Spin A Story

21/08/2025

📸 but it’s so….. My first Puppet Show was absolutely special as it was for my nephew on his birthday.

I always knew it’s tough to pull one off but I guess one realises how tough when you get about doing it! Kitty already has a voice but making up voices for the others, modulating and then coordinating the hand movements was something else….add to it the absolutely unwanted pressure of having your whole family and friends watch you. I’ve never been more nervous.

It was a mixed bag - the kids seemed to watching intently (as I waa told and saw later in pictures) but the sound system didn’t work well despite all the checks having been done (which is why I haven’t posted a video of the show).

I’ll admit I was bummed about it having put in all the effort but it paid off a few days later. I did the whole thing again, at home, for my little fellow, just him and me. He squealed and squealed and squealed… and I was happy and thrilled and grinned from ear to ear for a whole week after!

I did the show again for a birthday party and it was a hit. Am now planning to add new characters and work on new stories. More nerves and fun to come!
❤️

16/03/2025

The next children’s picture book of the Kitty Travel Series is

Jaipur is one of India’s most beautiful cities and one of Kitty’s favourites so this was always going to be part of the series.
And I might add, a much asked for book.

I’ve had a ball writing and illustrating this baby, now my fourth. Thanks to all you Kitty fans for keeping the orders coming. Getting messages from parents and voice notes from kids is what keeps me going…. and jolly!

Coming soon on Amazon India. Watch this space, folks.
❤️ 👀

11/12/2024

What more can an Author dream of than being invited for an Author’s meet! The National Book Trust recently gave me an opportunity to share my story as a author with grade 7 and 8 students of the Platinum Valley School.

From answering their questions, to learning from them about new softwares, to discussing ways we can overcome writers block and tips to write well and improve, to how we can chill and unwind, it was a whole lot of fun!

It always amazes me how much children are exposed to these days, how confident and articulate they are in expressing themselves and the sheer amount of technical knowledge they are able to process.

The quality of questions and the way some of them answered before I could further explain left me in awe! When I asked one of them to explain Kindle to his batchmates, he responded by sharing about not just that but also Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon and how he had already published through the platform. As had others. Another explained the entire process of book distribution on a simple question of how they thought books are sold. Even after we had finished, there were still some with more questions. I was so glad to have spent time with them.

Thanks so much to the children and teachers of Platinum Valley for having me over and to NBT India for giving me this wonderful opportunity to do what I love to do most - connect and spend time with children!

19/11/2024

2024 ❤️ An annual ritual with my precious ones! This year was even more special as we took our kids from Nirmal Primary School as well. It was a unique treat for them and even if they know Gruffalo fleetingly, they really enjoyed the ‘school day sessions’ on Day 1.

My niece Seeratt, for whom I started storytelling, came along on on Day 2 and attended a few sessions while we hung out and reminisced old times when she attended as a four year old and loved getting autographs. Now, she’s too old for ‘kiddie stuff’. I hope she approves of this picture where her face is not seen.

It’s also my second year with my dear friend Aania, who’s a future volunteer and author at Bookaroo. She loved giving her feedback to Swati and enjoyed sessions, especially with the gifted Kapil Pandey.

Looking forward to the next Bookaroo and more adventures!

31/10/2024

Another fun Diwali at the Nirmal Primary School where we all painted Diyas to take home for Diwali celebrations with our families. It’s a tradition for us with the teachers and now fellows from joining in. This is our fourth year painting the diyas and it was even more exciting for me personally this year as my nephew came along to decorate and paint with the younger classes. My sister in law made yummy brownies for the whole school and my mom joined us in the fun. Let’s spread joy and love this Diwali!... ✨ 💥

13/02/2024

Aaya Basant, Pala Udant

’s listen to some interesting stories about this festival heralding the arrival of Spring or Basant Ritu...

