Some life stories need to be told.
Let’s tell your story together.
What I do…
It’s not just the rich and famous who live lives worthy of a biography. Whether it’s your parent or grandparent, a friend, or yourself - everyone knows people with beautiful stories waiting to be recorded and shared.
As a custom biographer, I spend time face-to-face with clients and their families to understand the experiences that shaped them, the character that drives them, and the memories they cherish most. Moreover, I complete research on the context and social backdrop within which my clients have lived - their workplaces, schools, history, culture, and more.
My job is to weave those elements into a clear and compelling biography that honors the story of a life well-lived. Recorded in rich context between the covers of a book, the story you treasure most can live on to inspire future generations for decades to come.
Why I’m right for the job…
Building a personal relationship is at the core of my process, so let me introduce myself. My name is Scotty Turner, and I love a well-told story. Like everyone, over the years I’ve been many things - a student, a paramedic, a nonprofit manager, a brother, a friend, a novelist, and so much more. In every season and every role, I’ve met many people in many walks of life, and been fascinated by their stories.
If you’re interested in my background and credentials, I hold a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College in the Chicago suburbs, where I now live. Both inform my work as a biographer, allowing me to better explore how cultural history and value systems shape people. My professional career has largely been in nonprofits, such as at the National Alliance for Mental Illness where I was Community Education Director. Working in charities brings one into close contact with people struggling to survive and grow, and it’s been my privilege to communicate these stories in ways that help others.
As a biographer, my job is to tell a person’s complex story with clarity, beauty, and nuance. One can read a Wikipedia bio article and know the bare facts of a person’s life - and bare facts are important to get right. But my goal in telling people’s stories is to go much further; to use color, context, and humor to help readers not just to understand, but to connect with the subjects of a story as fellow humans.
Speaking of connecting, I’d love to share more about who I am and learn more about your story in return. Please reach out by whatever means you prefer!
“Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forward.”
— Soren Kierkegaard