An interview with Alisha Knight
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We're excited to be back with another indie author interview! You may have noticed we've started stocking both physical and e-book copies of indie authors' work to show our support, offering another audience for indie books. It's incredible to see so many trusting us with promoting their work. We're forming a really cool community!
Today, we're showcasing Alisha Knight, an awesome mum who we're proud to call a friend, who also happens to have written a book about her amazing daughter, Willow. Show her all the love; she deserves it.
"I’m a mum of three - two teens and a very special little girl, Willow, who has complex disabilities and needs. I’m also a full-time carer, home educator, and creative spirit with a huge love for storytelling. Life in our household is a mixture of chaos, love, laughter, and learning to adapt. I’ve always loved writing, drawing, and making up worlds in my head - whether it’s for children’s books or young adult fantasy. I enjoy long chats with my husband, Glen (who affectionately calls me ‘Troglowife’), the smell of old books, and a good binge of films or series. I’m also passionate about disability awareness, inclusion, and helping others feel seen through the power of words.
My latest book is Through My Eyes: Willow’s Story, a children’s book that shares the journey of my daughter Willow, who has a rare chromosome deletion and multiple complex needs. It’s written in a similar style to Nadine Neckles’ work and designed to help children, families, and professionals better understand what it’s like to grow up with additional needs, sensory challenges, and visual impairments like nystagmus and esotropia. The story takes readers through Willow’s early diagnosis, her developmental milestones, and the love and resilience that surrounds her. It’s been a very emotional and healing book to write - and my hope is that it gives other children and parents comfort, education, and a sense of connection.
I’m currently working on a young adult fantasy novel called Bound in Blood and Magic. It follows a 17-year-old girl named Elara who lives in a magical household but has no powers of her own - until a mysterious new boy moves to town and something ancient begins to stir inside her. The story explores identity, belonging, love, and sacrifice. It’s full of drama, mystery, and subtle witchcraft lessons woven into the chapters. What I love most about it is how Elara’s journey mirrors the emotional experience of growing up feeling different, and discovering that your power has always been there - you just needed the right spark. The book will be around 400 pages and is intended for readers aged 13+, but I truly hope it will resonate with adults too.
I’ve always written - whether it was short stories, journal entries, or poetry. I think writing became my outlet during difficult times growing up, and it’s been part of my healing process ever since. What keeps me motivated is knowing that words can be a lifeline. They can make people feel understood, escape into new worlds, or simply feel less alone. As a mum and carer, I don’t always get a lot of time to myself - but writing is something I do for me. It’s where I get to be me again.
I chose to self-publish because I wanted creative control. With my children’s books especially, it was important to keep the message exactly as I envisioned. Indie publishing has been empowering for me. It’s not easy - you wear all the hats - but you learn so much, and it’s deeply rewarding to hold a book you created from start to finish. That said, I admire traditionally published authors and would love to explore that route in the future for larger projects. I think there’s space for both paths to exist and be equally valid.
As a full-time carer, I often have to write in stolen moments late at night or early in the morning. I also live with chronic pain, so physically I can’t always write as much as I want to. There have been times I’ve felt like giving up, wondering if anyone would care about what I write. But every message from a reader or a moment of progress reminds me why I started. Also, navigating self-publishing platforms and marketing as a one-woman team can be a learning curve!
Write the story that won’t leave you alone. Don’t get caught up in what’s trending or whether it’s ‘good enough'. Just get the words out. You can’t edit a blank page, and the only person who can tell your story the way you can is you. Also, protect your creativity. Make space for it. Even ten minutes a day adds up. And remember: someone out there needs your words, even if you don’t know them yet.
K.L. Randis really inspired me with her memoir Spilled Milk - it was raw, real, and unapologetically human. It showed me that you can write about pain and survival in a way that’s both literary and accessible. I also love authors like Alice Hoffman, who blend magic and reality so seamlessly, and Nadine Neckles for how she makes complex issues approachable in children’s books.
Fun fact! I created and illustrated my first children’s book, Flurry the Worry Worm, as a way to help children understand anxiety and autism through the eyes of a sweet little worm. That book started as a sketchbook idea with my daughter and turned into something that’s now on Amazon helping other families. I think that’s the beauty of writing - you never know how far a little idea, sparked by love, can go. And I’ll always be proud of that.