COLLECTIONS
The Legacy Collections
Memories by Michelle has thoughtfully curated a series of Legacy Collections designed to honor every chapter of your story. Each collection is crafted with intention, offering meaningful ways to preserve your most treasured moments with beauty, care, and clarity. Whether you’re seeking a simple keepsake or a full storytelling experience, there is a collection created for you.
As part of your experience, I offer custom book design with access to a variety of formats from publishers I partner with. You may choose to purchase a printed book directly from the publisher (book not included in the collection), or receive a professionally designed PDF file.
Each collection includes a $300 transcription and editing fee, ensuring your memories are preserved with exceptional quality and attention to detail.
I look forward to sitting down with you, listening to your stories, and beginning the meaningful work of preserving your legacy. Together, we’ll create something timeless — an enduring record your loved ones can hold onto for generations.
Pricing
People often ask how pricing works at Memories by Michelle. The truth is, no two projects are the same — and that’s exactly why I don’t offer one-size-fits-all pricing.
Each project is thoughtfully considered based on what it truly requires. That includes the complexity of the story, the depth of research involved, the number of interviews, the condition and volume of photographs or documents. Many projects represent hundreds of hours of research, interviewing, writing, editing, and design.
Because of that, I ask interested clients to reach out so we can talk about your goals and what your project might look like. From there, I can provide clear pricing based on your story — not a generic package.
If you are hesitating to reach out because you are worried you can’t afford it, please don’t let that stop you. A conversation costs nothing, and my goal is always to be transparent, thoughtful, and respectful of your situation. Sometimes that means suggesting different scopes, timelines, or approaches that still preserve what matters most.
For me, what drives this work has never been about profit — it is the belief that stories matter. And as author Margaret Atwood so beautifully said, “In the end, we will all become stories.” My role is to help you tell yours.
– Michelle Prather-Merkley
Questionaire
The
Story Keeper
Collection
A guided, personal journey through your memories — captured with care and preserved for generations.
Overview
This collection is for those who want to preserve their life story or a loved one’s stories through words, voice, and images — a deeply personal book that captures memories, meanings, and legacy.
I will meet with you in person or via virtual video sessions lasting 1-2 hours per session. During our time together, I gently guide you through your stories, helping you recall meaningful moments, details, and reflections that shape your personal history. As part of the process, together, we look through your personal photos to choose images you’d like to include in your book, ensuring the final story is beautifully supported by the visuals that matter most.
Optional Add-Ons
To enrich your story even further, I can reach out to your family members, friends, or anyone special in your life to gather their memories, reflections, and stories about you. These interviews help create a richer, more meaningful portrait of your life.
Timeline
Approximately 6-9 months, depending on story length, editing needs, and production schedule.
The
Roots
Collection
Where genealogy becomes story
Overview
This collection is for individuals who want to bring their genealogy to life through ancestral research and photos into a vivid narrative — transforming names, dates, and documents into a story that feels personal, grounded, and alive. In our initial consultation, we’ll discuss your ancestry, any existing family research, and photos or documents you may have. Together, we will assess if there is enough information available to create a complete book. From there, I conduct thorough online research to uncover your family’s story. If your ancestors are local to me, I can visit genealogy societies, courthouses, or archives for an additional fee. Only verified, sourced information is included. I never speculate or fill in gaps with assumptions. Drawing on my background as a historian, I weave your family’s story together with historical details that bring context and life to your ancestor’s experiences.. The final result is far more than a list of names and dates — it becomes their story.
Timeline
Approximately 9-12 months, depending on the depth of research and
availability of records, and editing or design needs.
The
Life & Lineage
Collection
Where personal history and ancestral history become one story.
Overview
The Life & Lineage Collection is designed for those who want to preserve both their own life story and the generations that came before them. By combining oral history interviews with genealogical research, this collection weaves together memories, documents, photos, and historical detail into a beautiful narrative.
During our sessions, typically 1-2 hours each, conducted in person or via virtual video, I guide you through your stories, helping you recall memories, lessons, and experiences that shaped your life. At the same time, I research your family lineage to uncover the history, context, and people who made your story possible.
The final result is a deeply layered book that honors your voice and the generations that shaped your story.
Timeline
Approximately 9-12 months, depending on the depth of research and availability of records, and editing or design needs.
The
Tribute
Collection
Because their story deserves to be told
Overview
Even when a loved one is no longer with us, their story can still be told. This collection helps families preserve and celebrate a life well lived through shared memories, photographs, and the stories that capture their essence. Together, we’ll create a meaningful keepsake that honors who they were and the legacy they left behind.
Additional Add-On
I can reach out to extended family and friends via email to collect more stories or letters.
Timeline
Approximately 6-9 months, depending on the number of contributors and depth of content.
The
Milestone
Collection
Where life’s celebrations become lasting stories.
Overview
Some stories are meant to be celebrated — the love between a couple, a child’s journey into adulthood, or a lifetime shared together. This collection is designed to commemorate those moments that define us — love stories, anniversaries, graduation, and other milestones.
Timeline
Approximately 6-9 months, depending on the number of contributors, complexity, and projects.
The
Story of You
Collection
The story only you can tell.
Overview
There is no better time than now to tell your story. This collection is designed for individuals who want to reflect on their life journey — whether it is one of discovery, transformation, or simply documenting the path that led you here.
We will sit down together and discuss your goals, themes, and vision for your memoir. Every story is different, so we’ll tailor the process to fit your comfort and style. You will have flexible storytelling Options:
- I can conduct interviews with you.
- You can individually record your own story.
- We can build from what you already have recorded.
We’ll include photographs alongside your story to create a visual narrative that complements your words.
Timeline
The process and schedule are customized based on the length and format of
your story.
The
Keepsake
Collection
Stories and Roots, Gathered and Preserved
Overview
The Guided Keepsake Collection is designed for families who want to capture memories on their own, but need help turning them into a beautifully crafted book. Whether you have recorded Grandma’s oral history on your phone or taken notes of her stories while seated at her kitchen table, I can transform what you have gathered into a polished narrative.
Simply share your recordings or writing with me, and I will transcribe and carefully edit them so the story reads smoothly while preserving your loved one’s authentic voice. You can also provide any photos you would like included, and I will arrange them into a custom-designed book that beautifully reflects the memories you have preserved.
If you have already completed your genealogy research and simply need it placed into a book, I can create that for you. If your materials need sorting, organizing, or clarification, an additional fee will apply.
Timeline
Approximately 3-6 months, depending on the length of the recordings, level of organization needed, and design requirements.