Kaila Nike On How To Grow Your Business or Brand By Writing A Book

As a part of our series about “How You Can Grow Your Business or Brand By Writing A Book”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kaila Nike.

Born and raised in British Columbia, Kaila is a dedicated mother raising two wonderful sons. While she earned a diploma in social work, writing has always been her true passion. Finding solace and expression in her words, Kaila has a knack for crafting engaging narratives. She particularly loves writing poems, and ‘romantasy’. Her new series, Mystique, is a testament to her talent and dedication.

After gaining valuable experience working with children in a school setting, Kaila had changed careers only to lose the new job that she loved so much. With ten days notice that she would be unemployed she jumped on the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an author. The adversity and triumphs she’s experienced with failed and toxic relationships has motivated and led her to write this story. Inspired by true events, this novel was written while on a remarkable journey of healing and self discovery. She’s already begun working on a sequel to Mystique, eager to continue the captivating story she’s started.

Balancing her responsibilities with her writing career hasn’t always been easy. Finding time to write and navigating the publishing world requires dedication and perseverance. Kaila is grateful for the unwavering support and belief she receives from her family and friends.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share a story about what motivated you to become an expert in the particular area that you are writing about?

Hello, and thank you so much for having me. I have always been a dreamer for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I wanted to do everything and be everything from a rockstar to a formula one race car driver. I wasn’t much of a risk taker in that sense so I never did follow those dreams, but what I did do consistently was write. I’ve always loved to write. I write in both personal growth and development and fantasy. The personal growth aspect of my writing comes from years of learning and growing as an individual, and to basically become a better version of myself. Having that coupled with a passion to want to help others, it kind of just happened for me. I didn’t see myself being a personal growth writer, but it was in the stars for me and I kind of just fell into it. And I love it!

As for fantasy writing, that’s a different story. I’ve always had really vivid dreams growing up, and I’ve always wanted to be a good story teller, to get people’s attention and just

light up people’s faces. I wanted to take my dreams, because they are so out there yet so real, and share them with the world. And what a better way than to write about it. While much of my writing is loosely based on real events, I incorporate a lot of what I dream about into my stories.

Can you share a pivotal story that shaped the course of your career?

I’ve always wanted to write, but being a full time single mom who also worked full time, I didn’t always find the time, or prioritize writing. Not novels anyway. Most of what I did write was poetry. But the pivotal moment that shaped my writing career was the day I had lost my job. I had left my job in the school district to deliver packages for amazon. Why? Oh so many reasons why. But that’s a conversation for another day. I really enjoyed my job as an amazon delivery driver. However, one day I was given ten days’ notice that I would be losing my job. That’s not a lot of notice, right!? But somehow I knew that this was meant to happen, almost as if the universe was opening up a path for me to do what I dreamed of doing for so many years. It was time to finally sit down and begin writing my stories. And that’s exactly what I did. I put faith in the universe, and in myself and I have not looked back since. I have been writing full-time since I lost that job. Although I loved that job, it was a blessing in disguise that it had been swept under my feet.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Are you working on any new writing projects?

Well, I have many projects that I am working on, but the one that sits closest to my heart, Mystique, is scheduled to be released this July! And I am currently writing book number two of the series and I am so excited to have this published. I wish I could write faster because I already have book three and four plotted out in my mind and I cannot wait until the entire series is written and available.

Thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. Can you please tell us a bit about your book? Can you please share a specific passage or story that illustrates the main theme of your book?

Mystique is a seductive and thrilling romantasy that will pull you deep into a world where love, desire, and darkness collide. When Octavia falls for the mysterious and irresistible Chad, she believes she’s found the passion and security she’s always longed for. But as red flags turn into undeniable truths, she’s forced to face a shocking reality — her perfect love harbours the darkest of secrets. With supernatural forces at play and an unexpected pregnancy shaking her

world, Octavia must choose between the love she craves and the truth she can no longer ignore. The first in a gripping four-book series, Mystique is a heart-pounding journey of love, betrayal, and self-discovery that will leave readers desperate for more.

You are a successful author and thought leader. Which three character traits do you feel were most instrumental to your success when launching your book? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I have to say that grit is definitely a trait that has gotten me this far on my journey. When I had lost my job I did take a couple weeks off just to spend some quality time with my kids. But once I began writing, I didn’t stop. Not only did I write, I was (and still am) consistently doing research on how to be a better writer and learning about the publishing world. Some days I work 10–12 hours straight. But I am doing pretty good at taking days off when it’s needed. That’s something I had to learn and practice.

Secondly, self-discipline is a strong trait. It’s not as if you’re working for someone who tells you what to do and when to do it. If you’re a writer, then you’re your own boss. You make the schedule, you figure out what needs to be done, you prioritise what needs to be done first, and you have to do it, whether you do all the mundane tasks yourself, or hire someone, it’s all you figuring it out and delegating when needed. When I first wrote mystique, I was so naive that I thought the hard part was over. Like, great the manuscript is written, now people can read it. But no, that’s not how it works. I learned that writing the manuscript was the easy part and it was up to me to figure out all of the next steps. Which I did. I did everything I could to make the manuscript the best it could be and then hired a team of professionals to complete the tasks I was unable to, from editing to cover design to web design. Regardless of how it got done. It got done, and it takes a lot of self discipline to complete a polished novel.

