Legacy Memoir Services
Recollections is designed to help people in their golden years capture their story for generations to come. Through a series of interviews and a personalized editorial process, clients’ memories and reflections are curated into a beautiful physical book.
Why create a legacy memoir?
Everyone has a story worth telling—and they all deserve to be shared!
The Recollections process helps you:
Discover your stories in a new light by sharing them with a new person. As a published author and editor, I have experience uncovering the themes and hidden threads that open up fresh perspectives. (Plus, I really like hearing people’s family lore!)
Reflect on your achievements. Most people don’t have the time in our day-to-day lives to ponder all of our accomplishments. Writing a memoir uplifts all that curators have survived and celebrates who they have become.
Take time to remember your loved ones who have passed on. We all have a countless cast of characters who have influenced our lives. Telling stories about them honors their memories, and introduces them to the readers who never got to meet them.
Gift future generations with a story in your own words. Legacy memoirs aren’t just a gift to living family members—they’re also a first hand account of curators’ lives for their future descendants.
Research shows that elders typically repeat ten stories to friends and family. Seeing these put to paper—and uncovering even more!—helps explore the heart of these stories, and preserve them for future readers.
Do you know the perfect storyteller for this project? Contact me here to talk about gifting them a legacy memoir!
The Creative Process
The Recollections process centers collaboration between the storyteller and me, the curator. We always start with a 30 minute call to discuss your personal hopes and goals for this project. Just as all lives are unique, no memoir is ever the same as another!
Once timelines are set and a contract is signed, we begin the interview process. I then transform the content of those interviews into an initial draft. Once feedback is incorporated and any additional interviews are held, I turn the draft into a complete physical book.
Depending on the package you choose, the turnaround time for a completed memoir is roughly 4-7 months. In cases of rapidly progressing illness, we can work on a more urgent timeline. Even if you cannot hold the completed book, I’ll strive to make sure you’ve said everything you need to.
Interviews can be conducted virtually or in person. If we are holding interviews in person, there may be a travel fee depending on the distance.
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The interview process covers 8-15 completed hours depending on the package. It typically happens in two rounds: the first to gather initial information, and the second to follow up and fill in any blanks we discover along the way. The Oak package might involve a third round of interviews, which is why additional hours are allocated.
Interviews can be conducted virtually or in person.
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Once the interviews are complete, my job as curator is to edit the transcripts and tease out the memoir’s narrative. Guided by a rough outline approved by the storyteller, I turn our discussions into a cohesive book.
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The storyteller provides me with photos, and we determine where they should be included in the book. Then, I format and print copies through a third party service, and deliver them to the client either in person or by mail.
This project is not equivalent to publishing a memoir for sale. All book objects are intended as memorabilia. If a storyteller wishes to publish their memoirs for profit, I am glad to provide them with the files so they can do that process independently.
Memoir Packages
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Tier #1: Birch
For people who want to share their overarching life story, highlighting the key moments and memories that made them who they are.
Up to 8 hours of interviews
15k words
1 editing round
Up to 15 photos
8 hardcover books with full color photos
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Tier #2: Maple
For people who want to dive deeper into certain periods or themes within their life. Additional interviews and revisions make extra room to expand the storyteller’s perspective and emotional experience.
10-12 hours of interviews
25k words
2 editing rounds
Up to 25 photos
15 hardcover books with full color photos
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Tier #3: Oak
For the family storytellers who always have reflections and anecdotes to share. This process prioritizes gathering classic family stories and unearths unexplored aspects of a rich and well-lived life.
Up to 15 hours of interviews
35k words
3 editing rounds
Up to 35 photos
25 hardcover books with full color photos
Looking for something a little different? Book a free 30 minute consultation with me to see if we can build the perfect package for your project!
About the Curator
I’m Avi Meehan, an author, editor, and poet whose work has been featured on CBC Radio and The New York Times under the pen name Avi Silver. The “Silver” in my pen name was borrowed from my maternal grandmother, who introduced me to the science fiction and fantasy genres I’ve published three books within!
So: why have I started Recollections?
I am extremely lucky to have grown up surrounded by family stories. On my mom’s side of the family, I had relationships with three out of four great-grandparents, and access to family history dating back generations. And my dad’s side? You’ve never met a more raucous and enthusiastic group of storytellers! One of my favorite parts of family events is hearing everyone’s different versions of the same story.
With this sort of upbringing, it’s only natural that I took such an interest in family lore. At this stage of my life, I am feeling called to use my skills and talents to put peoples’ memories to paper.
My writing career prepared me for the technical parts of this work, but it’s only one part of what brought me to Recollections. I’ve had a lot of different jobs throughout my life, and each has had a common thread: for better or worse, my priority is always connecting with others. On the sales floor, chatting with customers both earned loyalty and distracted me from important tasks. In my cleaning jobs, I became aware of all the clients who were looking for companionship more than tidying. As a mental health specialist and PSW, I was immersed in the social elements of caregiving.
On days where I find myself wondering what “the point” of everything is, my answer always comes down to relationships. The memories we make with others turn into the stories we share—which make more memories in turn.
Whether you want to pass down your life story to your descendants or capture the memories of a loved one, I would be honored to work with you.