Give the gift of a lifetime.

What makes a gift memoir different from a photo book?

Photo books are lovely. They beautifully document what someone's life looked like. A memoir goes deeper, capturing what their life felt like: the decisions, the uncertainties, the moments of joy and loss and hard-won wisdom that don't show up in photographs.

How much does it cost to have a memoir written?

Each project is custom, but most fall into one of three general categories.

The Story Keepsake is $1,800 and preserves one defining story in a professionally written and designed hardcover book. The full fee is credited toward a larger memoir commissioned within twelve months.

Most whole-life memoirs fall in the $20,000 to $25,000 range. These typically include approximately 20,000 words, 12 to 15 hours of interviews, custom cover and interior design, 30 to 40 professionally retouched photographs, and a linen-bound hardcover edition.

More expansive Legacy Editions begin at $45,000. These projects may include a longer manuscript, interviews with family members, friends, and colleagues, 80 or more photographs, archival or genealogical research, custom visual elements, and premium printing and binding.

These are starting points, not a fixed menu. We also create tribute books, family histories, recipe books, anniversary books, collections of letters, and other custom projects.

Who actually writes the memoir?

One of our professional writers, chosen for your story. Our writers have been working on memoirs for years, and in many cases for decades, and you meet your writer before any work begins. Every project is personally edited and overseen by our founder, Diana, from the first interview to the finished book. If the fit isn't right, we will find you another writer at no additional cost.

When should I commission a gift memoir?

If you have a milestone occasion in mind — a significant birthday, an anniversary, a family reunion — for which you want to present a finished book, we recommend starting the conversation at least nine months in advance. One year is ideal. A full-length memoir typically takes nine to twelve months from blank page to finished book, depending on the scope of the project and how quickly we can complete the interview phase.

If the occasion is sooner, we can prepare and deliver a beautiful welcome package for your loved one within two weeks, explaining the project you're giving them. And we can sometimes accommodate a faster timeline when we have availability and the scope is smaller.

Can the memoir be a surprise?

Yes, in two ways. Most families give the memoir as the surprise: we send a welcome package for you to present, explaining the project, how it will work, and what it will become — a beautiful book of their life, told in their voice. From there, your loved one is part of the process.

A book can also be kept a surprise all the way to the end, built from the memories of the people who love them rather than from their own interviews. If that's what you have in mind, tell us and we'll talk through how it would work.

What if the recipient is reluctant to tell their story?

One of the most common things we hear is, “My life just isn't that interesting.” It is almost never true. Most people who feel that way have simply never had someone ask thoughtful questions and listen closely to the answers.

We do not expect anyone to arrive prepared with polished stories. Our writers know how to begin gently, follow what is meaningful, and make the conversation feel natural. Most reluctant storytellers become far more comfortable once the first interview is underway.

What if my parent has memory loss or health challenges?

We have experience working with authors who have memory challenges, limited mobility, or health conditions that affect stamina. We adapt the interview process accordingly, with shorter sessions, more flexible scheduling, and a gentler pace. In some cases, we supplement the subject's own recollections with interviews of family members who can fill in the gaps.

Please mention any health considerations when we speak, and we'll talk through how to approach the project with care.

What happens if my loved one passes away before the book is finished?

The work already completed is not lost. From the first interview, each conversation is recorded and transcribed, preserving their words, stories, expressions, and way of speaking.

In many cases, we can complete the book using the existing interviews, photographs, family materials, and conversations with the people who knew them best. We will explain honestly what can be created from the material available and adapt the project accordingly.

There is no pressure to decide immediately. The project can pause while the family grieves and resume when, or if, the time feels right. When time is already a concern, tell us at the beginning and we will structure the interviews to gather the most important material first.

My mother isn't comfortable with technology. Will that be a problem?

Not at all. Your loved one is never asked to set anything up, learn anything, or troubleshoot anything. We handle every part of it.

If a video call is easiest, we send a single link and stay on the line until everything is working. If it isn't, we interview by telephone, which works beautifully — some of our finest books have been made almost entirely by phone. And where an in-person visit is the right answer, our writers travel.

The conversation is the point. Everything else is our job, and we would rather adapt to your loved one than ask them to adapt to us.

My father's photographs are a mess, and he can't scan anything. What do we do?

That is where most families start, and it isn't a problem. You don't need to sort, organize, or digitize anything before we begin. Show us what exists — the shoeboxes, the albums, the drawer of loose prints — and we'll take it from there.

Our job is the book. We help you select the photographs that belong in it, then professionally scan and retouch those images, restoring what has faded, torn, or been damaged over the years. Nobody in your family needs to operate a scanner.

If a family wants a lifetime of photographs properly sorted and archived, not only the ones going into the book, we work with professional photo organizers and can add that to your project.

For families in or near Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York, we bring our scanning equipment to you. For families farther away, we'll agree in advance on how the originals are handled and returned. We treat them as what they are: irreplaceable.

What if we don't like how it's written?

You will not see the book for the first time when it arrives in a box. The manuscript is developed in stages, and you review and respond to the writing as it takes shape, chapter by chapter. Revisions are part of the process, not an exception to it.

The goal is a book that sounds like the person it is about. If it doesn't yet, we keep working until it does.

Who owns the memoir, and is it private?

You do, entirely. Main Line Memoir claims no rights to your family's story. The book is privately published, which means it is printed for you and is not sold, listed, or made available to anyone outside the circle you choose.

Everything shared with us during interviews is held in confidence. Families tell us difficult things, and we treat all of it as theirs alone.

How many copies do we receive, and can we print more later?

The number of included copies depends on the project. The Story Keepsake includes one hardcover copy, while a Signature Memoir includes five. The number of copies included with a Legacy Edition is established as part of the project scope.

Additional copies can be ordered. Because we retain the print-ready files, we can usually arrange additional printing later, whether you need several copies now or another copy for a future family occasion.

Printing individual copies or very small quantities generally costs more per book than producing a larger run. Families often underestimate how many relatives will want one, so we help you plan the initial quantity before the book goes to press.

Do you work with families outside Philadelphia?

Yes. Main Line Memoir is based on the Philadelphia Main Line and works with families across the country and internationally. Interviews can be conducted by video call, and a full project can be completed remotely. Travel for in-person interviews beyond the tri-state area can be arranged.

Do you create books other than traditional memoirs?

Yes. A memoir is only one way to preserve a family's history. We also create tribute books, family recipe books, anniversary books, family and company histories, collections of letters, collaborative books built from many contributors, and other custom projects.

Some are primarily narrative; others are highly visual. We shape the writing, interviews, photographs, design, and production around what the book is meant to preserve and who it is being made for.