" Steady me, Word, let me not fall into history for I would tell of Once Upon a Time, a time which never was, and always is ...."

P.L. Travers

" The finest thought runs the risk of being irrevocably forgotten if we do not write it down."

Arthur Schopenhaurr

Very simply, because our memories are perishable and are, perhaps, our most priceless possessions. But when we pass on, unless we have recorded them, the memories are forever lost.

Mankind has been recording his memories for ages. The first autobiographers probably chipped or painted their life stories on the walls of caves thousands of years ago or recorded the events of their lives pictographically on animal hides.

Historically, the first memoir was written by Jean Jacques Rousseau, a well known 18th century philosopher. But you don't have to be a philosopher, or even a famous celebrity to warrant an autobiography or memoir.

Ordinary people from all walks of life have a life story and require only the desire to share that story with loved ones. It is thus that our memories live on. Those memories, encapsulated in your own personal history, become a cherished gift to those people you love.

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" Memory... is the diary we all carry about with us."

Oscar Wilde

The work of creating a book of your life, based upon the process described below, will normally take between 150 and 200 hours. The more hours of interview time involved, which translates into more written pages, the more hours needed to complete the task.

1. During an initial interview we'll discuss what you want, who needs to be interviewed, how we are going to work together and what the final product will look like. The most important function of this first meeting is to review our Client Booklet, which includes a series of exercises that will help you "recall" your own life. Thoughtful response, especially of the recall sections of the booklet, will greatly enhance the quality of interview time, improve the finished product and help to control production costs.
2. After the client has had some time to study his booklet and fill in the blanks (we'll help if you like), the interview process begins. The interviews will take place at the subject's home or some other convenient place, with each interview session taking two to three hours.
3. Interview tapes are transcribed and edited lightly. The subject then reviews what has been recorded and has an opportunity to add or delete material. In other words, the subject has complete control over what is included in the life story.
4. The approved transcription notes are fully edited and the book is written.
5. A draft copy of the manuscript is forwarded to the subject for corrections. This is the last time the subject will see the manuscript. Further corrections beyond this point can be expensive.
6. The corrected manuscript will be electronically published. Ten copies of the book are provided. Additional copies are available at a special price.
7. The entire process, not including production of the book, will normally take around twelve to fifteen weeks.

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"Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book."

Job xix, 23

The cost of each project varies depending upon the number of hours of interviews required, transcription time, writing and editing time, the number of photos included, the number of books required, and the type of binding-hardbound or softbound.

As a rule, a personal history will finish between I00 and 200 pages and will require eight to twelve hours of interview time. Assuming ten photographs, a four color perfect binding (soft bound) and ten copies, the cost would be between $4,000 and $15,000.

We are willing to travel to clients and will do so in the most economical manner. The client is charged for travel, lodging and per diem. The interview process is compressed to no more than two days if travel is required.

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"The written word is essentially immortal."

Leonard Schlain