Harvesting life stories for you to cherish

Your Story Biographies

Why do you need – and I say “need” – a “Your Story Biography”? Because we get tongue-tied and embarrassed about expressing our feelings for the people we love.
Not just for the great loves of our lives, but for our relatives and friends. How often have you told your best friend/mother/neighbour/work mate that you love him or her? It all sounds so soppy, doesn‘t it? Generally we don’t go in for “that kind of thing” but let me tell you a story.

A couple of years ago two of my pupils died within months of each other. My class and I had great affection and respect for these very different boys: one was a great footballer who might have played for Rangers one day, the other was a quiet, unassuming academic lad who, because he had blond hair like another boy who sat close to him in my class, I was constantly – and wrongly – chastising for talking too much. One of the most painful things to come to terms with was that none of us had ever told these boys how much they meant to us.

Of course, my pupils and I wrote their biographies but I learned a valuable lesson and it was this – tell people you love them while they’re alive and can appreciate what you say. So I told my friends that I loved them: you can imagine how stunned they were but they were glad, too, because it gave them the opportunity to say, in return, that they loved me.

When my uncle was dying I visited him and he gave me a parting gift of a little crystal tulip because he was Dutch, you see. In return I wrote him a long letter telling him how much I loved him, how he had influenced my life and helped to make me the person I am, and how much I would miss him when he was gone. I’m so glad I did it. So glad I didn’t wait to say all this at his funeral.

That’s why I started “Your Story Biographies” to give YOU the opportunity to say “I love you” to someone special for any number of reasons. You might want to celebrate:

• An anniversary. It may be a wedding anniversary or a “when we met” occasion.
• The biography could, also, of course, mark a great event, like a graduation, retirement, receiving a special award to mark that person’s distinction in one field.
• A baby coming into the family is the kind of blessing which should always be celebrated. His or her entrance into the world should be the opportunity for friends and family to welcome them into the fold and introduce themselves. Who knows who’ll still be around in 20 years’ time? What better gift, then, than a “Welcome Baby” book?
• A special birthday. From 5th birthdays when the little darling celebrates being a grown up school boy or girl for the first time, through rites of passage, like bar mitzvahs, 18th and 21sts, all the way to the 90s and 100s, every boy or girl deserves to have their time on the planet recorded and celebrated. You know they’re worth it!

Are you saying goodbye to a special person? Then my “Au Revoir” page is for you.

Everyone loves a good “Love Story” and you know what? Unless you’ve been particularly unlucky, we’ve all had one. But do we tell our love stories or keep them tucked away in old photo albums or hint at them in brief kisses at anniversary parties? We shouldn’t. We should declare them – right out loud.

I can also offer you an extra opportunity, because I am fortunate enough to collaborate with Louise Beattie, www.louisebeattie.com who creates fabulous wedding albums, to combine your Love Story with your Wedding Album. As well as photographing the wedding itself, Louise spends time on the big day photographing preparations for the celebration, the VIPs – bride and groom, mums and dads, bridesmaids, etc. to present a unique, full histoire of the couple. I write their Love Story and the result is an enchanting memoire of the couple in words and pictures. It’s a luxury but a luxury which will last a lifetime and more.

When death takes away someone you loved, keep them close always with an “In Memoriam” biography. On your coffee table, by your bedside or always carried with you, your “Your Story Biography” will be a constant source of comfort.

Your short story. Give a unique gift to someone special: a story in which your friend or parents, your children, pets, house, are the heroes of the tale. Short enough to capture the personality but long enough to make magic!

In a more business like tone, sometimes you have to write an important letter but just can’t find the words.

I don’t know how many of you remember a TV programme called “This is Your Life” but I do and it occurred to me that when you buy a gift of a “Your Story Biography” you might want to celebrate it in style. With the help of events organiser, Alison Henderson of “My Pinkie Promise”, alison@mypinkiepromise.co.uk, we can recreate this once popular programme, complete with mystery guests to delight your special person.

So, you see, I am at your disposal. I endeavour to enable you to make special occasions extraordinary.
A “Your Story Biography” allows you to give one wonderful person, or couple tangible expression of your love and regard for them – now and for posterity.

Contact me at: Lovina@yourstory-biographies.co.uk, or by telephone 07721 777243.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Lovina.