Manuia Heinrich

Websitehttp://manuiaheinrich.com

Manuia Heinrich is the author of SALT WATER BLOOD, a YA speculative thriller set on an alternate Polynesian island, releasing summer 2026 with Simon & Schuster (US) and Allen & Unwin (ANZ). She earned her PhD in Pacific Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University. An advocate for Pasifika cultures, she cofounded Pacific Islanders in Publishing, a database of Pacific Islander books and authors. 

Genre:

  • Academic
  • Children's Fiction
  • Fiction
  • Non-Fiction
  • Poetry
  • Thriller
  • Young Adult

Skills:

  • Academic Writing
  • Research
  • Reviews
  • Short Story Writing

Branch:

Wellington

Location:

Publications:

Salt Water Blood

Pitched for fans of Firekeeper's Daughter and Moana, Salt Water Blood is a speculative YA thriller following an older sister who is able to hear the sea's prophetic thoughts and must race against time to clear her brother's name before he's blamed for his girlfriend's disappearance and eventual murder. The mystery is set against the backdrop of mounting tension over the impact of France's nuclear testing on the people of Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia).
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222438787-salt-water-blood