FAMILY HISTORY BOOKS

Preserve the Stories, Memories, and History of the People You Love

Book a free consultation

Have you been meaning to document your family history for future generations—or help a loved one preserve theirs—but don’t know where to start?

Let me help you break through the barriers.

As A Gift

For Me

I turn conversations into keepsakes by guiding people to share their family history or life stories. Then, I craft them into beautiful books, with photos, that capture what otherwise might be lost to time.

An adult son and a senior mothing sitting together looking at a Backstory book in a room with floral wallpaper and curtains.

“The story is absolutely beautiful
Thank you for putting this missing piece of history together for myself and my family. Thank you again for your sweet attention and this beautiful gift that YOU created. ADDITIONALLY, the loveliest parts is that it came from my precious, wonderful daughter.” — Karen F.

“Thank you for the opportunity to share my unremarkable life with you! You helped me realize that all of our life stories are so unique and worth telling.” — Joan

A smiling Backstory client who is an older woman with short, blong hair, wearing earrings and dark top, standing near a window.

I’m Nora!

I am a professional personal historian working closely with people to capture their life stories and family histories through books and recorded interviews. I serve clients in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, and nationwide through Zoom.

I created Backstory because so many people think about documenting their family history or stories — but rarely do. That’s a profound loss for them and their loved ones.

I take a very human-centered approach to this work. It’s two people, having a conversation and a connection.

Since founding Backstory, I’ve discovered something unexpected: while these story collections become keepsakes for families, the act of telling stories is often an even greater gift to the storyteller. I’m grateful to witness these moments of self-reflection and discovery.

A book that preserves your family history, starting at a point in time and tracing it chronologically forward.
A collection based on your most meaningful experiences and memories, all documented in one place to keep and to share.
A single letter, or a collection of letters, to expresses your values, shares your family history, and pass along your blessings and hopes to your loved ones.
Hourly sessions that provide seniors with focused time to tell stories, organize memorabilia, and document the history behind important objects.
One story, one photo. This tells the story of a meaningful photo or object that you would like to explore, and preserve.‍ ‍
A group experience where people have encouragement and support to preserve stories about defining life experiences that have shaped them