22/11/2023

Posted • At DST, there's nothing that brings us together as our annual fundraising event, Stories Beyond Compassion. This is the time when we carry out performances and workshops to raise funds for a cause that resonates with us. This year however, the idea of getting together was as heartening as it was overwhelming! We had 24 storytellers who unconditionally offered their art, time and passion for telling stories for the cause; and then came along the wonderful support from Eureka Kids Club who made SBC part of Bookaroo in the City! Each one us was thrilled to spend the better parts of September and October performing stories for children from underserved schools and community libraries across Delhi. Thank you, tellers! Thank you, Eureka.
We are super excited to share that Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival is being held at the beautiful Sunder Nursery on 24th and 25th of November. Don't miss it!

19/10/2023

These popped on the phone screen today… from a few years ago, in Poland. The hotel in Warsaw was a once vodka factory…just my kind of place - not for the Vodka but for the “adaptive reuse” of an old heritage building.

From the reception being the bar, a welcome martini at midnight, an old world phone in the room, board games strewn all over, crazy artwork in the ironing room, a big pink teddy, other quirks and best of all - making “humari wali ghar ki chai” for the hotel crew that was planning a trip to India, the hotel was an experience in itself and easily one of the highlights of the trip!

20/09/2023

Posted •
Aa rahi hai aaj kahaanikaar Amrita Jolly leke dopeher ki do dilchasp daastan SPYM Nizamuddin ke baccho ke liye 🥳

Architect, baccho ki lekhika aur kahaanikaar, Amrita Jolly Spin-a-Story ki sansthapak hai, ek manch jiske maadhyam se vah apne rachnaatmak vichaaro ko kahani satro, karyashaalon aur baccho ki kitabein ke zariye prastut karti hai 📚

18/09/2023

by .books with was super fun, as usual!
This is my third year with this initiative that aims to bring the love of stories in all shapes, sizes and languages to any child wanting to read (all you need is a smart phone).
The children at The Nirmal School loved it this year as well… we had “Hello, Sun” by for nursery and KG. The book sparks curiosity and it’s beautifully written and illustrated, kudos Rajiv! The kids were intrigued by the little curious boy’s body movements in the story so we did our own improvisation which was hilarious, followed by a selfie (credit ). I loved the Hindi translation as it used slangy, everyday lingo, making it very relatable.

The older grades 1-5 absolutely loved “Hakeem ki Hichkiyan” (Hakeem’s Hiccups) by Sadaf Siddique. I’m big on rhyme and so are the kids.. it always stays with you like a very catchy song. The illustrations were so on-point, we really enjoyed them. your name sparked so many questions (of course, we read about you on the last page). The translation in Hindi was superb. Congratulations for making us feel like we were in a ‘shayri ki mehfil’! I’ve always felt that illustrations are the deciding factor, specially when sharing with a large audience and for them to connect with the story can’t be highlighted enough. Both books were brilliant on that account.
for the lovely background poster and extra copies of the books Pratham Books. We have two lovely additions to our school library!
-for-profit

14/08/2023

Happy Independence Day everyone! I did some sessions in schools this past week where apart from the ‘story of our independence’ we tried to understand what freedom meant at the time our elders were fighting for it back in 1947 and what it means now… I feel that most wonderful gift of freedom and the concept of ‘azaadi’ and gratitude for it must be actively discussed with today’s generation….
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
#1947 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

30/06/2023

“Kitty goes to Goa” is going to Goa! So happy to share that Spin A Story got a very big fat order for the Goa book of the ‘Kitty Travel Series’ recently.

Apart from the fact that it has been placed by a very prestigious company (don’t we all love validation), it’s a big deal for a self published author who wrote the book as a labour of love, unaware that writing and publishing + selling a book are two different worlds!

I’ve had a ball getting these babies out... The thrill of hearing the continuous buzz of the printer, seeing the folding, binding and cutting processes first hand and then having the book stacks all over the printing press was exhilarating. I was practically living there, so much so that the staff was bemused and bewildered to see me volunteer to pack the books in the cartons.

If I could, I’d have travelled with the courier chaps to drop them off to Goa personally…

A big thanks to all of you who have supported the book with their constructive feedback, appreciation, spreading the word around and ordering them for little ones. It means a lot to me. ❤️ The book is available on Amazon India and you can reach out at 097174 76530
📚 ❤️