Meet The Author

Meet the Author Behind the Stories

Author | Psychologist | Advocate for Women & Children

“This is a prayer for a world where women and children live free from violence.”

Stories hold power. They can illuminate truths, challenge injustice, and give voice to the unheard. My writing is driven by a deep commitment to advocacy, healing, and storytelling that matters.

Before I was an author, I was a psychologist, working closely with children and families in Zimbabwe and later in the UK. My work developed into research on sexual violence and intervention programs aimed at improving systems that protect children. But no one can work in this field without being changed. The faces of the women and children I encountered, their stories of survival and loss, stayed with me. By writing, I gave voice to their stories and emphasised what is often overlooked.

My novels weave reality with fiction, drawing on psychological depth, social justice themes, and the supernatural to create interesting narratives that explore trauma, resilience, and human connection.

Featured in Reader Views First Chapter Plus

When Reader Views featured my work in their First Chapter newsletter, it felt like a conversation between readers, writers, and the stories that connect us all.

This short feature celebrates why I write — because stories heal, remember, and speak when silence becomes too heavy.

Through my fiction, I hope to honour real experiences while creating spaces for empathy, dialogue, and change. Here’s to a world free of violence.

Writing Stories That Matter

Mist and Unappeased Spirits – A supernatural mystery weaving together Zimbabwean folklore and Scottish aristocracy. When an aristocrat disappears on the haunted Mount Nyangani, a young woman’s search for him awakens spirits that refuse to be ignored.

Sun on Your Back – A deeply personal novel exploring domestic violence, justice, and survival, inspired by my experiences working with survivors of abuse.

André’s Story – A powerful short story about childhood trauma, toxic masculinity, and the long-lasting scars of abuse.

Each book reflects real-life issues, told through immersive storytelling. Fiction has the power to make people feel, question, and understand what statistics cannot.

In the Spotlight

Step into my world as an author-where storytelling meets passion, adventure and purpose. This section features exclusive interviews, press coverage, and behind-the-scenes insights into my journey. From in-depth discussions about my books to press features that have highlighted my work, explore the moments that have brought my story to life.

Behind The Scenes

When the land dances

Came for the koalas, stayed for the stories. Their dance carried the heartbeat of the land.

Monkey on the balcony:
He arrived without warning, peered with disapproval at my coffee, and left just as quickly; like all the best editors, he said little but judged everything.

Giraffe
Some encounters need no words; the stretch of a giraffe’s neck toward your open hand and the shared laughter of your child beside you say everything worth remembering

Feeding the giraffe:
There’s something humbling about feeding a creature who towers above you with such grace; even as I reached up with leafy offerings, I felt grounded by the simplicity of connection.

Pepe the cat cuddling:
Every writer needs a critic who listens without interruption, who offers silent, purring affirmation—and who reminds you to take breaks, even when the story insists otherwise.

Pepe the cat asleep:
He’s asleep on my chest again; the keyboard is just out of reach, but somehow the words come anyway—muffled, maybe, but honest.

Picking mangoes and lychees:
There’s a kind of wild abundance to life in Durban; even the roadsides bear fruit, and sometimes joy is as simple as a bag of mangoes and lychees, sticky fingers and all.

Tina Turner show + Dishoom:
From the rhythm of Tina’s voice echoing through the theatre to the warmth of spiced lentils at Dishoom afterward, that London afternoon felt like a tribute to power, persistence, and the joy of letting go.

Writing in coffee shops
There’s something about the clatter of cups and the rise of background chatter that makes the words come faster; here, between the steam and the scribbles, I feel most alive.

Writing in coffee shops In that rare moment when the café noise fades and the world narrows to a sentence, a thought, a twist—I remember why I began to write at all.

Nelson Mandela Square:
Standing at the feet of a man who moved nations with words and unwavering principle, I was reminded that stories can start revolutions—even the ones whispered in fiction.

Snowman He’s lopsided, slightly melted, and wildly unimpressed—but we loved him anyway; sometimes creation is messy and misshapen and full of joy.

Chatsworth House (Pride & Prejudice moment):
Stepping onto the grounds of Pemberley—or at least its cinematic twin—there was a flutter of Austen in the air, and for a moment I could hear Lizzy Bennett laughing just ahead.

The Vatican: A cathedral of whispers and centuries-old stories carved in stone; standing in the Vatican, I felt my own voice grow quiet in awe of everything that had come before.

Kangaroo golf course walk: As kangaroos bounded across the green with an elegance I could only dream of, I found myself smiling at the absurd beauty of a day where wildlife and golf collided without warning.

Finally met a reader who literally could not put the book down-though to be fair, he does not have much else on his schedule

Tried pitching Sun on Your Back to this kangaroo…He said he’s waiting for the movie!

A Passion for Travel & Exploration
I believe stories are everywhere; we just have to go out and find them. My travels inspire my writing, adding depth, setting, and culture to my books.

Places I explored in 2024:
Cape Town – Breathtaking landscapes and rich history.

