Services
My focus is transforming life stories into rich and enduring written narratives. The length, depth, detail, tone, and focus are all custom tailored to each client. In addition to in-depth written stories, I offer a number of other formats through which fascinating lives can be recorded and preserved.
The Classic Written Biography
I believe the most enduring and timeless means of communicating a story is in the written word. Depending on your personal needs and budget, this can take the form of more abridged biographies (between 40 and 80 pages). If more detail is preferred, almost every life can be explored in more color and depth with a book-length biography that captures your story in rich storytelling prose with extensive exploration of a person’s social background, family history, and more.
Written biographies start at $1750.
Recorded Interviews
Working with a trained sound engineer and high end equipment, I sit down with my client to record an interview focusing on the topics and stories that they value most. This ensures that not only are their stories recorded in their own words, but in their own voice as well. Generations to come will treasure the opportunity to not only know where they come from, but hear their own past brought to life vibrant sound. Recordings may also feature stories as told by family members and friends. All recordings are professionally edited by a university-trained sound engineer.
Recorded interviews start at $950.
Background Research
Depending on the needs of my client, I can shape their story not just based on their own words, but on in-depth research. This can involve such aspects as exploring ancestry, visiting landmarks and places where my clients lived, interviewing people they knew or worked with, and much more. With graduate-level training in social research, I find that the details unearthed during this process can shed light on a client’s life that even their closest friends and family may not have fully understood beforehand.
Photo Books
One of my favorite parts of writing a recording a person’s story is seeing images that bring their words to life. Whether as an addendum to a written story or as its own service, I can sit down with clients and their families to assemble images that best reflect their life’s experiences and arrange them in beautiful photo books for future generations to enjoy.
End of Life Memories
The approaching death of a loved one is heartbreaking. At the same time, it’s a moment to remember, to cherish, and to find meaning in what went before. One of my favorite privileges as a biographer is to sit with a fellow human being at the end of their life and just listen. There is so much wisdom and perspective to be found in these moments, and it presents an opportunity a record their stories before they move on. If you or a loved one is experiencing this situation, please reach out. Even if you’re not financially able to contract with me for one of my traditional services, I’d consider it an honor to help ensure their memories are not lost in other ways.
