Welcome to Ink and Spirits by NAIRA

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Welcome to My Blog – Where Stories, Secrets, and the Writing Life Collide

Every story has a deeper layer, and this is where I unravel the mysteries behind my books, share the real-life inspirations behind my stories, and offer insights into the writing and publishing journey.

Here, you’ll find:

  • Behind-the-scenes secrets from Mist and Unappeased Spirits and Sun on Your Back
  • The true stories that inspired my books, from unsolved disappearances to real-life trauma
  • Writing & publishing insights—what I’ve learned along the way
  • Expanded thoughts from my most viral social media posts, diving deeper into topics that sparked conversation

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What We Get Wrong: Myths About Domestic Violence That Still Hurt Victims

Despite decades of activism, legislation, and public education, the truth is sobering: myths about domestic violence still persist. They slip into courtroom arguments, media narratives, casual conversations—and too often, into the minds of victims themselves. As a psychologist and writer, I’ve sat with survivors and imagined characters like Sophia Kruger

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 Red Flags We Miss: How Society Enables Abusers

Meta Description: Abusers often appear ordinary—trusted, respected, even beloved. This article explores how society enables abuse through silence, denial, and misplaced loyalty.SEO Keywords: childhood trauma book themes, author advocating social justice, novels with generational wounds, Zimbabwe UK literary fiction Red Flags We Miss: How Society Enables Abusers They don’t wear

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The Narcissist’s Playbook: Charm, Control, Collapse

They don’t show up as monsters. At first, they show up as magic. Narcissists often begin relationships with overwhelming charm, attention, and promises of forever. But slowly, subtly, the dynamic shifts—from admiration to control, from warmth to withdrawal, from love to emotional devastation. Narcissistic abuse is one of the most

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Honour Killings in the UK: The Myths We Must Break

We like to think of honour killings as something that happens “elsewhere.” In another country. In another culture. But so-called “honour-based” violence has claimed the lives of girls and women right here in the UK—while the systems meant to protect them have often failed. These killings are not about honour.

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Why Do Men Abuse Children? Investigating the psychology of a paedophile.

Meta Title: Why Do Men Abuse Children? | Sun on Your Back BlogMeta Description: Not all paedophiles were abused. And a good deal re-offend. This post explores the psychology of child abusers, exposing dangerous myths through fiction and fact.SEO Keywords: childhood trauma book themes, author advocating social justice, novels with

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Lady Robertson and Performative Prejudice in Mist and Unappeased Spirits

Meta Description: Explore subtle racism, Islamophobia, and class bias in Mist and Unappeased Spirits through the character of Lady Robertson. A cross-novel reflection on women of colour navigating love, identity, and conditional acceptance. URL Slug: lady-robertson-prejudice-mist-unappeased-spirits Target SEO Keywords: Muslim woman protagonist, subtle racism in fiction, Islamophobia in literature, prejudice

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The Price of Silence: How Minimising Violence Costs Us All

Sometimes I wonder how many times I’ll have to say the same thing before someone actually hears it. People have hurt children. That silence protects abusers. That fiction isn’t a threat—it’s a way to tell the truth when the truth gets ignored. Despite that, there are people who flinch at

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When Someone Vanishes: The Weight of Ambiguous Loss

How unresolved grief lingers in silence—and in the mist Keywords: ambiguous loss, missing persons, Mount Nyangani, unresolved grief, trauma, Mist and Unappeased Spirits, emotional aftermath, disappearing without closure Some Losses Don’t End. They Echo. There’s a kind of loss that doesn’t come with certainty. No last goodbye. Nobody to bury.

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The Mountain That Swallows People

The Mountain That Swallows People Authentic stories of disappearance on Mount Nyangani—and the pain of not knowing There are places in the world where silence is heavier than sound. Mount Nyangani, in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands, is one of them. For years, that mountain has drawn me. Not only because of

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Voices in the Mist – The Soundtrack Behind a Supernatural Love Story

Voices in the Mist – The Soundtrack Behind a Supernatural Love Story Explore the official playlist for Mist and Unappeased SpiritsBy Naira KhanMeta description:Discover the emotional Spotify playlist behind Mist and Unappeased Spirits, a supernatural romance that spans Scotland and Zimbabwe. Each track captures the heartache, memory, and mystery of

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Generational Haunting in Romantic Fiction

Generational Haunting in Romantic Fiction A deeper look into how inherited trauma weaves through our love stories. When we think of romantic fiction, our minds often turn to starry-eyed lovers, heart-fluttering moments, and dramatic breakups. But for many writers—and readers—romance is more than escapism. It’s a mirror reflecting the unresolved

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Sun on Your Back – A Soundtrack for Survival

The emotional playlist behind a story of silence, trauma, and hope Every Survivor Has a Soundtrack In Sun on Your Back, Diara is a woman shaped by silence—and by sound. Music was her one refuge growing up in a fractured home. Now, as she raises a child in secret and

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Writing Stories That Matter: Advocacy Through Fiction

 Using literature to highlight social issues affecting women and children Fiction as a Mirror to Reality Stories hold power. They illuminate truths, challenge injustice, and give voice to the silenced. For me, writing is more than storytelling- it is advocacy, a way to bring awareness to the realities of violence

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William’s Struggle: A Deep Dive into Addiction & Recovery

How substance use and personal demons create a complex character arc in Mist and Unappeased Spirits The Rise and Fall of a Rugby Star William Robertson had everything: a promising rugby career, privilege, and charm that made him the golden boy of his aristocratic family. As the captain of his university rugby

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Voices in the Mist: The Enigmatic Mermaids of Mount Nyangani

A Mountain of Mysteries Mount Nyangani, Zimbabwe’s highest peak, is more than just a landscape of mist-covered cliffs and winding streams. It is a place where the air feels charged with unseen forces, where people have walked into the mist-never to return.For years, whispers of strange disappearances have surrounded this

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Introduction to Social Media & the Challenges of Book Promotion

“Writing a book is one thing. Getting people to read it? That’s a whole different story.”

When I first started out, I had no idea how much social media would shape my journey as an author. I thought writing the book would be the hardest part—but then I entered the world of marketing, algorithms, and endless content creation.

I had to teach myself everything from scratch:

  • How to make engaging videos with CapCut
  • Designing eye-catching visuals with Canva
  • Learning what makes a post go viral (and what gets ignored)
  • Figuring out which ads actually work and which ones drain your budget

It was overwhelming. It was frustrating. It was time-consuming. But eventually, through trial and error, I started to understand what resonates with readers and how to use social media as a tool rather than a burden.

 The reality is: social media isn’t just a promotional tool—it’s an extension of your storytelling.

It allows authors to connect with readers, build communities, and showcase the heart behind their stories. But it requires:

✅ Patience (because success doesn’t happen overnight)

✅ Adaptability (because platforms change all the time)

✅ Creativity (because engagement matters more than just posting)

So, if you’re an author feeling lost in the sea of hashtags, algorithms, and content creation pressure—know that you’re not alone. It’s a learning curve, but one that can transform your career if approached with curiosity and persistence.

Here are some of my posts that performed very well on social media.