We were lucky to catch up with Leialoha Humpherys recently and have shared our conversation below.

Leialoha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

A lot of people ask me how I got into self publishing, writing, and how have I been able to grow as an author in such a short period of time. The answer is that I failed… a lot. I learned everything that I know now from jumping in and starting. I didn’t let fear paralyze me so that I did nothing. Instead, I did the best I could, with the knowledge I had and that I researched, and tried things out. As a writer, you don’t get better by *not* writing. You get better by doing the thing and making small changes here and there to improve. I remember when I published my first book, and I thought: I know this isn’t *perfect* but it’s perfect for where I am now as a person and writer, and I am happy with what I’ve created. It’s possible to take years to perfect something, but, in the end, it’s never going to be absolutely perfect. With more time and experience, you can always find something to change or edit.
When it comes to learning, you just have to jump in, not be afraid to fail, and know that–with time and practice–your skills will improve. I remember a friend sharing a quote he has on his wall and it says, “Fail faster.” I love that, because the more you fail, and the quicker you fail, the quicker you can learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
One obstacle that has gotten into my way, though, is discouragement. When I published my first book, I set two rules for myself:
1) do not give away free books (like as gifts to family/friends) and
2) do not read reviews, good or bad

These boundaries were both made for my mental health. When I write a book, I get it to a point that I am happy and pleased with it. I write for enjoyment and for my mental health. I also write with a certain person in mind, imagining what kind of lesson I would like to pass on to a young adult going through a specific trouble.
Having other people read my books and enjoy them, as well as receiving additional finances from my books is definitely a bonus. However, I have never relied on outside validation–besides from those on my beta team–which is why I don’t read any reviews.
Not too long ago, I published a book in a new series and used an online program to get reviews. When I would log onto that program, it showed me the reviews on the dashboard. I got sucked into reading reviews–good and bad–and it crushed me for a while. I would think about all the ways I should’ve changed this or that in the book. And though there were many positive reviews, my brain could only focus on the negative ones.
It honestly paralyzed me as a writer, and reminded me why I don’t read reviews. Reviews are for readers, not authors. I think every author should set boundaries that will help them to keep learning, improving, and pushing forward. There will be many times that an author will get discouraged, so have a plan to recover from that.
I had to take a little breather from the author/reader world, and remember why I enjoy writing. Learning is a process too, so just enjoy it! :)

Leialoha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a multi-genre author who has self published several books, including the self-help gem, “Aloha State of Mind.” My fairy tale retellings, set in ancient Hawaii, fantasy worlds, and immersed with diverse cultures, have captivated readers with their resilient protagonists and hopeful endings. I’m known for my love and knowledge of Hawaiian culture, history, language, and mythology.

What sets me apart from other authors is the unique perspective and diverse cultures I bring to the literary world. When I was a little girl, I remember picking out Samantha and Kaya books from the “American Girl” series because Samantha looked most like me, while Kaya’s love of her family, heritage, and culture was something I resonated with. As I grew older, I realized the need for more Polynesian and Hawaiian representation in literature. I’m grateful to be able to create books that feature the various Polynesian cultures, as well as others from around the world.

My bestselling self-help book, and debut novel, is “Aloha State of Mind.” It covers 24 Hawaiian values to help you create paradise where you are. You don’t have to travel to Hawaii or go to a specific place to be happy. This book has resonated with many readers and provided a safe place, strength, and encouragement to those going through difficult times. I truly believe that the values in this book, if lived, can help people live more purposeful and fulfilling lives. Aloha, love, can change lives.

