wakia, Andrew Kulinasi, Dr Kirsten McGavin, Mary Terriette Aseari, Julia Tubang, Roberta Tonar, Helen Anderson, Amelia John, Haddassha Tabel, Wallace Nuelani Parimahi, Diane Mirio.
HIBISCUS THREE PUBLISHING AWARD
Our website has been integral as host to our Foundation and annual initiative, the Hibiscus Three Publishing Award. Having now delivered the second year of the PNG women-focused initiative, Hibiscus Three is now preparing to announce submissions call out for the 2022 installment. PNG women writers - get your manuscript ready!
L-R:
Winning Manuscript 2021: Memoir of a Wounded Warrior by Vinzealhar Nen
now available in Ebook edition for purchase here
Winning Manuscript 2020: Listen by Thyatira Kaupa
now available in Ebook edition for purchase here
COLLABORATING WITH PAPUA NEW GUINEAN CREATIVES
Thank you to Papua New Guinean creative brand Kalapua, and Kokomo Industries, for stocking the Hibiscus Three Online Shop with their gorgeous ,handmade creations as we launched our Essentials Range:
Hibiscus Three X Kalapua Essentials Case (2020) - pictured right
Hibiscus Three X Kokomo Industries Essentials Hot Pink Studs
(2020) - pictured below
We appreciate all our customers whom have purchased items for themselves, their family and friends.
Your purchase has been directly invested into Hibiscus Three to create more opportunities for Papua New Guinean-authored books to be published with our imprint.
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We're looking to expand the Hibiscus Three Essentials range with the following:
* bilums (string variety)
* handmade gift and note cards
* fabric masks
If you are, or know a Papua New Guinean creative, please get in touch with us today to discuss. Click on the button below to send us an email with the subject line ' Essentials Range enquiry'
Thank you to everyone who shared, promoted and purchased from our Small Business Saturday event days throughout December 2021. We look forward to offering another round of fantastic discounts on our services and online shop stock in December 2021.
Stay tuned!
COLLABORATING WITH FRIENDS OF HIBISCUS THREE
Thyatira Kaupa, Emma Wakpi, Betty Wakia, Vinzelahar Nen, Dominca Are, Duncan Gabi, Alphonse Huvi, Dr Kirsten McGavin, Pearl Walters, Abigail E Seta, and Daniel Kumobon are the names that immediately came to mind when asked by our good friend Dr Kirstie Close asked us about the Papua New Guinean writers whom we follow. That was in April this year, and months before we had an opportunity to connect with the other amazing writers we've met since. Follow Dr Kirstie Close on Instagram: @createyourpast, and Tik Tok: @kirstieclose
INSPIRATION TO CREATE ( THANKS TO COLLABORATION )
Straight off our collaboration with Dr Kirstie Close, we created a Q&A interview series as we asked several of the Papua New Guinean writers whom we follow about their writing life. Again, hibiscusthree.com played host, as writers kindly shared with us:
Betty Wakia
Duncan Gabi
Betty Chapau
Pearl Walters
Dr Kirsten McGavin
Abigail E Seta
Thank you for being a part of #MeAPapuaNewGuineanWriter !
CELEBRATE WITH NEW WRITING
Hibiscus Three is always excited to receive new writing from Papua New Guinean writers we connect with through our website. We're honoured to include in today's celebration post, new poetry by Papua New Guinean writers: Amelia John Ore and Diane Mirio.
I think she loved too much
She gave her heart to the first boy who told her she's beautiful
(but he noticed her beauty)
she fell deeply for people constrained between the words from a writer's mind spilled on crinkled pages
(but they saved her from lonley nights)
she gave too much to the world in hopes of being accepted and loved
and she lost herself in the whirlwind of life driven to flawed conceptions
and sucked into a pool of doubts
(But she will find herself)
- Amelia John Ore
Why do we have to grow acquainted with violence to get to know quietude ?
They say without clouds one would never learn how to appreciate ray of sun
I beg to differ
Why do we have to shed blood surviving while some were thought love?
They say without rain one would never be blessed with the sight of a rainbow
I beg to differ
Why do we have to be haunted by trauma while some count their benisons ?
They say without pain one would never cherish the pleasure of living
I beg to differ
I'll wish forever it never had happened.
- Amelia John Ore
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Down at the bottom of the sea, up the rugged terrains and below the deep blue lake, lie those hidden memories
Dreams, that once filled the air, for the love of knowledge, for the love of art and for the love of heroic stories
Sweeping through the dusty, dirty folders of references and files that hold names of dearly loved ones, close to our hearts, but distant from the searcher
Coded languages, sanctioned and barred from anyone else, but for the blood and lineage of our ancestors, they lie, waiting for the mourner
Come out, you who has searched and pillaged the unknown barriers for our decayed corpse, without fear but with love and longing for reunion
The darkness reveals light, to the one searching for truth, for identity, for knowledge and for love but rejects the stranger looking for silver and gold bullion
- Diane Mirio
A woman called Veronica
She was his first love
She stood through all testing times beside the man she loved
Amidst all the challenging times the nation battled through
She was there for him
When stones and sticks were hurled at him
She gave him that smile and comforted him
When his friends deserted him
She stood with him
When he was sick
She was his strength
All through the years leading the nation from its infant stages through to manhood
She was there beside him
When his own people ridiculed him
She told him, tomorrow is another day
When he lost hope
She encouraged him to have a little faith
He was because she was
She guarded his heart with her life
A strong woman she was
Like a lighthouse guarding a ship through the dark and treacherous night
May your life impact all other wives of the Leaders of this beautiful nation
we call our Home
Lady Veronica Somare,
You are one inspirational woman
- Diane Mirio
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RECENTLY ON HIBISCUSTHREE.COM , AND RETURNING FOR TODAY ONLY
Happy 1st birthday to hibiscusthree.com ! We've re-opened our special event online writers exhibition for the Hibiscus Three community to visit and be inspired by the breadth of outstanding Papua New Guinea writers. Enjoy, and have a wonderful day!
