When I was a kid, I spent hours upon hours at my grandparents' house. Grandma would watch us girls while my parents worked, and as a farmer, Grandpa was always in and out of the house throughout the day. The best was at the end of a long hot day when he would pull onto the yard, and we would sit on the stoop of the playhouse and eat orange pushups together.
As I got older, I cherished the many conversations I had with my grandparents sitting at their kitchen table. Grandpa would often get fired up about the news and we would have a healthy and heated debate. In those moments, life seemed so simple, as if all of the world's problems could be fixed over a cup of coffee and a piece of rhubarb crisp.
In 2013, my grandpa had a stroke which started the decline in his health. By the time he moved into the nursing home, he was non-verbal. He went home to heaven in 2016.
All these years later, my mind is filled with wonderful memories of the time he spent with me, my sisters, and my own kids. Yet, the one thing I wish I would've been better at is really capturing his story in his own words.
You see when my sister Ang died, she left behind an assortment of journals, and writings, and even short little videos that resurfaced from silly things over the years. All of those keepsakes help us remember just how crazy, kind-hearted, and outrageous she really was. In those keepsakes, I can hear her voice through her written words. I can picture how her head tilted as she questioned me or that sly smiled when her dry sense of humor was coming out.
Because I have had loss in my life, I value story. I deeply understand how much it means to your family when you take the time to capture the stories of your life. Years from now, your kids, your grandkids, and your greats will want to know who you were. What did you love? What did you do for fun? What did you do for work? Did you enjoy your life? How did you rely on your faith? Did you learn lessons that you could pass along to them?
There is absolutely nothing in the world that can replace time well spent with a loved one but preserving your story for future generations... well that is the next best thing.
If this resonates with you and you are ready to capture your story, here are three ways I can help.
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- Life Interview.
Your stories will be captured in an informal, conversational interview via in person or Zoom. Your interview will be audio recorded as an additional keepsake for your family. During this interview, I will walk you through prompting questions so we are sure to capture all of the best stories from your lifetime. The interview length is approximately 2-3 hours total with up to two people (in relationship, such as husband and wife, or siblings).
After the interview, our conversation will be transcribed with light editing, capturing your stories in written word. The transcript will be provided in both a PDF version and an editable version so changes or additions can be made as desired. You will also receive the rough audio files of our conversation as a voice keepsake.
The transcript and audio files will be provided to you in an electronic version only via email within 2 weeks of your interview. You have full rights to print or distribute your transcript in whatever way you desire.
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2. Storytime Book
In the StoryTime Package, we will work together to create a meaningful keepsake your family will treasure for generations to come.
To capture your stories, I will sit down with you to do an informal interview via in person or Zoom. Your interview will be audio recorded as an additional keepsake for your family. During this interview, I will walk you through prompting questions so we are sure to capture all of the best stories from your lifetime. The interview length is approximately 4 hours (one half day) and can include up to two people in relationship (i.e. husband and wife, or siblings).
After the interview, I will write out your stories in your own words with light editing. Once the rough draft is approved by you, your stories will move into the layout process to bind your words into a book. Up to 25 photos with captions can also be included in your full color book. You will receive one copy of your bound book with options for additional copies to be purchased by your family.
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3. Legacy Book
In the Legacy Package, we will work together to capture your life story in a memoir. Your memoir will be a multi-chapter book, ghostwritten, with professional editing, layout design, and if desired, published through KDP/Amazon.
Your project will be handled professionally in every stage by our experienced team of professional interviewers, writers, editors, and layout designers. We even help you create a custom book cover. Photos can also be added to your book, personalizing it even further.
With the option to publish your book, you can use this opportunity as a platform to share your powerful story to inspire others or to launch your career as an author and speaker.
I would love to chat with you about how I can be of service to help you capture your story. You can reach me at jessy@purposegrit.com or by calling me at 919-624-5136.
Your story matters.