My bestselling series is “The Incandescent Kingdoms.” It is a series of fairy tale retellings for young adults. They can be read in order or as standalones. Readers have loved the diverse cultures and fantasy setting in these books, and many have resonated with the characters and the themes presented in the books. I emphasize that all of my books are clean, meaning that there is no explicit content, pornography, swearing/vulgarity, or graphic violence.
For those interested in reading my books, there’s something for everyone! If you like nonfiction, try out “Aloha State of Mind” or “You Belong: Conversations on Color, Culture, & Christianity.”
If you like fairy tale retellings, check out “The Incandescent Kingdoms,” which takes place in a fantasy world, or my “Enchanted Hawaii Collection,” which takes place in an ancient Hawaiian world.
If you like epic fantasy, definitely take a look at “Rise of the Mano,” perfect for young adult readers who love books like “Eragon,”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I truly believe that service to others brings purpose to life. We live in a world that preaches that the ultimate goal of life is to pursue pleasure, take the easiest path, and to be as comfortable as possible. This goes against everything that our Savior, Jesus Christ, taught. As a Christian, I believe that when we serve others, we serve God. Working hard, taking risks, and pushing forward–even when we’re discouraged–will help us get to where we want to go. So when I’m asked if there’s a particular goal or mission that drives my creative journey, the answer is simple:
I want to make a difference.
With my writing, I want to teach people that there’s a better way to live. Through my stories, I want my young adult readers to learn and see that they can overcome hard trials, and that getting outside of themselves and serving will bring happiness.
Financially, I would love to make enough income to support my family, with the purpose of helping others. When my family’s needs are met, I want to and can do more, whether it’s supporting other non-profit organizations, raising awareness, or just serving someone in my own family or community. I believe that when your purpose is to serve others, it brings joy and satisfaction to your journey. Yes, there are hard times as an author. The amount of discouragement I’ve faced in this year alone has been incredibly heavy, but I keep pushing forward because I want to help people. And I know that my writing and words can make a difference in someone’s life. I’ve received emails and dms about how “Aloha State of Mind” has given someone a reason. Or how “Married at Sunrise” made someone cry because they felt seen. Or how “Hidden at Starshine” gave someone courage to get through social anxiety.
When we follow the example of Jesus Christ and lose ourselves in service, we find ourselves. There’s truly no other way to find joy and fulfillment in life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I always knew I wanted to write fantasy and fairy-tales. So why did I start my self publishing journey with a self help book? I love and truly appreciate my Hawaiian heritage. It has given me a sense of belonging in my life and taught me so many values and life lessons. I didn’t know it at the time, but starting a blog about Hawaiian culture and values, then publishing a book about it, would ultimately get me to the point where I could write fantasy and fairy-tales.
In 2018, I started a blog called “Naturally Aloha.” I knew that I wanted to grow an audience of people who would buy my book, “Aloha State of Mind.” I didn’t know everything about that book, and my blog honestly didn’t have very many signs that it would be successful. But I did it because I enjoy talking about all things Hawaii, and my readers do too! After having a successful debut release, I knew I wanted to write fantasy and fairy tales.
But, at the time, my audience was composed of people who were not my target audience for that. For a while, I tried to balance my fairy tales, set in Hawaii, with my nonfiction books.
It was very, very difficult. And confusing! Those who followed my social media were probably getting whiplash from the nonfiction/self-help posts I shared, then all of a sudden the fairytale/fantasy books I shared. I hesitated to make changes, thinking that they might discourage people from following me at all, or thinking that it might be too much work.
But it became so difficult to blend my nonfiction and fiction books into one website and social media, that I knew I had to do something.
I knew I had to make a change, and that’s when I pivoted.
I created a new website just for my fairytale and fantasy books. I created a new social media presence for it too. The results were incredible! Within a few months, I had over four hundred followers and over 600 email subscribers.
I was now attracting the right readers and audience for my fairytale/fantasy books, while my nonfiction/self help readers could now enjoy only the content meant for them too. Is it double the work to manage two websites and social media pages? It actually fells like LESS work now, because each one is niched and has a clear purpose.
Don’t be afraid to make changes–and if things don’t work out, that is ok too! Just keep going. :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leialohahumpherys.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leialohahumpherys/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leialohahumpherys
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIqbRviKI-Qx64XELqgGFOA
• Other: Blog: https://naturallyaloha.com/ Self-help Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyleialoha/ Download a free book! https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/438d193a-eea3-11ed-a534-872097f04719