“You cannot be a good writer if you are not a good reader” — Young author from Tabuk City publishes first book at 14

FEATURE

At just 14 years old, young author Malaika Cuezon has officially published her first book, marking an early milestone in her writing journey and making her one of the youngest emerging authors from Tabuk City to release a published novel.

Malaika is an incoming Grade 8 homeschool student of Arrows & Quivers. Her father hails from Bulanao, Tabuk City, while her mother is from Davao City.

Despite her age, Malaika successfully turned her passion for reading and storytelling into a completed literary work after months of writing, editing, and creative development.

The ‘Diola Code’ book

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Malaika shared that her debut novel, “Diola Code,” follows the story of a nonverbal girl named Drew Arseo who communicates through Morse code while trying to uncover the mystery behind her father’s accident.

The novel is named after Diola, the mother of Pag-asa, the first Philippine eagle born in captivity, and was published under Paraw Books, the servicing imprint of Kawangis Publishing.

Malaika said she started writing the book at 13 years old around March 2025, and the first copies arrived in early December. She noted that the hardest part was dealing with writer’s block and structuring the plot and world-building.

“Sinulat ko po ang libro ko when I was 13, just last year! Writer’s block was also difficult for me since it happened in the middle of the story, and I was running out of ideas. The editing process was extremely tedious, but it taught me how to work more efficiently,” she said.

The young author added that she enjoyed writing the chapters the most, saying it became easier to develop the story, including its settings and characters, once the overall plot was finished.

She also emphasized how homeschooling gave her more time, flexibility, and opportunities to focus on writing and pursue her interests.

“...it gives me more flexibility in my schedule so I can spend more time writing and exploring other things I’m interested in. Additionally, homeschooling provided me with an avenue to be with people who share the same passion in their respective fields of interest,” she added.

Inspiration and message

For her inspirations, the 14-year-old shared that she was inspired by her Kawangis Publishing family, who first taught her how to develop story ideas, and that her experience in the Book Writer’s Club helped improve her writing.

“I was inspired by an author and a graphic novel illustrator, Sir Aria and Ma’am Faye from Kawangis Publishing. They were the first people to teach me how to come up with a story idea. I usually get inspired while reading other books and observing my surroundings to make my stories more realistic, as well as from the people I interact with,” she said.

When asked about her message to fellow young and aspiring writers, she encouraged them to develop the habit of reading, emphasizing that reading plays a vital role in becoming a better writer.

“My advice is that they should start by reading books, because you cannot be a good writer if you are not a good reader. To all the kids who have story ideas they want to publish: go for it. Keep writing, even if it doesn’t make sense. Make it exist first — you can make it better later,” she said.

Meanwhile, Malaika revealed that she is already working on another book and hopes to explore different genres in the future.

Malaika’s achievement reflects the growing talent among iKalinga youth, as more young writers continue to gain recognition in creative fields like literature through increasing opportunities and local encouragement.