Our Commitments

Our Three Pillars

Every decision we make at StoryWell Books flows from three commitments: inclusivity, community impact, and environmental stewardship.

Inclusivity & Empathy

Books are tools for empathy. They let children see themselves in stories, and they let adults see the world through others' eyes. We champion overlooked voices — women, young people, regional writers, first-time authors, and anyone whose story has been historically crowded out of Indian publishing.

Community Impact

Literacy, education, and social justice are inseparable. We work across India — urban and rural, rich and poor, privileged and marginalised — to make books accessible and meaningful to communities that have been underserved by mainstream publishing.

Environmental Stewardship

The planet is borrowed from our children. Every book we print reflects that — from the paper we choose to the formats we offer. We take responsibility for our footprint, and we design our work to last.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are dedicated to changing the narrative in Indian publishing by building an industry that reflects the diversity of the people it serves. Our DEI commitments include:

Recruiting diverse and emerging authors: We actively seek writers from underrepresented backgrounds — women, Dalit and Adivasi writers, regional-language authors, and first-time storytellers.
Publishing marginalised narratives: We prioritise stories that have been crowded out of the mainstream — rural childhoods, working-class families, children with disabilities, and non-English-first communities.
Inclusive workplace training: As a small, woman-led enterprise, we invest in ongoing staff training on equity, inclusion, and anti-bias practice.
Industry partnerships: We collaborate with other independent publishers, libraries, and community organisations to amplify diverse voices beyond our own catalogue.

Sustainability & Durable Books

We make books that are meant to last — for years, for generations, for siblings who haven't been born yet. Here's how:

FSC-certified paper wherever it is feasible and affordable, sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Durable design: Our books are reusable and durable — laminated covers, strong binding, and thick paper that survives tiny hands, spills, and the passage of time. They're built to be handed down.
Matte, non-plastic finishes instead of glossy plastic lamination wherever possible, to reduce microplastic pollution.
Digital alternatives: For readers who prefer lower-footprint formats, we offer web-only versions, audiobooks, and animated editions — reducing carbon from printing and shipping.
A tree planted for every book we publish — our small way of giving back to the paper we take.
Print-on-demand: We print books only as they're ordered, eliminating warehouse waste and the pulping of unsold inventory.

Social Impact Programs

Beyond publishing, we run six ongoing programs to extend the reach of books:

Delhi Learning Library: A community library in Delhi serving children from marginalised neighbourhoods, with free access to books, reading sessions, and tutoring.
Affordable bilingual books: Our Padho Padhao / Ram Series is priced to be accessible to families and schools across India, with deep bulk discounts for institutions.
Free school distribution: We collaborate with government and low-income private schools to donate books directly, prioritising schools with limited library budgets.
Literacy classes for underserved learners: We run reading and writing classes for children and adults — including initiatives to help mothers learn alongside their children.
Intercultural and rural library donations: We donate curated book sets to libraries across India, prioritising rural and tribal community libraries where Indian-authored books are rare.
Supporting local authors: Through editing, mentorship, and publication, we help first-time Indian authors — particularly those writing in regional languages — bring their stories to print.

Our Pledges

To Authors

We will always treat your work with care. Honest feedback, respectful editing, transparent contracts, fair royalties, and ongoing support through the entire arc from manuscript to bookshelf.

To Readers

We will only publish books we believe in. Quality storytelling, thoughtful illustration, durable production, and honest pricing. Every book ships with love.

To Our Community

We will keep showing up — for the Delhi Learning Library, for rural schools, for young writers, for the authors whose voices have been ignored for too long. Small work, done steadily.

Want to be part of it?

Whether you'd like to write a book, donate to our library programs, partner with us on distribution, or simply buy books that share our values — we'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch