Frequently Asked Questions
About the book creation experience
When will the interview sessions be held?
We will agree a timetable before we start. Typically, we would hold one interview session a week at a mutually agreeable time. If there is an urgent reason for your session to be prioritised, please let us know. We aim to be as accommodating as possible. We offer days and times over 7 days a week, and we book in your first session as soon as you’ve completed your reservation.
How long is each interview session?
Each session is around the equivalent of 60 minutes. However, if you want to combine 2 sessions and do a 2-hour interview, we can accommodate this. For our Life Changing Times book experience, we also offer the option of splitting one session into two shorter sessions of 30 minutes. Our job is to make sure we capture the information and stories you want to include in your book, so we manage the time carefully, so we complete it within the timeframe we’ve agreed.
Who will interview me?
One of our book creator team will interview you. All our book creators complete comprehensive training so they deliver a first class service at all times. You will know in advance who your appointed book creator is. On occasion, it may even be Kimberley or Phil - our founders - as we are always keen to meet you and hear your story.
How are the interviews carried out?
You will need a computer, tablet or mobile/cell phone to connect with us because all your sessions will be held online over Zoom (or similar). We use Zoom because it allows us to make a back-up recording of each session. It makes it easy for you to log in from wherever you are in the world. If you’re not yet familiar with Zoom, then don’t worry as we will help you get set up and have a trial run before our first session so you’re comfortable using it.
Can I have someone with me in the interview?
Yes, if you feel more comfortable having someone with you during our sessions that is fine with us. However, give some thought to who that is. You don’t want someone who will be more distracting or inhibit what you want to share. Of course, if you have someone you trust and who is supportive of you, then they are welcome to be in the room with you.
How many people can take part in the interview sessions?
A session is typically for 1-2 people, usually an individual or a couple, but it could also be, for example, father and son, mother and daughter or two siblings. If you want to more of your family to be interviewed than this, we will advise you in advance of changes, if required, to your package so you can decide how you want to proceed.
What style are the books written in?
Our aim is to that anyone reading your book can hear your voice in their head as they read. This means we want it to sound like it’s you talking even though we’ve edited it.
Will the books have American or English spelling of words?
You may have noticed that some words on this website are spelled the English way - such as 'favourite' and 'colour'. That's because our founders are British (though they live most of the year in Portugal - that's an interesting story!). Your book will be written in the spelling format you request.
Can the book be written in languages other than English?
At the moment, our books are only in English as all our book creators conduct the interviews in English as it's their first language. You are welcome to ask us for other languages and we will do our utmost to see if we can make it happen - on a case by case basis.
How long will it take from start to finish?
This depends on the package you choose. As a guide, we usually do one interview a week with you and we usually need 4-6 weeks in addition to your sessions with us, so if you’ve chosen a package with 4 sessions it will be 8-12 weeks until completion. If you have an urgent need to be prioritised, we will do our best to accommodate and speed up the process.
What will the design and cover of my book look like?
We want the design of your book to reflect you and your style. Some people want a photo on the front cover, others prefer only text. We will show you the options and you can choose what most appeals to you.
How much time will I personally need to invest working on the book?
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to create your book, so you get to do all the interesting bits and we do the hard work behind the scenes. Your main commitment is to turn up on time for all the sessions. In addition, you will need to choose the photos you want to include too. We will need them scanned to us, but we can help you with that.
What do we do behind-the-scenes?
Basically, we do all the time-consuming hard work, so you can focus on the enjoyable parts! After our ‘Getting to Know You’ session we will build a timeline of your life. Before each interview we plan the questions to ask and, having got to know you, the way we can help you feel most comfortable so we can gather the information we need.
After each interview, we spend time transcribing your spoken words down onto paper. We then go over it all several times over to edit and re-edit. We want to make sure the sentences and stories flow, so they are easy to read but still sound like it’s you speaking. We proofread it all so it’s in a condition ready for our revision session together.
When the interviews are completed, we meet with you to review everything. These are your stories, and you get the final say on how they are written. We then revise your stories to make any changes you want and proofread it thoroughly at least twice, so we have a final version of the written content of the book.
Finally, we move onto the design and layout stage based on the style you’ve chosen. Each page and section of your book is lovingly put together one page at a time, adding in your photos where they fit with your stories. Once you’ve approved the final look, we arrange for your books to be printed.
All this takes time – for every one hour we spend talking with you, we need to allocate many, many more hours to the behind-the-scenes work. We set high quality standards, and we don’t compromise or cut corners. We want the service we provide to be first class every step of the way.
Can I cancel and reschedule an interview session?
We understand that life happens. If you need to postpone for any reason, we will happily reschedule to a better date and time. The more notice you can give us, the better. If you don’t give us notice and just fail to turn up or are late for your scheduled interview time, you will usually lose the whole or part of that session, so please prioritise our booked interview times.
How many rounds of changes or corrections can I have?
When we have your first proof ready, we will arrange a ‘Review and Revise’ session with you. We strongly advise that, before this session, you take time to read through the first draft of your book and make a list of anything you would like us to correct or change. We will make the changes and send you a final draft to confirm before going to print.
How much influence do I have over the content of the book?
You have complete control over the content of your book. We provide the writing, editing, proofreading and design for your book, but you will always have the final say.
About the services on offer
What are the differences between the services on offer?
We offer three types of book creation experiences and each experience has three options to choose from – Silver, Gold and Platinum. The difference between the Silver, Gold and Platinum options is based on the length of your book – approximate number of words, how many photos you want to include and how many interview sessions you need.
If the services on the website do not match what I need, can you create something bespoke?
