Hi there, friend. Thanks for reading.
I help normal people memorialize their life stories so their family members and friends can enjoy a meaningful legacy at will.
My ultimate client:
Has a lighthearted sense of humor;
has experienced plenty of wins and losses;
has "traveled" physically or emotionally far and wide;
has the ability and desire to share 98% of their histories; and
has a circle that is interested in their journey.
I do not work with those, whose primary goal is to get recognized or published. But, why not?
While publishers have asked to acquire my clients' completed memoirs, my role is to be a highly-interactive prompt and to put your real voice on paper. Your stories and voice are yours. Enhancing with my prose the words you use will feel counterfeit, and those who know you will know something is not right!
I listen, interpret, and transcribe. I focus on the stories you are excited to share and I draw out the less glamorous ones, too.
Born into a family of psychologists and attorneys, I fell into the memoirs business after working professionally as a managing editor, a proofreader, an advertising producer . . . Essentially, a storyteller.
In 2018, I was introduced to an octogenarian, who became Ultimate Client #1. Peter Schlesinger, a 10X Emmy Award winning executive producer from Vienna, had been around the world a dozen times over. He created the televised marathon. He introduced Benny Hill to North America. He ran Live at the Hollywood Bowl for years. Peter's wife, Carol, printed 100 copies of his book on hardback, and the content is amazing. Somehow, I became the guy the Schlesingers call to help put up the Christmas tree each year.
"Such a pleasant process . . . An excellent reflection of Peter's life!" -Carol Rose Schlesinger
In 2020, when I was wrapping up Peter's memoirs during COVID, I adopted a pup who'd been tossed from a car with her litter. Her sister made it through, and the two were reintroduced at a park a year later. A member of "Annie's" family, Dr. Linda Malkas, became Ultimate Client #2. Linda started from the humblest of beginnings and happened to create a drug that is currently curing cancers. Somehow, I became the guy Linda calls to fill sandbags when the rains start coming each year.
"Fantastic memoirs writer . . . Strong analytical and thematic approaches." -Dr. Linda Malkas
In 2024, after completing the first two full length books (as well as my own 600-page collection of stories), I actually started telling people how much I love this work. I met John Doe, who owns more of Idaho than I can comprehend. Somehow, I will become the guy Ultimate Client #3 calls on each year, and while I have yet to learn of my annual task, I am honored to have been captivated by the lives of these three people.
"Like therapy, but fun." -JM
During our preliminary phone call, I will ask you some basic questions (as if we’d met at a house party) and take notes. During our video introduction, we will get to know each other a little better. I will ask some open-ended questions about your life, and this is a great time for you to ask me questions as well.
The introduction process is intended to be fun and to assess if we are a fit. There is no cost for it. You should feel comfortable with whomever you choose to capture your stories! I will understand your schedule, timeline, vision, spirit and audience. I will share with you the process, as well.
My plan is to extract >110 vignettes across 250 pages (~60,000 words) and assist with your photo selections as well.
Confidentiality and trust are essential; I sign NDAs and do not share any portion of any client's story without the client's expressed consent. All of your intellectual property remains entirely yours.
Cost varies by project, but billing is based on a fixed hourly rate. A project takes between 260 and 320 hours based on client add-ons like print-ready layout, production design and printing.
There is no charge for correspondence, and I look forward to corresponding with you.