By Staff Reporter
In an inspiring tale of youthful talent nurtured to fruition, 12-year-old Kayla A. Chitaunhike from Hippo Valley Primary School is preparing to launch her debut book, Mysteries of Samandra’s New School, on November 1st.
The novel traces the journey of its protagonist, Samandra, as she navigates the challenges and adventures of adapting to a new school environment.
For Kayla, the path to authorship began modestly in Grade 4 when she first discovered her twin passions for reading and writing.
“I started reading and writing in Grade Four and discovered I was passionate about both, initially, I was just writing stories for fun,” said Chitaunhike.
What began as a pastime soon caught the attention of established writer Rurami Mugwizi, who recognized the young student’s raw talent.
“Mrs. Mugwizi is the one who discovered my writing and encouraged me to write a book. She is the one who helped me with editing the manuscript and facilitating the publishing process,” she said.
The budding author also found encouragement from another literary heavyweight, Albert Nyathi, a prolific writer, poet, and musician whose guidance further solidified her resolve to pursue publishing.
Despite her young age, Chitaunhike demonstrates remarkable discipline in balancing her writing ambitions with academic responsibilities and household duties.
“I can balance writing, school work, and chores since I write during my leisure time that is why the book took nearly two years to complete,” she said
She said the main challenge she faced was during illustration since she was suing her phone which had a smaller screen. She said that was until her parents bought her a tablet.
Chitaunhike loves sport, reading, and painting, travelling to new places among other hobbies
Published by ELI MS PUBLICATIONS under the ISBN 978-177928-196-8, Mysteries of Samandra’s New School is not only a milestone for Kayla but also an emblem of what young minds can achieve with passion, perseverance, and the right mentorship.
