Your legacy matters.
Let's write your story today.
Writer.
Legacy Curator.
Personal Historian.
Annie Hallsten Narayan is a personal historian who specializes in helping clients capture and preserve their unique stories for future generations. Driven by a passion for storytelling, Annie conducts personalized interviews and transforms them into beautifully crafted keepsake books. She handles every detail of crafting and weaving your stories together, creating a legacy that will be cherished by your loved ones for years to come. Let Annie guide you in celebrating your family's journey, ensuring that the your shared history is passed down, leaving a lasting legacy for the future.
Your story matters.
Time is our most fleeting resource and once it's gone, we can't get it back. The moments that shape us, the stories that define us, and the memories that connect us to others can so easily fade with the passing years. If we don't take the time to capture them, they risk being lost forever. Your life, with all its richness, wisdom, heartbreak, and joy, deserves to be remembered; not just by you, but by those who come after you. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start writing your story now, while the memories are still alive in your heart. Your story matters, and the time to share it is now.
Why should I do this?
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Pass on family history, values, and traditions. Your family's unique story, values, and cherished traditions deserve to be passed down through the ages.
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Experience healing through the storytelling process. Sharing and reflecting on life stories can be a therapeutic and healing process for both the storyteller and the audience.
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Give your life continuity. Providing future generations with a tangible connection to their past is a priceless gift, offering continuity and a sense of belonging.
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Give your heirs a sense of where they came from. Knowing their roots provides a strong foundation for your heirs, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
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Give meaning to one's life and lived experiences. Every life is a journey, and documenting that journey brings depth and meaning to each lived experience.
Who is this for?
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Older adults who want to preserve their personal histories and life experiences for future generations.
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People who have had extraordinary or unusual life experiences, such as surviving significant historical events, participating in major cultural shifts, or overcoming great personal challenges, may want to share their stories with others.
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Families looking to preserve ancestral history.
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Individuals going through life transitions, such as retirement, divorce, or loss, may find the process of telling their story cathartic, helping them find closure and understanding.
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Adoptees, birth parents, and/or adoptive parents who wish to explore and understand their roots and create a narrative around their life journey.
How much does this cost?
The Signature Legacy Writing Package is priced at $5,000 and includes everything you need to preserve your legacy:
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10 hours of in-depth interviews
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Up to 50 photos and artifacts
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A beautifully crafted 100-125 page finished product
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A PDF version for easy replication
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5 hardback copies
We also offer customizable packages tailored to your needs, with flexible pricing options, monthly payment plans, and split invoices for multiple contributors.
Meet Annie
Annie is a former workaholic who gave up working 60+ hours a week to design the life she always dreamed of living. She’s a lover of Florida, country music, interior design, holiday decor, warm beaches, Diet Coke, boiled peanuts, pool parties, and traveling. A 3 on the Enneagram, Annie is a recovering anxious perfectionist, your typical firstborn, a leftie, and an avoider of conflict. She lives in Northern California with her husband and their two children.
The Process
Capturing your legacy is a thoughtful process that typically takes 4-6 months, from our initial conversation to the moment your completed books arrive at your doorstep. We'll collaborate to create a timeline that fits your needs and schedule. For clients in hospice care, I make every effort to expedite the process with compassion and care.
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Introductory Call: Annie and the client schedule a thirty minute introductory call. On the call you will discuss the project and the process, the subject of the book, discuss who will be interviewed, and set a timeline that both parties are comfortable with.​
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Contract & Deposit: A contract and invoice will be sent via email. The client will sign the contract and pay a 50% deposit.​
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Interviews: Up to 10 hours of interviews will be conducted.
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Outline: An outline for the book will be created. The client will approve the outline and then the writing process will begin.
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First Draft: Once the outline is approved, Annie will begin writing the first draft of the book.
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Feedback and Revision: The client will have the opportunity to read the first draft, provide feedback, and recommend changes. After two rounds of feedback, the final draft will be completed.
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Digital Final Draft & Final Payment: The client will receive a watermarked digital copy of the finished book to the client.
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Project Completion: Annie will send the final digital copy and books will be delivered to your front door!
The Gift of Legacy
There is no greater gift than the gift of legacy. Clients may purchase a gift certificate to give to a loved one to complete the project on their own timeline. We offer a special gift box that allows for a nice presentation. The box includes a gift certificate, a commemorative journal, and a beautiful pen engraved with the recipient's name.
Testimonials
"Annie is an excellent writer. She has the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely. She creates content that is polished and professional allowing her clients to connect with their audience. She pays attention to detail and gets the job done quickly. Annie is also a joy to work with. She's passionate, organized, pays attention to detail, and is very solutions-oriented. When I work with Annie, I know the job will get done and get done well."