Tell them your Story
Preserve Your Legacy: Professional Family History Publishing
WHY WORK WITH BEVERLEY?
Drawing on thirty years as an author, educator, and publisher, I blend academic teaching experience with hands-on publishing expertise to guide your project. After publishing my father's four-volume memoir and over 30 books of my own, I understand both the technical and emotional aspects of preserving family histories. My background in teaching Creative Writing across university and community settings means I can help you find the most effective way to tell your story, whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning your journey.
Publishing Your Family History Is:
- Affordable: Each copy costs about the same as a movie ticket
- Professional: High-quality hardcover or paperback options
- Flexible: Make changes even after publication at no extra cost
- Accessible: Global print-on-demand through Ingram Spark means family members worldwide can order locally
Services Offered
1. Workshops & Training
Learn to create your family history book through interactive workshops covering:
- Digital tools for transcribing handwritten documents and letters
- Photo restoration and enhancement techniques
- Step-by-step publishing guidance
- Interviewing techniques and storytelling strategies
- Genealogical research methods
- Family tree creation and presentation
Each workshop includes comprehensive resources:
- Family interview question guides
- Memoir writing prompts
- Multi-generational project planning tools
- Structural templates
- Curated genealogy research resources
2. Professional Publishing Services
Basic Package ($200)
- Content organisation (up to 5 photos)
- Basic formatting
- Publishing setup
- First E-proof
- ISBN registration
3. Custom Solutions
Need something specific? I can tailor services to your unique needs:
- One-on-one consultations
- Group workshops
- Custom publishing packages
The Process Is Simple:
- Initial consultation to understand your vision
- Selection of appropriate service package
- Content organization and preparation
- Professional formatting and design
- Publishing and proof review
- Global distribution setup
About Beverley
As a journalist, editor, and multi-genre author, I understand the power of storytelling. My background includes:
- University lecturer in Creative Writing and Creative Non-Fiction
- Published author of 30+ books
- Expert in self-publishing and digital formatting
- Personal experience publishing family histories
- International perspective (born in Lesotho, worked in Botswana, global family connections)
Ready to Start?
Contact me at beverley@beverleysbooks.com to:
- Discuss your project
- Book a workshop
- Request a custom quote
- Schedule a consultation
Choose from the following packages where you can do as much or as little as you like to turn your memories into something the whole family can enjoy!
These packages cover publishing your first book. Additional copies cost about the same as a movie ticket.
READ ON FOR A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT PACKAGES OFFERED.
- I use your file to create the eProof artwork. You can make one or two rounds or changes (depending on the package) before we go to print.
- You are responsible for the text to be correct though I can recommend a professional editor.
- I have a free list of questions to prompt your loved one or to help you shape your story to create that file. You'll find it by clicking the button in the image at the top of this article.
- Professional printing is done by a world-wide network so so you can send your book to anyone in the world at local shipping rates.
- Additional copies can be ordered upon request - each one approx. the cost of a movie ticket depending on size of book & if paperback, Large Print, or hardcover.
A variation on the above? Contact Beverley for a free quote to discuss your project.
WHAT YOU GET...
- Your family story as a professional paperback or hardcover book with colour photos.
- Receive digital files to reorder easily.
- Full support throughout.
*Note: All packages (except the Budget Package) include two rounds of changes, a choice of three different chapter headers and printing styles, a choice of two different cover designs (a collage of your photographs or a single photograph you supply) or you can provide your own cover.
*Prices do not include postage costs.
*You retain the copyright and get the finished file.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS
CHOOSE YOUR BOOK FORMAT FROM THE FOLLOWING TABLE
(NOTE THAT THESE ARE IN INCHES)
- Your family story as a professional paperback or hardcover book with colour photos.
- Receive digital files to reorder easily.
- Full support throughout.
These details will be covered during your free, no-obligation consultation. Let's discuss how to best present your unique story.
CHOOSE YOUR CHAPTER HEADINGS FROM THE FOLLOWING:
MERIDIEN (below)
PARCEL (below)
TRACE (below)
COVER DESIGN OPTIONS
- Collage of photographs?
- Or single photo with title?
- Customise with different fonts and background colours
- Add a photo to the back cover if desired
- Or provide your own complete cover design
REVIEW PACKAGE OPTIONS
- All packages can be customised to your needs.
Photo Guidelines:
- Minimum 250 KB per photo preferred
- Colour photos print well, even at lower resolutions
- Quality can be assessed and adjusted after you receive your proof copy.
ORGANISING YOUR CONTENT
- Already have text and photos? Great! I can start right away.
- Need help capturing your story? Try: • Using a free voice recording app with transcription • Recording yourself or a family member
- I work with your provided text but am not an editing service. I can recommend a professional editor if needed.I'll format and publish your story as a beautiful book.
AFFORDABLE AND SIMPLE
- Start with a 'mini memoir' now and expand later if you wish. I use Ingram Spark for worldwide print-on-demand, ensuring local shipping.
- Need one book or a hundred? There's no minimum order, and prices are surprisingly affordable.
With Christmas coming, your story makes a perfect gift for relatives anywhere.
Call for a free consultation on:
- Gathering materials (text, letters, photos)
- Publishing options
- How I can help present your story to the world.
PROMPTS GET YOU STARTED
Get inspired by the list of Family History Questions I've supplied on the drop-down menu.
With the help of some free and inexpensive apps, you can record and digitise the answers to a few of these questions. Then, with the addition of some relevant photos, you've got the beginnings of a 'mini-memoir' ready to be edited and published.
That trip to Europe you took in 1971 when you were twenty-one? Isn't that worth a book on its own?
What about an overview of your career?
My advice?
Start small and work from there.
The beauty of self-publishing means that the minimal cost of each print-on-demand (POD) copy of your book is so low that you can add chapters, or get other family member's input at different stages of the process.
I can then just add that to the file - or the physical print proof if a family brainstorming session results in extra material to add.
Then voila, I can format, publish and get the book printed, in colour, for what could be less than the cost of movie ticket.
TOOLS & Apps TO GET STARTED
Dictate or record a conversation with instant transcription. (I use Notta for Android but if you have an iPhone, then Apple Dictation comes free.)
However, there are dozens of excellent voice-to-text Apps so just read the reviews to find the one that suits you.
Once I've got my dictation digitised, my preferred method of working is to email it to myself, then paste it into Chat GPT with the prompt to: 'Please clean up this text so that it is grammatically correct'.
But what if you have letters, or a PDF, or excerpts from a book that you want to include?
No problem! You can digitise any text, making it editable so you can put it into a Docs or Word file (my preferred method) and intersperse with photos using a number of apps.
My favourite is Google Lens.
Hint: Begin by recording the answers to a few questions on the drop-down menu. If you use include relevant photos, you already have the makings of a ready-to-be-published book.
Google Lens will also digitise handwriting as well as translate over a hundred languages.
For a free, no-obligation quote to discuss your special project, email Beverley on beverley@beverleysbooks.com