And third, I’m very passionate about my writing and stories. I love the story of Mystique so much. It was a story that was on my mind and heart for seven years before I actually sat down and began writing it. That’s how much it means to me, it was a story I wasn;t willing to let go of. To this day, I do not get sick of thinking, writing and reading Mystique. And trust me, I have read

it many many times. I don;t get bored of talking about it and I even dream about it sometimes. The same way I dreamt about Twilight when it first came out and I was so engrossed in the books I could not put them down for the life of me.

In my work, I have found that writing a book can be a great way to grow a brand. Can you share some stories or examples from your own experience about how you helped your own business or brand grow by writing a book? What was the “before and after picture?” What were things like before, and how did things change after the book?

People love books. Books to me are almost like having a little piece of the person’s mind who wrote it. It’s another world, or a piece of advice or a warm story that you can take with you anywhere you go. Before I had any books written, it almost seemed like what I had to say didn’t hold much value or authority, even though I knew what I was talking about because I’ve spent years studying it. But once you have a book, you have instant authority and respect from those around you. Before writing, I had tried many ways of creating a business online, but they all failed which is why I resorted to working the nine-to-five for so long. I think that was partly because of my mindset, I didn’t feel as though I had the authority to speak on such things. And also because I didn’t really have anything to back up my knowledge, other than a piece of paper, such as a certificate or something, and whatever was in my own mind. But with a book, you can take what’s in your mind and give a physical copy to people, and in a weird sense it almost makes it ‘real’. People respect the amount of time and effort it takes to create your very own book and in turn will respect you more for it.

Honestly, my community/followers grows and will continue to grow every day because I have written books. Because people love books, books can be used for marketing purposes as well to draw people in.

If a friend came to you and said “I’m considering writing a book but I’m on the fence if it is worth the effort and expense” what would you answer? Can you explain how writing a book in particular, and thought leadership in general, can create lucrative opportunities and help a business or brand grow?

How bad do you want it? Would be my first question. It’s not easy to get from point A to point Z with writing a book. You have to want it bad enough to see it through to the end. Not only do you need to write the manuscript, you need to edit, and you also need to learn what the next steps are from there and do them, such as cover design, web page creation, formatting, marketing, etc. It took me a full year to write, edit, and get Mystique to professional standards before publishing. And when it comes to marketing, it’s not a one and done deal. Marketing is a long term game. I work on marketing nearly every day. Unless you don’t want your book to be known, then you don’t have to market but if you’re looking to write and publish a professional book, you’ve got to be prepared to be in it for the long haul.

The second part to that is the expense. It can be fairly cheap to write and publish a book if you are doing everything yourself such as the editing and cover design and web page etc. but is it going to be up to professional standards? Maybe you are a jack of all trades and can do it all, but it’s unlikely that’s the case for the majority of authors. If you want your book to be professional then it will cost money, and it will likely be in the thousands.

When you have professionally written and published books, it can without a doubt create lucrative opportunities and help your brand or business to grow. Having a book behind your name creates instant authority, credibility, and trust with your audience. And if you have authority, credibility and trust, then it is so much easier to find high quality leads. You want your audience to know, like and trust you. That’s when they buy. And having a book helps with that. Having a book with your name on it is almost like having a detailed business card that dives into your own unique voice and perspective, that is available to anyone.

Lastly, I just want to end this question with the fact that writing and publishing a book leaves a legacy with your name attached to it, leaving a permanent mark in your area of expertise. A book not only will help you, but could potentially generate a lucrative income for generations to come.

What are the things that you wish you knew about promoting a book before you started? What did you learn the hard way? Can you share some stories about that which other aspiring writers can learn from?

Promoting your work is a long term game. This is again where you need to ask yourself ‘how bad do you want it?’ because if you want to make waves, then you can’t just post an image of your book on social media and call it a day. Consistency is key when promoting your book. Talk about it to your friends, family, and anyone else that you find yourself communicating with, don’t be shy. Most people will be excited to hear about it and congratulate you. Post about it on social media, engage with your audience. One thing that I hesitated to do for so long, because of my own insecurities that I needed to work through, was to put myself out there and share my work and allow people to get to know me. Limiting beliefs took up a lot of space in my mind and my thinking that it slowed my growth exponentially. I was so afraid of criticism or rejection that I wouldn’t even put my face out there. But once I healed some of those limiting beliefs, I took the leap, put myself out there, and began to soar without looking back. Be proud of who you are and the work that you do and share it. Chances are that if you love it then others will too.

Based on your experience, which promotional elements would you recommend to an author to cover on their own and when would you recommend engaging an expert?

I strongly believe that the best person to promote your work is you, the author. So, running your own social media accounts, going on book tours, etc. However, I think it is brilliant to hire a marketing expert to guide you along the way on how to market. For example, I hired a marketing expert to create a detailed plan for me. This included how to choose keywords and subject categories, gathering endorsements, learning your audience, creating hooks, book comparisons, ARC readers, reviews, website, social media, book launch etc. The plan was created for me, but I was the one to implement everything. I run my social media accounts, I run the ads, I did hire someone to create a website for me, but I designed it. When you are doing all of these things yourself, it gives it your own unique voice.

