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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to questions you may have:

We are happy to discuss these and any other questions you may have. Please contact us.

A photo of cloured beads scattered on a wooden step.

What is your philosophy and approach to legacy biographies?

We believe that our philosophy shoWhy do you offer biography services rather than memoir services?uld be something that resonates with you. An essay on that subject can be found here.

Why do you offer biography services rather than memoir services?

According to the renowned author Salmon Rushdie:

The difference between memoir and (auto)biography, as far as I see it, is that a memoir is there primarily to tell one particular story, whereas a biography tries to be a full account of a life.

Typically, a memoir is written in first person. Sometimes a memoir can go sideways, usually from too much memory, too much detail. Our job is partly to clear away things that might get in the way of the story, and most importantly in documenting who you really are. As your narrator, it is important that the writing has emotional resonance.

Should I find a ghostwriter to author my memoir?

There are many ghostwriters in the world. Many are wonderful but many are not. The issue with ghostwriting is that (a) it's very costly, and (b) you are relying on the ghostwriter to utterly capture your voice and your tone. This is extremely hard to accomplish, and often falls short of what you might hope for.

Our service is not that of ghostwriting. We will produce a properly written biography.

Your biography will be a stylised recollection of personal experiences, and will be about your character, your story, your emotions, and your values. It will NOT merely be a glorified resume of accomplishments.

We do not create dialogue. Anything in quotes will have been sourced from a personal interview, from a verified historical document, a letter, a transcript, a newspaper article or interview.

Do you use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in producing these projects?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! All writing is done by a human being and is professionally edited by a real person.

Why should I choose A Life Reflected for this project?

There are many ghostwriters and memoir service providers available. What differentiates us is that we are not a large corporation, we are not affiliated with any particular organization, we do not farm out any of the project to outside entities. You will be dealing with a real person who will honour your wishes and work with you with respect.

Will I have control of the process?

Yes. We will work together throughout the project, checking in frequently with updates and seeking your approval.

What about confidentiality?

We take your privacy seriously. Most of our contracts include a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

How long will this take?

The timing depends greatly upon the scope How do we get started?of the project and current workload. Setting down a timeframe is part of the initial consultation.

How exactly does a personal (legacy) biography get done?

The short answer is several interviews are conducted. Those interviews are transcribed and then composed into a formal document.

The long answer is that we will be embarking on a wonderfully intimate journey, with no judgment, no preconceived notions, no conflicts.

We will have a first meeting (possibly a telephone appointment if distance is a factor) to discuss the project in general terms. If things look promising, we will present you with a general proposal outlining the work do be undertaken, including the book’s length, tone & manner, research and interviews to be conducted, delivery timelines, payment schedules and other business details. When you sign the proposal, the project is officially underway.

We will then conduct a series of recorded interviews (usually three or four) and from these a rough outline will be presented. At this stage, you will review and make any revisions. From here we will work back and forth on a few drafts until the work is mutually satisfactory.

How exactly does the historical biography get done? How do I choose the subject individual?

The person chosen to honour with a historical biography is your choice. Remember, your soul has its own ancestors.

According to Paul Tsongas (author, politician, active in historical preservation, 1941-1997):

We are a continuum. Just as we reach back to our ancestors for our fundamental values, so we, as guardians of that legacy, must reach ahead to our children and their children. And we do so with a sense of sacredness in that reaching.

Here is an eloquent quote from Linda K. Hogan (poet, storyteller, b. 1947):

Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. "Be still," they say. "Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands."

You will choose the ancestor you wish to honour. Then it will be our job to scour historical sources, documents, and a variety of resources to document the person and provide historical context. Here are some examples of completed historical biographies.

If I'm preplanning funeral arrangements, can this project by incorporated with that process and with my obituary?

Sometimes this part of the conversation is uncomfortable, but it is an inevitability. The questions you might ask yourself are whether your family and friends will remember you and in what way? Will your values endure?

 Unfortunately, most of us will not be memorialized in a Wikipedia page, and, sadly, you will most likely be a foggy memory in a generation or two — if you are remembered at all.

Not only can this be a part of your arrangements, we can also time the release of the work to coincide with a moment of your choosing.

Can we create a QR code to incorporate into my funeral services and memorial cards?

We can easily provide you with a QR code for ready internet access to your biography.

Can we "anonymize" the names, dates and places?

Depending on your wishes, and depending on the sensitivity of some projects, it is sometimes a good idea to change the names, dates and places of people discussed in your biography. The internet or public version can be completely or partially anonymized and the PDF files you will receive can contain the true information.

How can we assure "permanence" of the online biography?

First of all, congratulations on having read this far. You have taken the first step to giving some permanence to your life story merely by considering it.

Aside from the durability of a physical book, an online biography has a certain amount of "automatic" retention. As we all know, things posted on the internet tend to linger whether we want them to or not.

There are methods of making a web page become more enduring. We recommend that you look into archiving your posted biography at the Way-Back Machine.

What about legal issues and liabilities? Could I be sued?

It's a sad reality that we live in a litigious world and people can be sued for all sorts of things, including libel. While we cannot provide you with legal advice, we can offer suggestions on how to avoid writing that is potentially actionable.

Can I commission a properly bound book and/or have my story online?

We will make your story publicly available on this site if you choose.

At the completion of the work, you will receive a PDF file ready for printing or publishing. The choice of binding materials is highly personal. We can recommend binderies to handle the creation of a physical bound book.

Who owns the copyright of the finished work?

Unless otherwise stipulated, both you and A Life Reflected will have the right to sell, market, publish and distribute any work you commission with us. There are no hidden fees or royalties.

In the case of a personal biography of a living person, this is a joint endeavour, so the short answer is both you and A Life Reflected own the copyright.

In the case of an historical biography of a deceased individual, A Life Reflected will own the copyright but you will still have the right to sell, market, publish and distribute the work as indicated above.

How much will this cost?

Costs are extremely variable given the breadth of options available to you. In our initial appointment we can set a budget that will work for you.

How do we get started?

Just contact us and we can begin the process.