Short
A focused life portrait covering the milestones that matter most.
$2,899NZD, all-inclusive
- 17–18 pages
- Up to 12 photographs
- Audio interview: around 45 minutes to 1 hour, by Zoom
Personalised life histories
Every life is a storyworth keeping.
We interview your mother, father or grandparent, record their memories, and craft their life story illustrated with their own quotes and photographs — bound into a beautiful keepsake the whole family will treasure for generations.
A relaxed recorded conversation, by Zoom or in person, included in every package.
A unique birthday, anniversary, Christmas or Mother’s & Father’s Day present.
Popular as a joint gift from the whole family to a loved one.
How it works
A gentle, considered process — from first conversation to finished book.
- 01
The conversation
A relaxed conversation, professionally recorded — over Zoom for shorter stories, or in person at home for longer ones, whichever suits best. We also include special memories shared from a family member.
- 02
Photographs & quotes
We help select cherished family photographs and the meaningful sayings, recipes and turns of phrase that make your loved one who they are.
- 03
A book to keep
The author is a professional historian who will craft a special life story which is shared with you. You are able to review and feedback on a draft before it is finalised, to keep as a treasured memory of your loved one and share with future generations.
Recorded in their voice. Written in ours.
You receive the audio interview recording and a finished A4 life story, written with warmth and care by a professional historian — including special memories shared from a family member.
Pricing & packages
Choose the shape of the story.
Every package includes a relaxed audio interview (by Zoom or in person), special memories shared from a family member — two family members or friends on the long stories — and the finished A4 life story delivered as a beautifully designed PDF.
Individual Life Story
One person's life, gathered into a single beautifully designed volume.
Medium
A fuller story with more chapters, detail and photographs.
$3,499NZD, all-inclusive
- 24–25 pages
- Up to 15 photographs
- Audio interview: around 1 hour, in person
Long
Our most complete individual story, with the greatest space for memories.
$3,999NZD, all-inclusive
- 32–33 pages
- Up to 18 photographs
- Audio interview: 1 to 2 hours, in person
Couples Life Story
Two voices, one shared history — woven together into a single story.
Short
A shared life portrait capturing how two lives came together.
$3,099NZD, all-inclusive
- 20–21 pages
- Up to 14 photographs
- Audio interview: around 1 hour, by Zoom
Medium
More room for both voices, family life and the years in between.
$3,699NZD, all-inclusive
- 27–28 pages
- Up to 18 photographs
- Audio interview: 1 to 1.5 hours, in person
Long
The fullest telling of a shared life, richly illustrated throughout.
$4,399NZD, all-inclusive
- 35–36 pages
- Up to 22 photographs
- Audio interview: 1.5 to 2 hours, in person
Optional extra
Historical context research
For any story, we can add additional historical context research to set your loved one’s life against a wider backdrop — the places, events and times that shaped them. This is charged at $100 per hour, and will be discussed with you and added if desired.
Bespoke commissions
We can create a customised history to meet your specific request.
If none of the packages above is quite the right fit, we can tailor a life story to your exact wishes — additional chapters, a particular focus, extra photographs, or a longer format. Tell us what you have in mind during your free consultation, and we’ll craft something made just for you.
We can also create stories that span more than one generation — weaving together the memories of parents, grandparents and children into a single, shared history that connects the years and the people who lived them.
A gift unlike any other
A Shared Stories book makes a unique birthday, anniversary, Christmas or Mother’s & Father’s Day present. It is popular for families to gift it together as a joint present to a loved one.
Meet your historian
Welcome to Shared Stories History.
My name is Allanah and I have a First Class Honours Degree in History from the University of Canterbury. I am based near Christchurch, NZ.
I have previously worked in communication and public relations, and I enjoy working with families to write special life histories for families to preserve their loved one's life and memories.
Begin a conversation
Request a free Zoom or phone consultation.
Tell us a little about the person whose story you’d like to preserve. We’ll arrange a relaxed, no-obligation free Zoom call or phone call within two working days — with you alone, or together with your loved one, whichever feels right.