There is a time when it’s important to bring in experts if you want to grow. Like with my last example, I hired an expert to tell me what to do in terms of marketing. If I were to leave it upon myself to figure all of that out, it would have taken me ages with all the research and learning I would have had to do. Again, with the website, I have no clue how to create a website, hiring a professional saved me a lot of time (and my sanity). I also hired an artist to create images for me to use on social media, as I am not very artistic. I can draw to some extent, but it would take me ages and honestly there just isn’t enough time in a day for one person to do everything. The artist I hired is amazing at listening to how I want the art to look and will make modifications if needed. I chose her because I love her style and it fits well with my overall vision. There are professionals that can (and should be) be hired along the way, but it’s important that whoever you hire, that you share the same values/vision and that they are able to mimic your own unique voice.

If you do find yourself carrying a larger weight of the load, you’ll eventually burn yourself out. Especially once your brand grows and the work becomes more demanding. It’s important to know how to delegate tasks, and where/who to delegate them to.

Based on your own experience and success, what are the “five things an author needs to know to successfully promote and market a book?” If you can, please share a story or example for each.

1. Optimize Metadata. Optimizing your book’s metadata is one of the most critical steps in making sure it gets discovered by the right readers. Think of metadata as the digital storefront for your book; it’s all the information potential readers and booksellers use to find and categorize it. This includes your back blurb, author bio, keywords, and subject categories. When optimized, each element works together to increase visibility and attract your target audience. I have hired a professional to help me optimize my data, they tend to know what’s working and which keywords the algorithm picks up on. I initially write my information out, and they edit with their expertise, optimizing the information.
2. Networking. Networking is an absolute cornerstone of successful book promotion and marketing. Never underestimate its power. Actively engaging with both familiar faces and new acquaintances is key to building vital connections. These relationships can very well lead to exciting collaborations and unforeseen opportunities, which are absolutely essential for expanding your platform and effectively promoting your book, ultimately unlocking a wealth of opportunities for growth and expanded reach. I often use social media to network with other entrepreneurs. I have made many connections and in turn it’s created many opportunities for me. Opportunities I otherwise never would have had.
3. Understand your target audience. Do you know who you are promoting your book to? If you write YA fantasy are you going to market to parents of toddlers? Not likely. Knowing your audience is so important. There is a saying, along with an exercise, that I have been taught over and over again and it goes like this. If you are marketing to everyone, you are marketing to noone. So essentially, you’re going to want to think of one person, and we call this an avatar. They are interested in your book. Describe this person, are they female or male, where do they work, who are their friends, what do they do for fun or for extra rec activities? Do they have kids, do they play sports? You want to create this person and this is the person you are going to be marketing to. Why? Because creating this avatar gives you a significant strategic advantage for all your marketing efforts. Having this deep understanding of who your audience is allows for laser-focused, genuine messaging that truly resonates with them. Knowing details like where they work, their hobbies, and their social circles enables you to invest your time and money where they are most likely to be found. This targeted approach drastically reduces wasted effort and allows you to build more authentic connections with the readers who will genuinely relate to you and your work.
4. Professional Author Platform. Your author website is the essential hub of your professional author platform, acting as your digital home base. This is where your audience consistently knows to find you, and where you comprehensively showcase all information about yourself and your work. Making your website the central point ensures you have full control and ownership over your brand and content. From this hub, all external links to your books on various retailers, social media profiles, and other online presences are easily accessible, making your marketing efforts more streamlined and effective. It’s important to have your hub be professional, which in turn grants you authority and respect amongst your audience.
5. Review. After dedicating extensive effort to writing, optimizing metadata, networking, and platform building, it’s important to review your marketing efforts. This means consistently tracking your activities and their results to ensure your hard work isn’t in vain. What’s working and what isn’t? You don’t want to continue to waste time and money on something that isn’t providing results. It’s just like how a scientist conducts an experiment, you hypothesize with your marketing strategy, execute your activities, and then measure the results using data. This data-driven approach allows you to continuously measure and improve your marketing’s efficiency and effectiveness, putting your money into what’s actually working. Most platforms provide tools and insights that allow you to track your progress.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

There are so many people that I would be incredibly pleased to meet and enjoy breakfast with. I think that anyone who builds a brand or a business from the ground up is highly admirable, but I will have to go with Christopher Paolini. I think his story is incredible, as is the series Eragon that he wrote and published at such a young age. I think it is really cool how he travelled around to different schools dressed up and promoted his work. That’s the type of energy I want to be around. Chris just has so many admirable characteristics such as never giving up and pursuing his dreams no matter the struggles that may have been.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

My website. There, you can sign up for exclusive offers, keep up to date with what’s happening with my work, and also send me a direct email! I love communicating with my fans!

Thank you for these excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent. We wish you continued success with your book promotion and growing your brand.

Thank you so much!