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Manuia Heinrich

@heinrichmanuia.bsky.social

740 followers 200 following 120 posts

Mā’ohi author of SALT WATER BLOOD (Simon & Schuster - Allen & Unwin '26) 🏝️ Doctor in Pacific Studies & Cofounder Pacific Islanders in Publishing • Rep: @marintakikawa.bsky.social 🌺 manuiaheinrich.com GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222438787-sa

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Dec 5

Ending my vague era with this: ✨I’m getting published!✨

So pumped to announce that my book SALT WATER BLOOD will be published with Simon & Schuster (US) + Allen & Unwin (ANZ) in 2026!

Endless gratitude to my agent @marintakikawa.bsky.social & my editor Sarah Barley 💖

#booksky #writingcommunity

Snapshot of a deal report on a sea background. Text on a white square:
Category: Young Adult Fiction
SALT WATER BLOOD by Manuia HEINRICH.
Imprint: Sarah Barley Books, Allen & Unwin
We Need Diverse Books mentee and Pacific Islanders in Publishing cofounder Manuia Heinrich's SALT WATER BLOOD, a speculative thriller set on an alternate Polynesian island following a girl who hears the sea's prophetic thoughts and has to race against time to clear her brother's name before he's blamed for his girlfriend's disappearance-and eventual murder-set against the backdrop of mounting tension around France's nuclear testing on the people of Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia), pitched as FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER meets MOANA, to Sarah Barley at Sarah Barley Books, in a significant deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2026, by Marin Takikawa at Friedrich Agency (NA).
Rights also to Anna McFarlane at Allen & Unwin (ANZ), at auction, by Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein, on behalf of Marin Takikawa.

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · 16h

best of luck rae!! 🙌

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · 16h

Yeayyy!! Good luck 💃🙌

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · 3d

ahhh thank you sm!!

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Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 10d

Today is #PreDV, the pitch practice event before #DVpit! Post your pitch drafts with #preDV from 8AM-8PM ET

Post as many pitches or revisions as you need feedback on!

Provide feedback for other participants on their pitches & make new friends!

more info at dvpit.carrd.co #writersky

#PreDV
September 29, 2025 from 8AM-8PM ET
Practice your #DVpit pitches using #preDV!
Give fellow #DVpit hopefuls feedback on their pitches.
Got o dvpit.carrd.co for more info

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Sep 3

Kyra!! thank you so much🥹💛 I was very lucky to beta read your book too and it's lived in my head rent free ever since!

Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Premee Mohamed @premeemohamed.com · Jul 23

Yep. Publishers are WELL AWARE of this, too, otherwise they wouldn't bother with *any* book tours or ad campaigns. If they think something won't move the needle, they don't fork out.

It's just that they only want to give those things to the authors who they want to sell well. *shrug*

Kari Dru @karidru.bsky.social · Jul 22

Word of mouth is awesome. Enthusiastic nerds on social media can move mountains occasionally. But a decent book tour or ad campaign would move a mountain faster.

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · May 14

Thanks a lot! :)

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Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Asian Author Alliance @asianauthors.bsky.social · May 1

Happy #AANHPI Heritage Month! Get to know a few amazing Asian Authors by using our Starter Pack go.bsky.app/VDxKNDN

And also some amazing Pacific Islander authors here: www.pacificislanderbooks.org

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Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Kat Cho @katchowrites.bsky.social · May 1

Happy #AANHPI Heritage month! Just a friendly reminder that making book lists for this month means doing the work to include every letter of the acronym! Here's an amazing place to start: www.pacificislanderbooks.org

Pacific Islanders in Publishing | A Worldwide Database of Pacific Islanders in Publishing

Pacific Islanders in Publishing is a database of Pacific Islander NHPI creators and professionals in publishing, and includes the latest PI book releases worldwide.

www.pacificislanderbooks.org

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Apr 30

congratulations!

