STRANGERS IN THE BOX

 

Come, look with me inside this drawer,

In this box I've often seen,

At the pictures, black and white,

Faces proud, still, serene.

 

I wish I knew the people,

These strangers in the box,

Their names and all their memories

Are lost among my socks.

 

I wonder what their lives were like,

How did they spend their days?

What about their special times?

I'll never know their ways.

 

If only someone had taken time

To tell who, what, where, or when,

These faces of my heritage

Would come to life again.

 

Could this become the fate

Of the pictures we take today?

The faces and the memories

Someday to be passed away?

 

Make time to save your stories,

Seize the opportunity when it knocks,

Or someday you and yours could be

The strangers in the box.

 

Anonymous Author


CONFIDENTIALITY

We respect the privacy and confidentiality of all our clients in all circumstances.

We reserve the right to refuse the drafting of any documents that go against our code of ethics

First Step

After we receive your call, we will meet with you at no cost to show you some samples of our work.  We will discuss what you would like to see in a finished product.  The initial consultation will provide you with an occasion to express your goals for the memory book and to enable us to explain the process further. The consultation is also a time for us to get to know you and to provide you a biographical sheet for information for you to fill and return to us so that our interviewer will be well prepared to ask intelligent questions to inspire the family stories of the narrator.

 

 

First Interview

 

We create a comfortable report with the narrator. We explain the process and we assure the narrator that we truly want to hear the stories that they will share with us. We find a nice quiet and comfortable space in the house and we place the recording equipment and proceed with the interview.

We ask specific questions which encourage memories and the stories starts to surface. While concentrating on the narrator constantly, we are used to the signs that the narrator can be tired or prefers a change of subject. We are always honored and humbled when the narrator shares their invaluable memories with us, and we express to the narrator how we respect their wisdom which they gained by their life experiences.

 

 

Step by Step Summary of the Process

Preparing the Manuscript

  • Once we have your completed story on tape, our first step is to get it typed.
  • We will discuss the size of pages you will want.
  • We will choose a readable font and size (A serif style in at least a 12 point font is suggested.)

 

Choose Photos to Include  

  • You will choose which photos and other memorabilia that you want included in the book.
  • We will scan your photos (for a fee) or you can supply the photos on CD scanned at 300-600 dpi.

Proofread Your Text

  • Once the above is completed, we will return your text to you for to proofread, and may we suggest you have at least one other person to proofread the text, better two heads then one.
  • Please remember this is your story, it is in your voice.

Prepare Book Title and Title Pages  

  • Title Page
  • Table of Contents
  • Acknowledgements
  • Dedication
  • Preface
  • Family Tree
  • Maps
  • Bibliography
  • Footnotes
  • Index

Choose Book Paper

We will choose amongst different types of paper, in white or light ivory. The opacity of the paper allows photos to be printed within the text without showing through the other side of the page. Because of the archival quality of acid-free paper, your books should endure for many generations.

Printing

Your book will be printed on premium laser paper.

Bindings for Your Book  

  • Perfect Binding (like the usual paperback book)
  • Hardback Cover applied to laser-copied printed pages
  • Tape and Thermal Binding
  • Comb Binding
  • Spiral Binding