Personal Stories & Memoir
You have stories, wisdom and experience that only you can share. Or maybe it's someone you love — a parent whose memories deserve to be preserved. Either way, I help turn all of that into a finished book you're proud of.
Think about the stories that changed your life. A book someone pressed into your hands, or a bit of advice your grandmother gave you that you still carry.
Now think about what you know. The hard-won lessons, the memories you'd pass on if you had the chance, the family history that only lives in one person's head.
Unless someone writes it down, it disappears, just because no one got around to it.
The oldest human tradition
Whether you call it a memoir or simply a collection of stories, it's one of the richest and most rewarding things a person can do. For thousands of years, people have passed down what they know through speech, letters, and books written for the people who come next. There are many names for this kind of work. It's one of the oldest human impulses there is.
Hebrew tradition
A letter or book passing your values, stories, and wisdom to future generations. Jacob gathered his children to his bedside. It's been happening ever since.
Japanese tradition
A thousand-year-old form of personal writing that flowed between observations, reflections, lists, and truths. Sei Shōnagon started it in the year 1000.
Stoic tradition
Marcus Aurelius wrote his Meditations for himself — never meant for anyone else. It became one of the most influential books in history. He was just writing down what he was learning.
Your book doesn't need to be a bestseller. It doesn't need to be "commercial." The real value of the book is that it exists for the stranger who discovers it in thirty years, and for you — right now, in the act of finally putting it all down.
You don't need a literary agent. You don't need to write a query letter, build a platform, or turn your life into a "marketable product." That whole system is designed for commercial books — and even for professional writers, it's a grind that rarely pays off.
What you need is a book that says what you want to say, the way you'd say it.
And you don't even need to write it yourself. You just need to talk about it. I'll do the rest.
"He was able to draw out of me what I wanted from the story without setting any terms for me. He would listen, ask questions and reiterate until it became clear."
Gina C.
It's simpler than you think.
We get on a call and you tell me your stories — or your loved one's. What you've learned, what you want people to know. If the book is about someone else, I can conduct the interviews myself. I ask the questions that bring out what's been buried or taken for granted.
I collect everything — conversations, notes, recordings, letters, photographs — and write the book. In your voice, or theirs. A cleanly crafted manuscript with narrative structure, and the kind of care that makes a reader want to turn the page.
A finished book. Professionally designed, typeset, printed and bound. Something you can hold in your hands, give to the people who matter, or make available to the world.
"Stephen's discussion questions brought ideas and memories out of me that had been hidden or buried for years."
Rachel M.
"Stephen has a unique capacity for listening that allows him to understand the feeling I'm struggling to communicate, and sometimes blindly seeking, in my writing."
Shawn N.
"Stephen masterfully guided the creative process and helped reconnect my inner voice with its outer expression."
Justine R.
"He helped me feel confident in my ideas, to hone in on them and trust their interplay and organic development as a valuable and interesting process."
Amick
"He provided much needed clarity to writing and to life. I was able to write a piece that I'd been unable to write in the busyness of my home."
H.S.
"He said, 'What do you want? What are your goals?' So we got to set the terms. There were no set parameters, no limitations."
Spannocchia Participant
I work with a few people at a time on projects they care about. The common thread isn't budget or status — it's that the work matters to them.
This is for you if:
You have a lifetime of experience, wisdom, or stories you want to put into a book. You want to preserve a parent's or family member's story before it's too late. You'd rather talk it through with someone than sit alone at a keyboard. You want a real, well-crafted book.
Probably not if:
You're looking for a literary agent, want to cash out on a bestseller, or aren't ready to start in the next couple of months.
Every project is different. A short family book is a different scope than a years-spanning memoir, so I tailor every engagement to what you actually need. Some projects are smaller than people expect, some are bigger. We figure it out together.
I also work with people across a wide range of situations. If the project matters, we'll find a way to make it work, whether that's adjusting scope, working in phases, or finding the right starting point for your budget. The first conversation is free and there's no obligation. Just tell me what you're thinking and I'll be honest about what's possible.
Free Guide
Not sure where to start? I wrote a short book about what the process looks like, including exercises to help you find the material that's already inside you or someone you love. Many people are much closer to the finish line than they realize.
Download free PDFSend me a voice memo or an email. Tell me what the book is about, or just tell me why it matters to you. This is just a conversation — there's no obligation.
Hit record and tell me about your project. Easiest way to start.
I respond to every message within 24 hours.
"Stephen helped reaffirm my belief in my work and the maintenance and preservation of its integrity."
Anissa
Not ready to reach out yet? Download The Stories You Carry, a free guide with exercises to help you get started.