01 / The spark
The stories that shape us
Books, films, and lived experiences leave their mark long before the first manuscript. We opened with the influences and early sparks that can make someone want to tell a story of their own.
← Back to all newsWhen one storyteller
Walmart Author Circle / March 2026
When one storyteller
meets another.
Hosting Amish Tripathi at Walmart LitFest — a conversation about the experiences that shape a writer, the courage to change direction, and the craft behind a story.
A personal full circle
From reading the Shiva Trilogy
to sharing a stage.
Amish’s novels helped me imagine what ancient ideas could become in a contemporary story. Hosting him gave that inspiration a new chapter.
Our conversation moved from the stories that first shaped him to his transition from banking to writing, and then to the ingredients of meaningful storytelling. Here is a glimpse of the themes in my conversation notes.
02 / A different chapter
From banking to books
What does it take to step away from a familiar career? The discussion turned to the leap into writing, the challenges at the beginning, and the motivation that keeps a new storyteller moving.
03 / The craft
Making a story matter
How does a story create a lasting connection? One prompt brought the idea into the room: how would Amish tell the story of arriving at the Walmart office that day?