A lot depends on my client’s availability and response time, but the minimum time is about a month. The initial conversation (or conversations) can take anywhere from three to six hours (possibly even more!) Then I work independently to discover the themes and weave all of your responses into a cohesive narrative. Once that is complete, I’ll share this narrative with you to ensure there are no errors. Then we discuss imagery – you will curate photos from your collection and send me digital files or jpgs. (I will provide instructions for easy sharing of files.) Once I have all the necessary images, I will work on the layout and design of the book. I will share a digital proof of the book with you for approval before sending it to the printer. Once the order is placed with the printer, it takes about a week for the book to arrive.

That depends on you! Some people may prefer to have one really long conversation, while others may want to break it up over several sessions. I will work around your schedule and comfort level.

By virtue of being human, your story will be interesting and have immense value. Every person on this planet has fears and flaws, wishes and wisdom. That’s what I’m interested in, and that’s the story I’ll be looking to tell. This isn’t a biography; it’s a narrative that captures the essence of you.

There is a tremendous difference between writing a response to a question and having a conversation with another human being. Writing will get at the “what,” but talking gets at the “why.” I’m interested in the “why.” I’ve spent my career drawing stories out of people – high school students, a Holocaust survivor, cancer researchers, Middle East peacemakers … the list goes on. I know what makes a good story, and more importantly, I know how to create trusted spaces that allow people to open up and share their stories.

Furthermore, I know how to tug at the threads of a conversation, how to ask follow up questions that get people to elaborate. None of that happens when someone sits down on their own to fill out a form. At the end of these conversations, I pore through all of my notes and discover themes, which I weave together into a cohesive narrative.

I could, but it would be a different process (and different cost). I would look to have conversations with a handful of people who knew the deceased well. I would then synthesize these multiple narratives and viewpoints into one cohesive story. Unlike heirloom books based on a living person’s story, this book would not be written in first person.

No. The process is very individualistic. The questions I ask are not biographical in nature. Rather, they probe a person’s emotions, values, memories and lived experiences. I can create books for multiple people in a family or household, but each person’s story would be its own unique process.

If we can meet in person, fantastic! But I’ve worked with people all over the country, not just for these heirloom books, but to help with other personal narratives as well … from high school students to a Holocaust survivor. If we do not live near each other, we’ll meet over Zoom, and I’ll create a safe, trusted space needed for an in-depth conversation.

There are a lot of factors that determine the quality of a photo – framing, lighting, facial expressions and/or emotion, not to mention the sharpness of the photo itself. These heirloom books are meant to capture the essence of who you are and your story through narrative. Any imagery included is there to enhance that story. Besides, there’s charm in old photographs, even if the quality is not great.

Absolutely! You will have two chances to request edits. After our conversation, I will create a narrative from all of the notes I took. I will share that draft with you for your review. You can let me know if there are any edits or corrections to be made. I will then take the revised narrative and your photos, and put it all into a book layout. I will share a proof of the book for you to approve before it goes to print.

This can vary. A book could be 16 pages, or it could be 40. Or more. Or anything in between. Whatever it takes to capture the heart of your story, your values, your truth.

I charge $2500 to produce an heirloom book. This includes the time spent in those initial conversations, developing the narrative, curating imagery, designing the book, and the actual printing/shipping of the book itself.

Of course! Many people want multiple copies to give to family members. The $2500 cost includes the first book, but any additional books will cost approximately $50-70 each, depending on the number of pages and where they will be shipped.

Yes! There is a cost savings to shipping multiple books to the same location, of course, but loved ones don’t always live in the same city. I will calculate costs for additional books once we know how many pages are in the book itself, and the varying zip codes where the books will be shipped.

Fantastic! Please click the button near the top of the page that says “Let’s talk” (or the link below that says “contact”) and fill out the short form. I will be in touch so you can ask any additional questions, and we can schedule our first meeting!