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Apr 11

✨character art reveal✨
excited for y'all to meet moemoana & temanea, my investigative duo who can crack any case… except their own chemistry😂she’s obsessed with math, he’s obsessed with her (not that he’ll admit it).
add to gr! goodreads.com/book/show/22... (art littlelundmark23 on ig)

character art commission: two teenagers standing back-to-back on a beach. The girl wears a checkered shirt tied around her waist, a black top, and shorts. The boy is in a gray T-shirt and a surf watch. Palm tree leaves frame the scene.

temporary book cover: title 'salt water blood' by heinrich manuia, coming out with simon & schuster, summer 2026. the cover is dark blue with thin blue lines imitating waves. the background is light blue. at the top is an 'add to goodreads' icon.

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Mar 21

i have a need!!!! so pretty, congratulations Hien 🥳🎉

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Mar 21

congratulations 🎉

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Mar 20

congratulations 🥳🥳

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Feb 25

you’re a queen 💖

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Feb 6

ooohhh it’s my next read!!

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Feb 5

Publishing is weird. I just got a year-old agent rejection followd by my 1st author payment. For my book that got 8 offers of rep & sold in just over a week at auction🙃 Your reminder that rejections are subjective

Join my weird journey, add SWB on Goodreads. I’d be forever grateful💞 bit.ly/3CNgGXR

Two text images>
One agent rejection email screenshot: "I first want to apologize for the long delay in my reply, and I recognize that you may have already moved on. Waiting is one of the most difficult parts of this business, and I'm sorry that it took me such an unusually long time to respond. I really appreciate the opportunity to consider SALT WATER BLOOD, and I wish I were writing to you with better news. Unfortunately this project is not the right fit for me,..."

A Publishers Marketplace Deal Report: "We Need Diverse Books mentee and Pacific Islanders in Publishing cofounder Manuia Heinrich's SALT WATER BLOOD, a speculative thriller set on an alternate Polynesian island following a girl who hears the sea's prophetic thoughts and has to race against time to clear her brother's name before he's blamed for his girlfriend's disappearance-and eventual murder-set against the backdrop of mounting tension around France's nuclear testing on the people of Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia), pitched as FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER meets MOANA, to Sarah Barley at Sarah Barley Books, in a significant deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2026, by Marin Takikawa at Friedrich Agency (NA).
Rights also to Anna McFarlane at Allen & Unwin (ANZ), at auction, by Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein, on behalf of Marin Takikawa."

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Feb 5

stunning!!!

Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Jan 27

i don’t know about lifeless, but broken, hell yeah 😩
sending virtual hugs

Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · Jan 26

Btw Authors Against Book Bans ( @authorsabb.bsky.social ) might seem kid lit driven bc so many challenges are happening in schools, but I think every author should consider joining. Book bans are bad for everyone.

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

Authors Against Book Bans

Our Mission Statement We are Authors Against Book Bans. We, a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators, stand united against the deeply unconstit...

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Jan 24

yayyy enjoy!!

Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Sandra Proudman @sandraproudman.bsky.social · Jan 15

✨PLEASE SHARE✨

It is live!!!

There are over 260 AMAZING items to bid on in the 2nd annual #KidLit4Ceasefire auction from year-long mentorships to signed books to full manuscript critiques to art commissions the fundraiser has you covered! 🇵🇸

Link:
bit.ly/KidLit4Cease...

A graphic that says 260+ items #KidLit4Ceasefire 2025 Auction (January 15-31st) Visit Auction: https://bit.ly/kidlit4ceasefire2025auction

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Jan 14

happy book birthday makana!!

Reposted by Manuia Heinrich

Ash 🐉 CHILD OF THE DRAGON @ashintheashes.bsky.social · Jan 10

We've had a bunch of new people added to the 2026 debut authors starter pack so I'm sharing again so you don't miss anyone!

If you are a 2026 Debut Author being traditionally published, don't forget to join the 2026 Debut Discord here: forms.gle/KtSnFmXSquCA...

go.bsky.app/9Sw356k

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Manuia Heinrich @heinrichmanuia.bsky.social · Jan 11

👀👀👀