When people ask "Who are you?" I often find myself hesitating, unsure of how to answer. It’s a deceptively easy question, yet one that feels impossibly complex. The truth is, I, Mayson Kukwa, am a collection of experiences, dreams, ideas, and memories, still in the process of becoming the person I want to be. But if you ask me to give you a snapshot of who I am right now, the answer is rooted in one thing: storytelling.

 

At my core, I am, and always have been, a storyteller. From a young age, I realized that stories have a power unlike anything else. They don’t just entertain; they shape us. They allow us to understand the world, to see it through new perspectives, and to grasp the complexity of human nature in a way that pure facts or explanations never could. When we tell or hear stories, we step outside ourselves and walk in someone else’s shoes, even if just for a moment. And that moment? It can change everything.

 

This belief in the transformative power of storytelling is what fueled my passion for writing. It started early, back when I was just a kid trying to figure out where I fit in the world. But the truth is, I didn’t fit in, at least not in the way most people would have expected. I was the weird kid—the one with an obsessive need for control, a mind teeming with stories, and a tendency to overthink everything. While my peers were absorbed in sports or video games, I was consumed with creating worlds inside my head.

 

That made me an easy target. I was bullied relentlessly throughout school. I was the odd one out, the one no one quite understood. I tried to fit in, to be what everyone thought was "normal," but no matter how hard I tried, it never worked. So I turned to writing, pouring all my thoughts and frustrations into the page. My early works were raw, brutal, and filled with a kind of darkness that I didn’t feel safe sharing with anyone. They were a reflection of the isolation and anger I felt, a way to process what was happening around me when words failed me in person.

 

It was the bullies, in part, who pushed me to become the writer I am today. For years, I felt like I had to prove myself—to show them that I wasn’t just the strange kid they picked on. I wanted to be understood, to be seen as more than just "the weird one." But in trying to prove myself, I found my voice. And once I discovered the true power of storytelling, there was no turning back.

 

I wasn’t always a good kid. I had a habit of speaking my mind when I probably shouldn’t have, of picking fights I couldn’t win. My tendency to challenge others led to a lot of trouble. In high school, one of those fights resulted in me getting assaulted. The physical and emotional toll of that experience pushed me into one of the darkest periods of my life. It wasn’t long before I attempted suicide, feeling like there was no way out of the pain I was carrying. I spent two weeks in a mental hospital, where I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Those were hard labels to accept at first, but they also gave me a starting point to rebuild.

 

After that, I switched to online schooling, and for the first time, I had the space to focus on what really mattered to me—writing. That’s when everything changed. Writing became more than just an escape; it became my purpose. Through those tough times, I crafted The King of Desolation, my first published work that I was truly proud of. It was a breakthrough for me—not just because it was published, but because it was the first time I realized that I could channel my pain and struggles into something meaningful.

 

Once I got that taste of success, there was no stopping me. Writing became my full-time focus, and I haven’t slowed down since. The more I write, the more I realize just how powerful storytelling really is. It’s a tool that allows us to share our deepest beliefs, our fears, our dreams. It’s a way to give voice to those who can’t speak up, to shed light on the dark corners of life, and to challenge the way people see the world.

 

Now, at 17, I’m on the verge of graduating early from high school. I’ve worked hard to get here, and soon I’ll be heading to college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in professional writing. This next step feels like a natural progression in my journey, one that will allow me to continue honing my craft and, hopefully, create stories that resonate even more deeply with my readers.

 

As I prepare for this new chapter, I’m also working on some exciting new projects—ShadowRise, Ink Stains, and RoseThorn. These are stories that have been brewing in my mind for a while, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Each one is a testament to my relentless drive, my passion for exploring the darker side of human nature, and my belief that stories can change the world.

 

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. Whether you’ve bought a copy of my books or pirated them, the fact that you’ve read my work means the world to me. It’s because of readers like you that I keep pushing forward, that I continue to pour my heart into every word I write.

 

So, who am I? I’m Mayson Kukwa. I’m a writer, a survivor, and a storyteller. And my story is just beginning.

 

 

below I have attached some images of me in the happiest moments of my life. I would like to share them with you.