Services
For the last twenty years, Classic Stories has produced memoirs and biographies for people of exceptional achievement.
Our books are typically 250 to 450 pages, with as many photos or other images as you would like.
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Research, including genealogical research
- Interviews and transcriptions
- Manuscript development, including copyediting, proof-reading, and fact-checking
- Book and jacket design
- Book publishing:
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Hardcover books
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Leather-bound heirloom books
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Audio books, including casting and sound engineering
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eBooks
Timing
Timing depends on the scope and your availability for interviews and feedback on the manuscript and book design. Once we know the scope of your book, we will commit to timeline in our proposal.
Approach
We tailor our service to your schedule and preferences. That said, the book creation process involves three phases.
Phase 1: Gather and Organize Information
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Digitize all background materials from you and that we find elsewhere
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Conduct and record face-to-face interviews in your home or place of business, (Note: conducting interviews and finding and organizing background information are iterative, with each spurring the other).
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If applicable, conduct and record interviews with others by phone or video calls
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Transcribe all interviews
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Organize the interviews and the background materials
Digitize all background materials from you and that we find elsewhere
Conduct and record face-to-face interviews in your home or place of business, (Note: conducting interviews and finding and organizing background information are iterative, with each spurring the other).
If applicable, conduct and record interviews with others by phone or video calls
Transcribe all interviews
Organize the interviews and the background materials
Phase II: Create your Book
- Provide a detailed outline
- Write drafts of the manuscripts, typically in sections of roughly 100 pages:
- Collaborate with you on the design of the dust jacket and layout of the book
Phase III: Publish your Book
Once you approve the book design and dust jacket, we will publish the book:
- Hardcopy books
- Leather bound, heirloom books (optional)
- An audio book (optional)
- An eBook (optional)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the copyright?
You do.
What is a “private” biography or memoir?
With a private book, you control content and distribution.
How much time do I need to invest?
Depending on the length of the book and the number of additional people we need to interview, you typically need to spend thirty to forty hours in interviews, at whatever pace you would like.
After the interviews, you will need to review drafts of the manuscript and the book design. Most people will spend about ten to twenty hours reading the typical manuscript and providing feedback. We strive to produce the best manuscript on the first draft, but clients usually have edits. When you review the book layout, you are just focusing on the visuals, like fonts and photos, as well as their captions.
For both manuscripts and the book layout, we do not limit the number of edit cycles. We want your book to be as close to perfect as possible.
What is the difference between a biography and a memoir?
Many people use these terms interchangeably. Memoirs are usually written in the first person and focus on a specific time or theme in a person’s life. A biography covers your entire life in the third person.
Featured Book
