Starting a journey with LifeBook Memoirs can feel a little daunting for new authors, but when they discover I share their passion and commitment, the respect and trust between us build. As the weeks roll by, our bond grows and we find ourselves greeting each other like old friends. It is a blessing and a privilege.
In these digital days, we’re bombarded with selfies, tweets, text messages and voice messages. As a ghostwriter for LifeBook, receiving a fresh 90-minute interview with an author gives me permission to mute my iPhone, unplug all my devices, don a pair of headphones and tune into the pleasure of listening, as a person, dips back into his or her past.
The authors whose memories I’ve helped to write for LifeBook Memoirs come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some grew up ‘making do’, while others had well-off parents; some had easy childhoods while others struggled. However, one thing mentioned by nearly all of them is how things have changed during their LifeBooks.
On the face of it, interviewing might seem like an easy job. Surely, anyone can ask questions and listen to the reply? We have key selection criteria but the overriding principle is to provide an interviewer to whom the author will feel comfortable revealing their innermost thoughts and personal details.
At LifeBook Memoirs, my role as an editor is not typical nor entirely conventional when it comes to that kind of work. Yes, quality control is important, but, unlike conventional editing, it is not my place to decide what is included or left out of a memoir. That decision is down to the author. Each memoir reflects the author’s life story as they see it.
Everyone has a story to tell and, yes, yours is every bit as interesting as anything you’ll find on the shelf in your nearest bookshop. Your life story is shaped by your experiences, your memories, and your own stamp on social history. Think about how many millions of people would recount the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II differently.