Yes. We are happy to discuss what you have in mind and advise you in writing of the fee and timescale. Contact us to talk your idea through. If it’s not something we feel able to do, we will suggest another company that may be more suitable.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes! We guarantee you and your loved ones will be so delighted with the book we’ve created together, you’ll want to cry tears of joy! If not, we’ll make it right or give you a refund.
Can I upgrade my package after we’ve started?
Of course! Just let us know as soon as you can and we will make the arrangements.
Can I create a book as a surprise for someone?
Yes. That’s how we started out making books for our own family - as a surprise. It takes a little more planning (and subterfuge!) so we will discuss how to do this in our free consultation call so no one let’s the cat out of the bag!
What countries do you cover?
Our service is currently available in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK and some European countries, however if you’re located elsewhere, provided we can source a printing company in your country that meets our high standards, we can create a book with you. It may take a little longer to produce.
Can I order a copy of the video or audio of the interviews?
Unedited copies of the audio and video recordings are included for no additional fee with the Platinum version of both the Celebrating a Milestone and the Magical Moments book creation experiences. All the options - Silver, Gold and Platinum of the Life Changing Times book creation experiences have the unedited audio and video recordings included free of charge.
An edited version is available for an additional fee. You can add this on at any point in the process.
Who owns the copyright of the book?
You do. All content that your book creator captures, therefore, will belong to you at the end of this process.
Can I publish my book?
Our service is to help you document your personal life stories and anecdotes into words before they are forgotten or lost forever. If you want to publish your book once the project is complete, you can but you must read the Terms and Conditions regarding liability if you choose to publish. If you want to write a complete autobiography for publication, we can suggest some other companies that offer this service.
Will you show my stories and/or book to other clients?
We take privacy very seriously and assure you that your stories remain completely confidential between you and us. It is up to you what you do with your book once you’ve received your final copies. We never share your stories or book without your explicit prior consent.
About booking and payment
What is the booking and payment process?
It’s simple. Once you've had your free initial consultation and you’ve decided to go ahead, we’ll send you an invoice. You will have the option to pay in full upfront or in instalments. You can use a credit or debit card. Once we have received payment (either in full or your first instalment) we will contact you within 24 hours to arrange our first session together.
What currency do I pay in?
We show the US dollar and GB pound fees however if you would like to pay in another currency, please ask and we will do our best to accomodate your request.
Are shipping costs included?
Yes, you do not have to pay extra shipping costs. Our fees are all inclusive.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. Our packages are all inclusive. There is no hidden small print.
Will I get confirmation of what I purchase?
Our standard Terms and Conditions apply to any of the services we offer. You will receive a receipt for any payments. If you require any additional services such as extra copies of your book or a bespoke package, we will confirm the fee by email and you will receive confirmation of your purchase following payment.
Does the price include VAT (UK only)?
We don’t need to charge our customers in the United Kingdom VAT.
What happens if I need to pause or cancel the project?
If you wish to cancel entirely up to 72 hours before the first ‘Getting to Know You’ session, you will receive a 100% refund. If you need to cancel once the project is underway, we will refund you less a pro-rata amount for costs incurred so far. If you are experiencing difficulties and need to pause or are considering cancelling, we would welcome the opportunity to talk it through to find a solution.
How much are extra copies of the finished book?
Extra copies can be ordered at an additional cost. The cost of extra copies depends on the package you’ve chosen, and the number of copies you want to order. Larger orders, perhaps for sharing with family and friends or colleagues, help to bring down the price per copy. Get in touch and we can give you a quote.
Can I upgrade my package after we’ve started?
Of course! Just let us know as soon as you can and we will make the arrangements.
Can I order a copy of the video or audio of the interviews?
Yes. All the Life Changing Times services include these as a free gift from us to you because we recognise the difficult time you are experiencing. We can provide audio or video recordings or both for our other services for an additional fee. You can add this on at any point during the process.
What happens if I gift this to someone and they don’t want it?
We will contact you and the gift recipient to get the ball rolling as soon as you've told them about the gift. You can cancel at any point during the six months after purchase if the recipient does not want to create a book.
About Storyteller Days
Where is Storyteller Days based?
Storyteller Days Ltd is a UK limited company with its registered head office in Leicestershire, England. Our book creators and clients can be based anywhere in the world. Our limited company number is 15279484 and our registered address is 60 Garland, Leics LE7 7RG.
What is most important to us at Storyteller Days?
Quite simply - creating happiness is the most important thing in life to us. We believe everyone is special and even someone who considers their life 'ordinary' has a unique and extraordinary story to tell. Our goal is to create an experience for you, our client, that lifts you up, affirms you and fills you with happiness. We aim to treat all those we work with in just the same way - whether they are our colleagues, our suppliers or our supporters. We believe we are all divinely connected and we want everyone to feel happier for interacting with us.
Who are the founders?
Kimberley Wood and Phil Cooklin - we are a British husband and wife team. We've previously worked in roles that involve helping people tell their story and showing others how to design their future story, meaning teaching people about the magic of life and how you can create a life you love living. We've created books for our family which have brought so much joy. A few years ago, we set out on an adventure travelling Great Britain and Europe in our campervan. We ended up buying a four acre farm with stunning 360 degree views in Portugal where we've turned an old stone barn into a beautiful dream home. We share stories from our own life in a blog to preserve our own memories and inspire others to 'Live as you dream'.
Any other questions?
We’ve tried to cover most questions here, but if not, just contact us here. No question is too small or insignificant. And if you just fancy a chat, we'd love to hear from you too.