We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Author Khemistri J. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Author Khemistri J below.
Author Khemistri J, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?
That’s a great question and one that I’ve thought about often.
If I could go back in time, I believe I would have started writing much sooner. I’ve always known that writing was my passion, but doubt, fear, and worrying too much about what others might think held me back. I don’t believe my skin was as tough back then when I originally explored becoming a full-time author as it is now. Being an author and sharing your work definitely requires you to have very thick and tough skin. You put pieces of you onto each page for people to either love or tear apart.
It wasn’t until I faced a serious illness that I found the motivation to finally sit down, complete my book, and publish it. That challenging period in my life pushed me to seek an escape, and writing became my sanctuary. I got lost in the lives of my characters while escaping the pain in my own, if only for a few hours each day.
Taking all of this into consideration, when I look back, it’s hard to say what my career would look like if I hadn’t gone through that experience. My illness forced me to spend a lot of time reading books in my genre and books that taught me how to craft compelling stories. It also gave me the opportunity to write without the pressures of a traditional job, allowing me to focus purely on my love for storytelling.
So, while starting sooner would have been exciting, I believe everything happened at the right time for me. My journey, including the hardships, shaped me into the writer I am today. Ultimately, I wouldn’t change a thing because it all led me to where I am now.
Author Khemistri J, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a bestselling urban fiction author, wife, and mother of two. My debut novel, “The Connect Kidnapped My Heart,” was released in 2023, marking the beginning of my journey in the urban fiction genre. Since then, I’ve continued to captivate readers with street, sexy, and spicy black love stories that resonate deeply with my audience.
At the end of 2023, I took a bold step and launched my own publishing company, Next Caliber Productions. This company is now the home for all my books and future projects. Through Next Caliber Productions, my mission is to shine a brighter light on black characters, stories, authors, and creators. I believe in the power of representation and strive to bring authentic and diverse narratives to the forefront of the literature world.
What sets my work apart is my commitment to creating compelling, relatable characters and engaging storylines that reflect the real-life struggles and triumphs we all face. I love when my readers see parts of themselves in my characters and the journeys they embark on. My goal is to ensure my books not only entertain but also provide an escape and a sense of connection for my readers.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the community of readers and supporters I’ve built. Their enthusiasm and feedback drive me to keep writing and pushing boundaries with my storytelling. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that my work is deeply personal and crafted with love and care. Each story is a piece of my heart, and I pour my soul into every page.
In addition to writing, I’m passionate about mentoring and supporting other authors. Through my publishing company, I aim to provide opportunities and a platform for emerging black writers to share their voices and stories.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
This might sound a little cliché because so many marketing gurus say it, but consistency has been crucial for me. I wholeheartedly believe that remaining consistent is the number one thing you can do to build your reputation.
It can be challenging to know what to be consistent at in the beginning, but that’s where experimentation comes in. When starting out, you need to throw everything you have into your marketing efforts to quickly determine what works for you and what doesn’t.
Once you have clarity on that, you can go deeper with what’s effective. Because I was willing to go all-in and test out multiple platforms and marketing mediums, I was able to quickly learn what didn’t work for me, which in my opinion is a lot more important than what does. When you know what doesn’t work, you can put all of your time, effort, and sometimes money into building up what does.
For me, this meant being consistent in several key areas:
Social Media: Regularly engaging with my audience on various social media platforms has been vital. Sharing updates, snippets of my work, and personal insights helps me connect with readers and keep them engaged. I found that the social media platform I ignored the most ended up being my biggest income driver when I really gave it a chance.
Email Marketing: Building and maintaining an email list has allowed me to communicate directly with my most dedicated readers. Consistently sending out newsletters with updates, exclusive content, and special promotions keeps my audience informed and excited about my work. When they say the money is in the list, they mean that!
Engagement: Actively engaging with my readers by responding to comments, messages, and emails has helped build a strong community. Showing genuine interest in my readers’ thoughts and feedback creates a loyal and supportive fan base.
Consistently Publishing: Continuously putting my work out there is crucial. Whether it’s a new book, a blog post, or social media content, staying visible and active in the market keeps my audience interested and coming back for more.
By combining these efforts and remaining consistent in my approach, I’ve been able to build a solid reputation within my market. It’s about finding the right balance and staying committed to engaging with your audience and delivering quality content regularly.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Staying connected with my readers and fostering brand loyalty has been crucial for me. I focus on sharing about my books in various formats and contexts to keep the engagement alive. From promoting titles from my catalog, sharing reader reviews, providing character updates, to revealing current projects I’m working on, I’ve found these to be game-changers in maintaining a strong connection with my audience.
I treat my readers as though they’re my literary agents, needing constant updates. They’re a part of my team and, for the most part, always know what I’m up to. This transparency and inclusion make them feel valued and involved in my journey.
Leveraging my email list and Facebook group has been especially effective. An email list is vital for everyone because it comprises the most dedicated fans of your brand. I ensure these subscribers feel special by sharing exclusive content with them that isn’t available anywhere else. This makes them feel important and appreciated.
Similarly, my Facebook group gets all the messy behind-the-scenes details, creating a more intimate and engaging community. It’s a space where I can interact more personally and provide insights that are exclusive to my group members.
Finally, social media plays a key role. It allows me to reach a broader audience and stay connected with readers on a daily basis through regular posts and interactions.
By combining these efforts—email lists, Facebook groups, and social media—I’m able to keep in touch with my readers and foster a strong sense of brand loyalty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authorkhemistrij.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorkhemistrij
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkhemistrijpage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkhemistri
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@authorkhemistrij