Istanbul & Cappadocia – A blend of ancient and modern, where East meets West.

Edinburgh & Haworth – Literary pilgrimages to the worlds of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.

Mount Nyangani, Zimbabwe – The misty, mysterious setting that inspired Mist and Unappeased Spirits.

I love exploring places with deep historical or supernatural significance-anywhere that has a story waiting to be told.

Music is my greatest creative companion. Whether writing or reflecting, it fuels my imagination.

From classic literature to folklore, from history to music, I find inspiration in the emotions that shape people’s lives, love, loss, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

5-Star Review from Reader Views

Sun on Your Back received a 5-star rating from Reader Views. Here is the full review by Ada Jenkins.

Sun on Your Back by Naira Khan opened my eyes about unfair legal systems, where women and children who have suffered from domestic and sexual violence are treated appallingly. When Diara Kruger receives a phone call from her sister, who lives in Zimbabwe, she discovers her father is dead. What’s more, her mother, Sophia, has confessed to his murder. Will she be able to confront old ghosts and navigate an unfair legal system to free her?

I think the author’s background as a psychologist who has worked with women and kids affected by domestic and sexual violence adds a strong element of authenticity to the plot. Sophia Kruger’s character is an excellent case in point. She refuses to make a statement in her own defense and is ill-equipped when it comes to understanding the Zimbabwean legal system, because her husband had never prepared her for life outside his controlling influence: “Andre had tried to disempower her as much as possible.” Despite putting up with regular beatings, she’s still in denial even after his death, blaming herself for his violent outbursts. Sounds unbelievable, right?

However, Naira Khan goes on to show us that this is often the reality of how battered women think, especially in Zimbabwe, a society that strongly upholds patriarchal structures. I learned through Sophia’s character just how impossible it is to break free. Her fierce loyalty to a man who abused her so horribly did, at times, make for difficult reading. I felt sorry for her and frustrated, too, both by the misogynistic societal structure that put her in a powerless position and her own fierce loyalty to an abhorrent man who has harmed her family so irrevocably.

One of the key scenes in the story is Sophia’s trial. Here, the author creates truly gripping scenes. As a reader, I felt a broad spectrum of emotions, which ranged from anger to compassion. Since Sophia refuses to make a statement, a number of other witnesses, professionals, and even Diara herself give evidence.

At one point, a psychologist provides a written report, its contents skillfully interwoven into the narrative. I relished this insightful information that revealed Sophia’s feelings, wanting to hear what was going on inside her mind. For instance, the report tells us that she interpreted Andre’s possessiveness as him wanting her “all to himself,” rather than an attempt to exert control. When Diara is called to give evidence, what she said helped me to better understand the challenges faced by victims of sexual violence, in terms of living their life in the aftermath of such a harrowing experience: “I feel like a soiled, discarded rag.”

For me, what made Naira Khan’s Sun on Your Back addictive reading was the all-too-real authenticity of the characters, whose perspectives on sexual and domestic violence made for an emotionally-charged plot. I can see fans of women’s fiction and psychological thrillers really enjoying this book. The challenges of breaking the cycle of violence toward women and kids make this story as relevant as it is psychologically on-point.

— Reader Views

Billy Joel: The Soundtrack of Everyday Truths

Every writer has a muse. For me, one of them has always been the music of Billy Joel — storytelling that has walked beside me through life’s chapters.

Some artists write songs. Billy Joel writes life. His music has always felt like more than melody—it’s a mirror held up to the heart.

Joel often drew inspiration from the people around him and the rhythms of everyday living. His songs come from observation, from love, from heartbreak, and from an unflinching honesty about the human condition. That’s why they resonate so deeply—they’re not just about him; they’re about all of us.

Certain songs have become part of my own inner landscape. Piano Man is storytelling at its finest, capturing the quiet longings of strangers gathered in the same space. She’s Got a Way speaks directly to my soul with its tender simplicity. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant feels like a novel, full of characters and moments that are instantly alive. And She’s Always a Woman—gut-wrenchingly honest—reminds me that truth in art often comes wrapped in both beauty and pain.

And then there’s his most recent song, Turn the Lights Back On. After years of silence, Joel returned with a piece that feels almost like a love letter — not just to relationships, but to life itself. It’s a song about second chances, about pausing long enough to notice what matters, and about the courage it takes to step back into the light. For me, it’s a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again, in music or in life.

As a writer, I take inspiration from the way Joel’s music blends vulnerability and strength. His songs remind me that stories—whether sung or written—are about connection. They linger because they carry the rhythm of honesty.

For me, Billy Joel isn’t just a musician I admire. He is a companion, a voice that has underscored both quiet reflection and the turning points of my life. His music continues to remind me why I write: to capture everyday truths that matter.

Let’s connect!

I love hearing from readers, fellow writers, and advocates passionate about social justice and storytelling. You can find me on:

For media inquiries, collaborations, or book reviews, please reach out via:
Email: nairakhan0807@icloud.com

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