Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions, answered
What is a personal historian?
A personal historian is a professional interviewer and writer who helps individuals and families document life stories, family histories, and legacies.
I specialize in working with seniors to preserve their stories through one-on-one interviews and professional writing. Unlike a ghostwriters, I interview you and then write in your authentic voice, creating a book or collection that becomes a family heirloom.
Backstory offers highly personalized services and several options, all slightly different based on the scope of the project. For a complete family history project, for instance, the fee includes:
Initial consultation and planning session
Between 4-5 recorded interviews
Transcription
Writing and narrative development in your voice
Revisions
Photo scanning layout
Book design
Two printed book copies
Audio of interviews and digital PDF
for sharing with family
Do you work with people with dementia or memory loss?
Do you travel to seniors homes in the East Bay?
Yes! For clients in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Emeryville, and Richmond, I offer in-home interviews as part of my concierge service. This is especially helpful for seniors with mobility challenges. I also work via Zoom for clients anywhere in the country.
Yes. I have experience interviewing seniors with mild to moderate cognitive decline and can adapt my approach. I work slowly, use memory prompts (photo, music, obects) and can talk to family members to help fill in stories. For advanced dementia, I focus on creating a legacy book based on family memories and existing materials
What services do you
offer?
How much do your services cost?
My services range from $175/hour for Life Story Sessions, to $1,500 for a 10-page legacy letter
to a loved one, to starting at $2,500 for a comprehensive family history book.
My work is highly personalized, depending on the number of visits, pages, and photos. Contact me for a custom quote based on your project.
What makes Backstory different?
Backstory is based on human connection, which comes from two people who are actively engaged. Some DIY platforms bypass this through weekly email prompts or talking into a microphone, using AI to transcribe the conversation. This is not Backstory!
In our hyperconnected world, Backstory chooses the path of authentic human connection. No screens. No digital tools. Just two people in conversation. My mission is connect with the storyteller to understand what they want to say. I ask follow-up questions and draw out forgotten memories. Then I apply mywriting and editing skills to create the book you or your loved one envisioned. It’s a beautiful process that I love, and my clients do too.
How do I get started?
Set up a free 20-minute consultation, no obligation or pressure. Then we can talk about your goals and how we might work together.
I am a personal historian who helps you create family history books, legacy letters, and short story collections. I also offer hourly story sessions and workshops.
I am a highly skilled writer, interviewer, and editor who has developed a simple and meaningful process to unlock your stories through guided, one-on-one conversations.
Why Choose Backstory?
I take care of everything,
start to finish.
There is no time like the present; the unexpected happens and memories fade.
No writing experience required.
You or your family member just has to show up and have a conversation
The “right” time will likely never come.
The process is totally analog, no knowledge of technology needed.
You or family members don’t need to take on another project.
You can finally tackle your boxes, computer files, and photos and create something meaningful.
You or your loved one will have a meaningful experience with an attuned, interested, and active listener
What areas do you serve?
I offer in-person services in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Emeryville, Richmond, and surrounding East Bay communities. I am also available anywhere remotely through Zoom. I'm happy to travel for larger projects within the San Francisco Bay Area.
What is a Backstory?
How long does it take?
Each project is different, although each one is defined. A family history book takes 2 months from our first interview to your printed book in hand. A story collection and legacy letters both take a month. I also offer hourly sessions to help you or your loved one organize papers, photos, and even document the meaning of important objects.
Your Backstory is the defining moments, triumphs, heartbreaks, turning points, and quiet revelations that shape a life and legacy.
Understanding your family’s backstory is key to knowing who you are — and where you came from. Essential to discovering the forces that have shaped you. The values that define you.
These stories can’t be recaptured once the teller is gone.