Why us?

No shortcuts or simple transcription here—powerful storytelling is an art. As seasoned writers, we approach your book with the same care, devotion, and attention as we do with our personal writing work. For us, this is a labor of love.

• We view our work as relationship-building, not as transactional/cookie-cutter.

• Kleio honors your story, and we’ll take the time to listen, learn, and capture your unique life rather than fit it into a preconceived mold. We partner and collaborate with you along the way, establishing trust to illuminate your voice and your vision.

The result? An heirloom that inspires people to read, remember, and connect.

• Less: “I should probably read that family genealogy Grandma compiled for all the grandkids a few years ago. Where did I put that thing?”

• More: “Hi, Grandma! Is now a good time? I stayed up late reading your book. I couldn’t put it down. I had no idea...”

I’m mindful of my budget. Can I pay in installments?

Yes! Also, remember that everything we do is customizable.

Budget constraints?

• Tell us your vision. We can often scale back one of our current offerings in some form to meet in the middle, something we can discuss on a free consultation call.

What does the final book look like?

We aim for premier quality. Rather than a laminate or paperback cover, we print on #60 grade paper for hardcover books lined with linen, as traditional publishers do. We include a professionally designed dust jacket with a front cover, inside informational flaps, and a back cover.

This video shows what a book looks like, front to back.

How does the process work?

The process varies depending on the offering, but for most books, you can expect:

• Starting with a free consultation call, where we co-create a vision for your book. We use this time to put you at ease, discuss what you can expect, and share any materials that might help you prepare.
  First payment due before the first interview is scheduled

• Next, we schedule a series of recorded interviews, at least 1.5 hours in length, conducted on Zoom or (if nearby) in person.

• From here, we’ll take the material and start writing and shaping the story. We reach out for additional details or clarifications as needed.

• During the writing process, once we have a sense of scope and shape, we invite you to submit your photographs to a shared Google drive.

• Once we have a sharable draft, we send you the materials in two formats: a preliminary designed PDF of the manuscript and cover, as well as a Google doc with the text-only. You can make edits directly in the text-only file.

• After you have a chance to look over the file, we have a call to collaborate on finalizing the manuscript, covering anything from text edits to a personalized cover design.

• Once we incorporate your feedback, we send you a last glimpse “galley” of the book and cover to review and make minor edits.

• We send the manuscript to our printer.
  Final payment due

• Last, after a quality check, we send you the final eBook and mail out your physical book(s).

What’s the difference between a Kleio Signature and a Custom Story?

Kleio Signatures (which includes our Kleio Single and Kleio Collection) have the same approach, but the Kleio Collection is twice as long as a Kleio Single and covers more ground.

• Both Kleio Signatures have a more “free-style” approach in the interviews, though a focus and scope are established in the pre-consultation.

• The final product aims to keep all the writing in the first-person. (Here is a sample preview of a Kleio Signature, which typically covers a specific period—in this case, the storyteller’s coming-of-age years).

Custom Stories, on the other hand, are anything else we offer. They come in first-person, second-person, or third-person narration. Though we have a series of offerings—from oral narratives for family reunions, “Life Lesson” books (sample preview), historical fiction, to full-length biographies and memoirs—we can work with almost any vision and budget.

I’m interested, but shouldn’t I do this myself?

Of course, you can!

• The more stories, the better, which is why we also offer mentorship services.

• We love facilitating generational bonding experiences, whether through providing coaching, developmental editing, or co-conducting interviews alongside family members—taking those recordings from the hybrid collection approach to complete the writing process. Remember, everything we do can be customized.

However, if guilt is motivating you to do all the work yourself (or causing you to procrastinate) put that to rest.

• People tell their stories differently to an impartial stranger—perhaps the reason why many feel comfortable sharing vulnerable anecdotes on airplanes or with someone at the bus stop.

• As experienced interviewers and active listeners, we can often gather experiences that close family members might not get the same access to.

• Our engaging books create timeless conversations and connections, regardless of who conducted the interviews or wrote the story.

What is the right timing for a project like this?

There is no “right time.” Many people in their twenties have lived enough life for a full-length memoir. That said, most of our storytellers are between 50-70 years old.

Our biggest recommendation? Do not wait too long. From personal experience, Rachel waited to interview a grandfather until he was on hospice. He did not have the energy, or the memory, he once had. Procrastinating those priceless interviews will be something she regrets forever. Do not wait until it is too late.

How long are your books?

The length of a book depends on the number of interviews and pictures, as well as the storyteller. Everyone talks and tells stories at different speeds. We are interested in creating a quality product at any length.

On average:

• Kleio Singles average 10,000 words at ~60 pages.

• Life Lessons books average 15,000 words at ~100 pages.

• Full-length memoirs or biographies are 40,000+ words at 250+ pages.

What is your timeline?

Some perspective from our writing, editing, and publishing experience:

• Most authors take an average of seven years to write their first book

• Traditional publishers take two years to get from final manuscript to bookshelves.

“You can’t rush art.” But don’t worry. We are artists—and will take the necessary time to make your book shine—but we are also clear and consistent in making and keeping deadlines, always communicating with the storyteller. On average, you can anticipate the following for the interview and writing process:

• Kleio Singles: 4 weeks

• Kleio Collections: 6 weeks

• Life Lesson Books: 6 weeks

• Full-length Memoir or Biography: 4+ months

After the writing process, add an additional 4 weeks for design, printing, and delivery.

How do I upload photos?

Midway through the writing process—after getting a sense of specific illustrations that would be most fitting alongside the text—we invite you to contribute photos. We send you a link to a Google drive where you can upload your photos and captions.

Photos need to be high-resolution so they really shine in the final, printed product. Aim for 300dpi resolution. Do not try to take pictures of your physical pictures. There are a few better ways you can do this:

• Bring your photos to a library, printing shop, or paid service provider with a flatbed scanner
  OR

• Download an app on your phone that can take high-resolution scans for you. A few services:

  • CamScanner—our preferred app if you pay $5.30 to remove the watermark. You can scan in bulk batches and easily share. (You can cancel the monthly subscription any time)

  • Google PhotoScan

  • Photomyne

    If you do use an app, be careful about lighting, dust, and avoiding glare on glossy photos

How does payment work?

We take payments via check or Venmo.

• After your free consultation call, the first half of the payment is due before we proceed with the interviews.

• The second (and final) half of the payment is due just before we mail out your physical book.

If paying through Venmo, keep in mind the $3,000 daily limit. You may need to break your payment into increments over a few days. If you need a different payment installment plan, just let us know.

Do you offer gift cards?

We do. Email us and we can provide you with a gift card in any amount. They do not expire.

May I order more books?

Of course! Though you get four physical books and one eBook per offering, we are happy to order more to send out with your order.

You and your family never need to worry about the book going out of print.

Are you a publisher?

No, we are not. We do not make books for the general public to buy either, but we can collaborate if this is something the storyteller is interested in pursuing. The storytellers assumes all responsibility and liability if they pursue public publication.

I have a story about a famous or public figure. Do you sign NDAs?

Yes. We have done this in the past for public figures and are happy to accommodate.