Questions, answered.
Does my grandparent need to be good with technology?
No. We call them — by video or a plain phone line, whichever is easier in their house, with nothing to learn or prepare. If they can pick up the phone, they can do the whole thing.
What if we only have old printed photos?
That's normal — prints and phone snapshots both work, and we choose and place the ones that fit the story. Just upload a scan or phone photo of each print; nothing gets mailed, and the originals stay with you.
How long does it take?
Keepsake arrives in 5–7 days; Legacy and History in 14–21, counted from your last interview — working ranges, not exact promises. On Legacy and History, that window covers the printed book in hand, not just the writing.
Can we make changes to the story?
Yes — you read the draft first. Keepsake gets one round of changes; Legacy and History get two, within 14 days of receiving it. The story keeps your grandparent's own phrasing; the rounds are for corrections only family would catch. Even after approval, we'll always fix a wrong name, date, or spelling digitally, free. For an already-printed book, a corrected reprint costs the price of an extra copy — free if the mistake was ours.
What happens if we need to reschedule?
Grandparents have good days and off days, and we'd rather reschedule than record a tired one. It's always free — a little notice helps, but a moved or missed call never costs you anything.
Who can see the story once it's written?
Only the people you choose. The written story is delivered as a PDF — a file you hold, not a page on the internet. Send it to the whole family or keep it to yourself. It appears in our public samples only with your written permission, collected at intake before recording starts.
Can we order extra copies of the book?
Legacy and History each include one printed hardcover. Extra copies are $55 each, printed and shipped with your original order at no extra shipping charge. We ship within the United States and Canada.
What if a hard subject comes up in the interview?
Real lives have hard chapters. We follow your grandparent's lead — if they want to keep talking, we listen; if they'd rather move on, so do we. Nothing said in the interview goes into the story automatically: you read the draft first, and revisions can take anything out. Nothing is published without your say-so. If you'd like the raw recording, just ask and it's yours. Only the interviewer and producer hear it while we're making the story. We keep it 90 days after delivery, then delete it — sooner if you ask.
Can we do this for a grandparent who isn't well?
In most cases, yes. We can split the interview into shorter sittings if their energy is limited, and there's a $65 rush option when the story can't wait. Not sure it would work at all? Email thechapterarchives@gmail.com first and we'll think it through together before you buy anything.
Still have a question?
Ask us anything this page didn't cover — email us at thechapterarchives@gmail.com, and we answer every email ourselves.