FAMILY HISTORY BOOKS
Preserve the Stories, Memories, and History of the People You Love
Have you been meaning to document your family history for future generations, or help a loved one preserve theirs, but don’t know where to start?
I turn conversations into keepsakes by guiding people to share their family history or life stories. Then, I craft them into beautiful books, with photos, that capture what otherwise might be lost to time.
Choose how you want to tell your story
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A book that preserves your family history, starting at a point in time and tracing it chronologically forward.
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A collection based on your most meaningful experiences and memories, all documented in one place to keep and to share.
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A single letter, or a collection of letters, to expresses your values, shares your family history, and pass along your blessings and hopes to your loved ones.
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Hourly sessions that provide seniors with focused time to tell stories, organize memorabilia, and document the history behind important objects.
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A group experience where people have encouragement and support to preserve stories about defining life experiences that have shaped them
“The story is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for putting this missing piece of history together for myself and my family. The loveliest part is that it came from my precious, wonderful daughter.” ”
Step 3: Backstory handles the writing and design
Step 2: You tell your stories through conversations
Step 4: Your finished book!
The Process: How It Works
Through a customized process of conversations and connection, we develop and create a unique book,
story collection, or letters to your loved ones that can be passed down through the generations
Step 1: Free 20-minute conversation
My Offering
I’m Nora!
I am a professional personal historian working closely with people to capture their life stories and family histories through books and recorded interviews. I serve clients in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, and nationwide through Zoom.
I created Backstory because so many people think about documenting their family history or stories — but rarely do. That’s a profound loss for them and their loved ones.
I take a very human-centered approach to this work. It’s two people, having a conversation and a connection.
Since founding Backstory, I’ve discovered something unexpected: while these story collections become keepsakes for families, the act of telling stories is often an even greater gift to the storyteller. I’m grateful to witness these moments of self-reflection and discovery.
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