Kohima: Journalist Vibeituonuo Kuotsu Solo’s debut book, “The Light After The Storm”, a collection of 13 short stories, was officially released on Friday at Ete Coffee, Kohima. The launch was graced by Special Guest Asangla Imsong, Joint Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, in the presence of family, friends and well-wishers.
Speaking at the event, PenThrill Publication publisher Vishu Rita Krocha noted that it takes immense courage to embrace life’s storms and even greater strength to overcome them. Krocha commended Solo for transforming her personal struggles into stories that allow readers to share in her journey of bravery.
Having known the author as a journalist, Krocha said she was pleasantly surprised by the brilliance of Solo’s storytelling, set against a backdrop of Naga culture and everyday life that felt both familiar and fascinating.
She highlighted that the 13 stories in the book, though unique and partly fictionalised, read almost like a single narrative, connected by a sense of shared experience. The stories, she said, reflect different facets of Naga life, from broken marriages and strained relationships to a mother’s sacrifice, social conflicts and family land disputes.
Krocha emphasised that The Light After The Storm is ultimately a story of hope. She said it gave her immense joy to publish the book, which marks PenThrill’s 112th publication, adding that pre-release copies had already sold out.
Expressing confidence that the book would resonate with readers and perhaps influence perceptions about Naga women and their lived realities, Krocha congratulated Solo and expressed hope for future collaborations.
In her address, author Vibeituonuo Kuotsu Solo expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone present, crediting the Lord Almighty for her success and thanking her family and friends for their unwavering support.
Sharing the essence of her book, Solo explained that The Light After The Storm was not a memoir but “a blend of imagination and raw emotion,” intertwining fiction with deeply personal truths. She said her deepest hope was that the book would inspire people trapped in unhealthy relationships to realise that breaking free is not wrong or taboo but an act of courage.
Solo described the book as her “plea to shatter the silence,” encouraging women to speak openly about broken marriages and relationships without shame, and to find the strength to move forward with courage.
Reflecting on her journey as a writer, the mother-of-one recalled that she began writing in Class IX after her English teacher encouraged students to maintain a diary. Without one of her own, she borrowed her father’s government-issued diary and began jotting down her thoughts. Her passion for writing, she said, was rekindled years later after meeting renowned writer Easterine Kire, who advised her to “just write anything that’s on your mind.”
Solo expressed gratitude to her publisher and friend Vishu Rita Krocha for believing in her work and for her support of Naga writers, as well as to Athole, the illustrator of her book, and everyone involved in making the launch possible.
Special Guest Asangla Imsong described the book as a deeply hopeful and evocative work that captures life’s resilience. She said the title itself was powerful, conveying that no matter how difficult life’s storms may be, there is always hope and light beyond them.
Imsong said the book is a simple yet beautiful read, rich in reflection and deeply rooted in Naga tradition. She observed that Solo’s writing touches on themes of motherhood, love, the strength of women and cultural heritage. Reading the stories, she said, evoked nostalgia and memories of her own childhood—family laughter, fireside warmth and the familiar rhythm of village life.
She commended Solo for expressing experiences that many women feel but rarely articulate, and praised PenThrill Publication House for its commitment to nurturing local writers. She lauded Krocha for venturing into a field few dared to pursue, and for championing Naga voices through literature.
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Congratulating PenThrill on its 112th publication, Imsong described the occasion as a celebration not only of Solo’s book but also of the broader effort to keep Naga narratives alive through storytelling.
The event began with a prayer by Kezhakietuo Belho, Associate Pastor of Khedi Baptist Church, Kohima, followed by a soulful song presented by Kekhrieyie Belho.
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