Join Stephen Alter, award-winning author of Wild Himalaya, The Fragrance of Rain, The Secret Sanctuary, If You Were a Tiger Cub, How the Cobra Got His Spectacles, and more than 25 books of fiction and non-fiction, in conversation with Shashwat DC, as he reflects on a lifetime of writing shaped by the Himalaya, its landscapes, wildlife, folklore, and enduring traditions.

From mountain forests and monsoon rains to village legends and encounters with wildlife, the conversation explores how careful observation, lived experience, and a deep sense of place can be transformed into stories that inspire curiosity, wonder, and a lasting connection with the natural world.

This webinar is part of the Nature Writing for Children series by Azim Premji University, which brings together authors, educators, and readers to explore how storytelling can reconnect children with the wild, the real, and the everyday.

Join here:

About the speaker

Born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, much of Stephen Alter’s writing is rooted in the landscapes, wildlife, folklore, and cultures of the Himalaya. The first recipient of the 2025 Radisson Himalayan Echoes Prize, his work has also received honours including the Banff Mountain Book Award, the Kekoo Naoroji Award, and the Green Book of the Year Award.

His books for younger readers include The Secret Sanctuary, If You Were a Tiger Cub, and How the Cobra Got His Spectacles. His recent works are — The Fragrance of Rain: A Brief History of the Monsoon and the novel The Greatest Game: Being the Further Adventures of Kimball O’Hara.