VIA MEMORIA
Before the stories fade.
Their life, in their voice, in a book that lasts.
We visit your parent, record their stories, and return with a beautifully written hardcover memoir — a permanent piece of family history.
We create beautifully written memoir books for families who want to preserve the story of a parent, grandparent, or loved one.
Through a guided interview, photographs, and thoughtful editing, we turn a life into something lasting: a printed book you can hold, share, and keep.
A gift that becomes part of the family
Most people think there will be more time. More time to ask the questions. More time to write things down. More time to remember.Via Memoria helps families preserve a life story before it slips away. We sit with your loved one, listen carefully, and shape their memories into a memoir that sounds like them, not like a template.This is not a questionnaire. It is not a scrapbook.
It is a real book, created with care.
How it works
1. We begin with a short intake
You tell us about the person, the life periods to cover, the tone you want, and any milestone or deadline that matters.
2. We prepare together
Before the first interview, we research the subject's era, region, and life context. We build a custom question set shaped around their specific story, not a generic template. We share a brief overview with you in advance so you know what territory we plan to cover and can flag anything important we may have missed.
3. We conduct a guided interview
We meet in person in the Montreal area, or by video call.
What a childhood kitchen smelled like. What it cost to leave a country. What they want their grandchildren to understand about who they were.
These are the questions we come prepared to ask. The conversation is unhurried, shaped entirely around the life they have lived — not a checklist. Most subjects say afterward that they had forgotten how much there was to tell.
Sessions run 60 to 75 minutes and can be spread across multiple visits.
4. We write the memoir
Once the interviews are complete, we shape the recordings into a first-person narrative that sounds like the subject, not like a writing service. We preserve their expressions, their rhythm, the way they tell a story. You receive a proof to review before anything goes to print. One round of revisions is included in every package.
5. We design and print the book
We lay out the memoir as a professionally designed hardcover book, with photographs placed thoughtfully throughout. The cover features a portrait of the subject. Once you approve the final proof, we place the print order and deliver finished copies directly to your door.
6. The family receives something lasting
The finished book arrives ready to be held, passed around, placed on a shelf. At the Heirloom and Legacy tiers, a USB drive with the original audio recordings is included, so the voice itself is preserved alongside the words.
Who this is for
This service is often chosen by:
Adult children who want to preserve a parent’s story
Families marking a 75th, 80th, or 90th birthday
Grandchildren who want something more lasting than another gift
Loved ones who know a story should be captured now, not later
Three ways to preserve the story
Every memoir is different. The right package depends on how much life there is to cover and how much time you want to give it. Most families choose the Heirloom tier, which produces a complete, book-length narrative across three sessions. All packages include professional editing, book design, and printed copies delivered to your door.
| Features | Essential | Heirloom | Legacy Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699 | $2,699 | $3,999 |
| Interview sessions | 2 × 60 min | 3 × 60–75 min | 4–5 sessions |
| Narrative length | ~35–50 pages | ~55–80 pages | ~80–120 pages |
| Printed copies | 3 softcover | 5 hardcovers | 8 hardcovers |
| USB with original audio | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Photo integration | up to 15 | up to 25 | up to 45 |
| Digital archive | — | — | ✓ |
| Gift Announcement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turnaround | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 5 weeks |
All prices are in CAD and exclude applicable taxes. Additional hardcover copies available at $75–95 each. Rush delivery available (+$300).
How payment works
A deposit of 50% is collected at booking to confirm your project and reserve your interview dates. The remaining balance is due when I send you the finished PDF proof of the book — the moment you read your family member’s story for the first time.No surprises, no hidden fees. The price you see is the price you pay.Cancellation
If you need to cancel before your first interview session, your deposit is refunded in full. Once the first session has taken place, the deposit is non-refundable, as work has already begun.Our guarantee
If the finished book doesn’t sound like the person you love, we will revise until it does — or refund in full.
About Via Memoria
Via Memoria, the path to memory, is a Montreal-based memoir service created for families who want to preserve a life story with dignity and care.Our interviews are conducted by a journalist and writer with years of professional experience drawing out stories people didn't know they still had. We know how to ask the question behind the question. We know when to follow a tangent, and when to let silence do its work.The result is a memoir that sounds like the person you love — not like a template, and not like something written by a stranger.
We believe an ordinary life is never ordinary to the people who come after it.Every family carries stories worth keeping. Every life deserves a book.
What makes this different
This is a book written to be read, not browsed
There are services that ask your parent to answer prompts on their own.
There are also premium ghostwriting services that cost far more than most families can justify.Via Memoria sits in the middle: personal, fully guided, beautifully produced, and accessible.We do the work with you.
Your loved one only needs to show up and tell the truth of their life.
A memoir can hold ordinary things that matter most
A kitchen on rue Girouard.
A first paycheque.
The sound of a factory floor.
A green dress across a dance hall.
The kind of details a family does not want to lose.That is the whole point.
Frequently asked questions
What is your satisfaction guarantee?
If the finished book doesn't sound like the person you love, we'll revise until it does or refund in full. Every package includes one round of revisions after the proof is delivered. We share the proof before anything goes to print, so you have the opportunity to review and request changes before a single copy is produced.Do you work in English and French?
Yes. We offer memoirs in English and French.Do you need to be in Montreal?
Not necessarily. We offer interviews by video call, and in-person sessions are available in the Montreal area.Do subjects need to prepare anything?
No. We guide the conversation and make the process simple. Photos can be shared afterward.How many sessions does it take?
It depends on the package. The Essential tier includes two sessions of 60 minutes each. The Heirloom tier includes three sessions of 60 to 75 minutes, which is enough for most full life stories. The Legacy Collection includes four to five sessions for richer, multi-generational narratives.What if the subject tires easily or has health concerns?
We are experienced working with elderly subjects and adapt the pace accordingly. Sessions can be shortened, spread over more visits, or adjusted in any way that makes the subject comfortable. The goal is always a conversation, not an interview.Is this only for elderly parents?
Not at all. Many memoirs are created for retirees, grandparents, founders, immigrants, or anyone whose story a family wants to preserve. We have also produced memoirs for people in their fifties who simply wanted to record a particular chapter of their life.How long does it take?
Turnaround is 2-3 weeks for the Essential tier, 3-4 weeks for Heirloom, and 5 weeks for the Legacy Collection. Rush delivery is available for an additional fee if you have a birthday, anniversary, or other deadline coming up.Can I give this as a gift?
Yes. In fact, that is one of the most common reasons families book a memoir, often for a milestone birthday, a retirement, or the holidays. We can keep the project confidential if you want it to be a surprise, and we handle all coordination with the subject directly once you give us the go-ahead.How are the books printed?
We use professional print-on-demand services that produce hardcover books comparable in quality to what you would find in a bookstore. The standard format is 6 by 9 inches. Additional copies beyond what is included in your package can be ordered at any time.What happens to the recordings?
The audio recordings remain private. They are never shared, published, or used for any purpose other than producing your memoir. At the Heirloom and Legacy tiers, you receive a USB drive with the original audio so your family keeps a permanent copy.Can we add more copies after delivery?
Yes. Additional hardcover copies are available at $75 to $95 each and can be ordered at any time, including months after the original delivery.
Start the process
The right time to do this is usually before you feel ready.
We make the process easy. You only need to begin.