Claudia Stuart Calisto’s passion for reading, resilience, and love has led her to launch her first book, The Veyrith.

On March 3 at Rosebank Mall’s Exclusive Books, the 17-year-old explained that her book was about the quiet strength it took to keep going, even when you don’t fully understand what you’re carrying.

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“It was inspired by power, not the loud kind, but the kind that lives inside you, waiting for the moment you’re brave enough to face it.”

She added that there were moments when she wanted to give up writing the book, because writing a book was harder than it looked.

“Especially when the story feels bigger than you, but every time I felt like stopping, I didn’t. I would listen to Alex Warren. His music feels like my book: Emotional, raw, and full of quiet strength.”

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The author hopes that when people read her book, they won’t feel alone, they’ll feel seen. “I hope they realise that whatever war they’re facing, they are strong enough to survive it. I hope they remember that real friendship, real love, stays with you through every storm. That’s what unconditional love is.”

Claudia’s favourite author is Amber Smith. She noted that when she read her book, The Way I Used to Be, “I felt truly seen for the first time and it made me realise how powerful stories can be. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a writer, so I could make other people feel that same sense of not being alone.”

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