Hi there! I'm Laxmi Balaji, an Author and an oral storyteller weaving tales that ignite imagination. I'm originally from India and currently living in Canada with my husband and two children. My love affair with stories began in childhood, just like most of us. I devoured books throughout my college years, especially Tamil novels.

But after joining the IT world, travel and busy schedules pushed reading aside. Motherhood brought a new chapter. When I moved to the US with my one-year-old son and felt the pangs of boredom, American libraries became my saving grace. Borrowing stacks of board books, I read them aloud, bringing them to life with voices and expressions. This wasn't just for my son; it was how stories played in my mind.

One day, my son's preschool teacher, impressed by his description of my storytelling, invited me to read to his class. Hesitantly, I went, and to my surprise, everyone loved it! This ignited a passion within me, and I began sharing stories in other classes and local libraries.

The journey wasn't always smooth. A new pregnancy and then the pandemic brought a hiatus from storytelling. But my yearning for stories remained. In Canada, a chance encounter with a call for submissions for the Toronto International Storytelling Festival sparked a turning point. Though unsure of the difference between reading and storytelling, I took a leap of faith and submitted a proposal.

To my delight, it was selected! My performance at the festival, though filled with nerves, was well-received. There, I met some incredible storytellers, who became my mentor. Under their guidance, I learned the true art of oral storytelling, the difference between reading and weaving a tale. I also receive "Emerging Storyteller Award - 2023" from Storytellers of Canada.  I'm currently taking classes and courses to further hone my craft.

In today's world of technology, with videos and games dominating attention, the importance of oral storytelling is often overlooked. I believe that stories have the power to ignite imagination and transport us to other worlds.

My passion lies in Indian mythological tales and the magic of folklore from around the world. This website is my way of staying motivated, a treasure chest to the journey, I love and, inspire others to embrace the magic of storytelling.

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