About

About Classic Stories

Classic Stories produces private memoirs, biographies, family histories, and company histories. Established in 2024 as a division of Montefiore Press, Inc., Classic Stories highly collaborative and bespoke services typically include face-to-face interviews, extensive background research, writing and editing, book design, and book publishing.

Our Leadership Team

Joshua M. Sklare

President and Founder

Joshua has authored 19 books over the last 18 years. He holds degrees in Sociology and English from Framingham State University.

Julie Gallagher

Director of Design and Production

With over 40 years of experience, Julie has designed more than 100 books and holds a degree in Design from Syracuse University.

Michael L. Cramer

Director of Historical Research

Michael has researched family genealogies for over 30 years. He holds a degree in History/Arts from Union College, a Master’s in Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.

J. David Green

Executive Vice President

Over the last 30 years, David has written three books (and counting) and many white papers and articles, primarily in the technology sector. He holds a Master’s in English from the University of Missouri.

Brittany Scott

Executive Assistant

Over the course of the past decade, Brittany has gained extensive experience in a diverse range of professional roles. Her expertise lies in data analytics, project management, and marketing, with a focus on the education, financial, and logistics sectors. Throughout her career, she has honed her skills and knowledge, contributing to the success of organizations within these industries.

Our Founding

Joshua M. Sklare founded Montefiore Press, Inc. in 2005 and launched a new division, Classic Stories, in 2024.

A family member had asked Joshua for help writing a book. He researched the field of private biographies and memoirs (commissioned books not available for sale). The books lacked the research rigor, writing quality, and production values of the best commercially available books. Joshua took on the project for his family member, wrote and produced the book, which was well received.

Books were a big part of Joshua’s life even before the founding. As a professor at Brandeis University, Joshua’s father, Marshall Sklare, authored books in the field of sociology. His mother Rose Sklare was editor and writer for several book publishers, including Ginn & Co., Little, Brown & Co., Macmillan, and Harcourt Brace. Rose was the founding inspiration for Classic Stories. In short, books were always a big part of Joshua’s life.

Testimonials

“In preparation for a major birthday, I decided it was appropriate to write my memoir. It was not intended to be a mere biography, but a means of relating to family, associates, and others interested and concerned with why I made a major change in my life ambition and how I dealt with the decision. To do this, I knew I would need the help of a writer to assist me in the project. After interviewing several qualified individuals, I chose Josh Sklare.

Dealing with Josh in this time-consuming and overpowering endeavor was a meaningful experience. He added great value to the project; I believe it would not have succeeded without him. We evolved and published a book that served the purpose I had in mind. I have no hesitancy in referring him to anyone seeking to produce a similar book.”

—Irwin Hochberg

Zionist and Patriot

“Classic Stories possesses an innate gift for engaging clients to probe the inner depths of their personal history. Then, with phenomenal skill, the Classic Stories team creates a gripping, detailed account of a life story.”

—David Oppenheimer

A Life Relived

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Classic Stories on my memoir. The preparation and completion of the book was seamless in every respect and has given me and my family enormous pleasure.”

—Thomas J. Volpe

Connecting My Dots

“After reading my father’s biography by Classic Stories, I learned a great deal about him. Even though he passed late last June, he lives on through his book. His wisdom will last for generations in our family.”

—Bobby Ansin

“My sisters and I wanted to preserve the story of our father Arthur Winn by producing a book about his life and accomplishments. Josh Sklare and his team at Classic Stories gave us more than we ever expected. In addition to spending countless hours interviewing my dad, all of the key people in his life and the business, they conducted extensive genealogical and historical research which helped to fully flesh out the history. The end result is a beautifully detailed book worthy of my father and enjoyed by all of his family, friends, and colleagues.”

—Gilbert Winn

“The team at Classic Stories worked very flexibly with my client. Their organization of the memoir, additional research into details that added more dimension to the story, and quality writing style helped deliver an exceptional memoir book. Their know-how was an important element to getting the project completed. They are quality professionals that I would highly recommend for anyone that embarks on this important legacy journey.”