An entertaining new book of “historical fiction” was launched this morning by Sam Lala, a Fijian writer and adventurer who has been living in Tonga for many years.

The 183 pages volume, titled “They Said”, is the second book written by Sam, and launched with his wife Soana ‘Aloua-Lala. Their daughter Sera Lala is depicted on the cover.

While Sam writes in English about everyday life, his book is not confined to the Pacific and covers an eclectic range of subjects.

He writes about encounters that change one's way of thinking, sometimes those enduring historical stereotypes that have not caught up with the passage of time.

For example, a chapter headed: “Do they still eat people in Fiji?” This was a question asked of Sam by a Ugandan, he met on his travels in London. Sam had some help from an Australian in delightfully answering that question.

Sam defined the title, “They Said” as a statement in time. “It meant something then, reflected and referred to, in comparing with things of the present...”

Other chapters in “They Said” include:

• The Human Brain is So Small
• I saw Indians Come on Board
• Christianity is Not for Fijians
• Signatures of the Heart
• The Sixth Sense
• You burn the leaf on your lips.

Sam published his first book in Tonga, Sandalwood Blood in 2014.

Sam research his material for writing while working in Tonga, Australia and Fiji. Intrigued by the way legendary stories have been kept and retold, Sam has developed his own way of telling his.

Princess Pilolevu Tuita in the prelims blessed Sam's new book. “Sam Lala reveals his passion and love for Tonga, the South Pacific and God, by writing about ordinary people in everyday life, one who feels the sense of belonging and of community,” the princess said.

The book was published by the Pacific Studies Press and launched at the Television Tonga Studio, in Nuku’alofa.