Frequently Asked Questions
What is Life Chapters?
Life Chapters is a guided storytelling and keepsake service that helps individuals and families preserve meaningful life stories through conversation and professionally written chapters.
Rather than using automated prompts or self-guided recordings, Life Chapters is built around thoughtful human conversation designed to help uncover stories that families often intend to capture someday — but never quite get around to asking.
How is Life Chapters different from online memory book platforms?
Life Chapters and online memory book platforms share a similar goal: preserving meaningful stories for future generations.
The difference is in the experience.
Many online platforms allow storytellers to answer prompts independently using written responses, audio recordings, or AI-assisted tools. These can be a wonderful option for people who enjoy working through stories on their own and at their own pace.
Life Chapters offers a more guided, personal approach.
Rather than relying primarily on prompts or recordings, each project begins with a thoughtful conversation led by Kim Gandier, a communications professional with a Master’s degree in Communications and extensive experience in storytelling and public engagement.
Through active listening, follow-up questions, and professional writing, Life Chapters helps uncover the memories, reflections, lessons, and experiences that often don’t emerge from a questionnaire alone.
Many families tell us that the hardest part isn’t preserving a story — it’s knowing what questions to ask, where to begin, or how to move beyond the stories they’ve heard dozens of times before.
Life Chapters helps create those conversations.
The result is a professionally written keepsake that captures not only what happened, but why it mattered.
For those who prefer a self-guided experience, online memory platforms may be a wonderful fit. For those looking for a more personal, human-centred storytelling experience, Life Chapters offers a different path.
What kinds of stories can be captured?
Almost any meaningful life experience can become a chapter.
Some common examples include:
- childhood memories
- family history
- how parents or grandparents met
- infertility or adoption journeys
- career or business stories
- immigration or starting over
- health or resilience stories
- life lessons and reflections
- family traditions
- retirement reflections
The focus is less about documenting every detail of a life and more about preserving the moments and experiences that shaped it.
How does the process work?
The process typically includes:
- Choosing a story or life chapter
- A guided interview conversation
- A conversation review summary or transcript
- A professionally written story chapter
- One round of revisions
- Delivery of a digital keepsake PDF
Printed books and additional chapters can also be added.
Do I need to prepare anything before the interview?
No formal preparation is required.
Some people choose to gather:
- old photographs
- timelines
- family details
- key memories or milestones
But many of the most meaningful stories emerge naturally through conversation.
What if I’m not a good storyteller?
That’s completely okay.
Most people don’t think of themselves as storytellers.
The role of Life Chapters is to guide the conversation thoughtfully and help bring out stories, memories, reflections, and details in a comfortable and natural way.
Can this be gifted to a parent or grandparent?
Absolutely.
Many Life Chapters projects are purchased as meaningful gifts for:
- parents
- grandparents
- anniversaries
- milestone birthdays
- retirements
- memorial or legacy projects
Are interviews recorded?
Yes — interviews are typically recorded to ensure stories and details are captured accurately.
Recordings are used only for the storytelling process and are treated as private and confidential.
Will I receive the recording or transcript?
A cleaned conversation summary or transcript may be provided as part of the review process before writing begins.
This allows for:
- factual corrections
- clarification
- removal of sensitive details
- comfort-level review
The review process is intended for factual feedback rather than extensive editing or restructuring.
How long is each chapter?
Most chapters are approximately 5–10 pages, depending on the story, interview length, and level of detail.
Some stories naturally become longer or more reflective than others.
Can family members contribute?
Yes — in some cases, family members may provide:
- photos
- context
- questions or themes in advance
- additional reflections for larger projects
The storytelling process itself remains intentionally structured to keep the project focused and manageable.
Do you offer full memoirs or autobiography publishing?
Life Chapters offers larger Full Life Story projects, but this is not a traditional publishing or ghostwriting service.
Projects focus on preserving meaningful life experiences and stories in keepsake form rather than producing commercially published memoirs.
Is this therapy or counselling?
No.
While stories can sometimes involve emotional or difficult experiences, Life Chapters is a storytelling and keepsake service — not therapy, counselling, or family mediation.
Every conversation is approached with warmth and care while maintaining respectful professional boundaries.
How many revisions are included?
Each chapter includes one round of revisions for:
- factual corrections
- clarification
- light wording adjustments
- removal of details the storyteller no longer wishes to include
Additional revisions or major restructuring may be quoted separately.
Are stories kept private?
Yes.
Your story belongs to you.
Life Chapters will never publicly share, publish, or use your story without written permission.
All interviews, recordings, transcripts, and written materials are treated as private and confidential.
Do you offer printed books?
Yes.
Digital PDF keepsakes are included with all projects, and printed softcover or hardcover books are available as optional add-ons.
How much does it cost?
Single Chapters start at $295 CAD.
Chapter Collections and Full Life Story projects are priced based on scope, number of conversations, length, and design requirements.
A detailed pricing guide is available on the Pricing page.
I’m not sure where to start.
That’s very common.
Many people begin with a single meaningful story — and often discover more chapters they want to preserve over time.
What are your availability hours?
Life Chapters is currently offered evenings and weekends to allow for a thoughtful, personal experience while maintaining a smaller client schedule.
Interview conversations and meetings are typically available:
- Weekdays after 4:30 PM CST
- Saturdays and Sundays
Because Life Chapters is intentionally designed as a boutique storytelling service, availability may be limited each month.
Flexible virtual appointments are available across Canada.
How do I make a payment?
Single Chapter projects are typically split into two payments:
- 50% at booking
- 50% before final delivery
Larger Chapter Collections and Full Life Story projects follow a customized payment schedule based on project scope.
Printed books and additional add-ons are invoiced separately prior to printing.
E-transfer payments can be made to: hello@lifechapters.ca