Here are answers to frequently asked questions about creating your book. If you can't find the information you're looking for, please contact us.
We begin with an interview to capture your vision for your book and your timeline to create a road map. Then, we gather your memories through your preferred method, which can include written documents, emails, or dictation. Our flexible approach ensures you feel comfortable sharing and never worry about forgetting important details. Many clients tell us this open process helps their best stories naturally emerge.
Most memoirs take about 12 months from the first interview to the printed book in your hands. The timeline depends primarily on your availability for sharing stories and reviewing drafts. Some clients move more quickly, while others prefer a more relaxed pace. Clear, regular communication throughout the process helps us stay on track with your preferred timeline.
Yes, we can arrange travel for in-person interviews for an additional fee. However, most clients discover they actually prefer video calls or audio recordings once they try them. These methods feel more relaxed and natural without the formality and time constraints of scheduled visits. We're happy to discuss what works best for you.
Absolutely! Your input is essential throughout both the writing and design phases. We encourage your feedback and revisions to ensure your book perfectly captures your vision. We allow for two full rounds of comments before the manuscript goes for a final proofreading.
We design your book to reflect your personal taste. Our designer begins with a design consultation to understand your preferences, then creates original concepts for your approval. Our goal is to create an heirloom coffee table book that is more beautiful than you can imagine.
For our signature coffee table memoirs spanning 100–200 pages or 25,000 words, we recommend including between 100 and 150 photographs.
Yes! Our professional image retoucher expertly restores faded colors, sharpens soft details, and corrects minor imperfections. While we cannot perform miracles on severely damaged photographs, we can breathe new life into your cherished photographs.
We accept photos in digital format, which ensures the highest quality for your book. If you have prints or slides, we recommend using a professional scanning service to digitize your photos at 300-600 dpi. Once digitized, we'll coordinate the simplest way to transfer your files to us.
Yes, you'll review the complete book layout before printing. This allows you to check that photos are properly placed, captions are correct, and the overall flow works well. We include two rounds of revisions during this review process to address any adjustments you'd like to make. Once you're satisfied with the final version, we proceed to printing.
Our Guided Memoir services are for those who wish to write their own book. We offer developmental editing for an outline or a first draft. This is a big picture look at your story and helps to fill in any gaps or cut any sections that slow down the pace. We also provide copy editing services, book layout, cover design, and final proofreading.
All of our services are a la carte. We work with you to complete your book, assigning the right professional for the job.
Absolutely. We can deliver an EPUB or a PDF file, or both.
Developmental editing is one of the most valuable processes for an excellent final book, one that too many authors skip. Structure is critical to storytelling and can vastly improve your book. Moving chapters can turn a dull opening into a fascinating hook. Slimming down long sections of exposition can pick up the pace.
Starting with the outline and then taking another look at the first draft stage is ideal to make your story as strong as it can be.
Copy editing refines your manuscript for clarity and flow, addressing sentence structure, word choice, and consistency while preserving your unique voice. Proofreading is the final polish, catching any remaining typos, punctuation errors, or formatting issues before printing. Both are essential steps that ensure your memoir reads beautifully and professionally.
Payment for your book is broken into milestones. This means making a payment to begin each stage of the process. Ghostwriting requires a payment to begin interviews, create the outline, write the first half, and the final draft. We then move to book layout and design, and, finally, printing.
Guided memoir services such as copyediting and proofreading require a deposit to being work, then a final payment upon receipt of the marked manuscript.
We will do everything we can to accommodate your needs, whether due to illness or other personal matters. Milestone payments allow you to pause or discontinue the work if you are unable to continue. We will send you all the materials that were completed and return your photographs as well.
We prefer bank transfers or checks, but for a small fee, we can process credit cards as well.
For our guided memoirs, you retain your copyright to publish your book or query agents. If you plan to publish commercially or seek an agent, we recommend having a publishing attorney review your manuscript since memoirs involve real people and events. For private family books that won't be sold publicly, legal review typically isn't necessary.
We always recommend consulting with your tax professional about your specific situation, as they can best determine what qualifies based on your state and how you plan to use the book.
Books that serve legitimate business purposes can potentially qualify as tax-deductible business expenses. Corporate history books, professional expertise books, and business memoirs that promote your company or establish your professional credibility typically qualify when used as marketing tools.
However, personal memoirs focusing on your life outside of business without connecting to your professional activities are not deductible. The key test is whether the book helps promote your business, attract clients, or establish your industry authority.