You have a story to tell.
We can help you tell it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Interview You?

Interview You is a company dedicated to helping people produce a memoir (a selection of memories from throughout a lifetime, or an extended account of one period of a life).

2. What is the product?

The basic product is a paperback or hardback book edition (approximately 100 pages) of your memoir. (There are many other options available, including shorter memoirs, longer memoirs, oral histories, life reviews, complete biographies, CDs, videos, DVDs, and audio tapes.)

3. What is the book like?

The basic product is a quality "trade size" paperback or hardback book (about six by nine inches) with about 100 pages (including four pages of photos) and a color cover. The text is a carefully edited version of your interview and is arranged in chapters to help readers find particular stories. We can also publish leather-bound copies of your book for an additional cost.

4. How does the book-creation process begin?

It begins with some conversation about what you'd like to have included in the book. We work with you to determine what you want to tell and what can realistically be covered in your interview. (Our basic package includes about three hours of interview time. In this amount of time, most people can cover the highlights from throughout their life, as well as in-depth accounts of some especially memorable times or experiences.) Your interviewer then develops questions to help shape and guide the interview in order to help you tell the story you want to tell.

5. Does the book have to be based on general memories of a lifetime?

No, it can be based on whatever you want (see exception below). In addition to life memories, here are some other possibilities: a specific time in a life, such as time spent in travel, a war, a relationship, a business, a geographic area, or a career; the story of a hobby or a project or a pursuit, such as the story of a garden, a house, a community, a church or other religious entity. Anything that has meaning to the person being interviewed can make a good book.

In addition to our memoir projects, we also conduct and publish life reviews and unedited oral histories.

Exception: Interview You reserves the right not to publish any materials that it, at its sole discretion, deems objectionable, including but not limited to pornographic materials, potentially libelous materials, and hate literature.

6. I'm interested in having Interview You publish my mother's memories of her life, but I would like to do the interview myself. Is that possible?

Certainly, and you will receive a reduction in the basic fee as well. However, you might consider this: we have found that sometimes the subject of the interview -- partly because he or she has to explain things that might otherwise seem to be obvious to a family member -- tells a more complete story to an outside interviewer. In addition, we have had family members tell us that they had never heard much of what came out in the interview, and that they now have a more complete picture of certain events, because of having an outside person do the interview. But the choice is entirely yours, and if you feel comfortable about conducting a good interview, by all means do so . We will gladly work with you in every way possible to customize our services to fit your needs and wishes.

7. What does Interview You offer that makes your services any different from me doing my own interview and then self-publishing with a so-called vanity publisher?

Interview You's interviewers are chosen for their professional skills and empathetic personalities. So, first of all, we are able to begin with strong material (a great interview). Once the interview is carefully transcribed, we apply several rigorous levels of professional editing that includes a combination of respect for the material with an understanding of what makes a good read. Finally, we have the technical and design skills to produce attractive, high-quality books. With Interview You, you can rest assured that your book will showcase your experiences and your story in a professional manner.

8. What are the costs?

Our staff will gladly discuss costs and options when you contact us. (Don't get scared; our prices are quite reasonable: it's just that there are several variables that affect cost. For example, do you want a face-to-face or a telephone interview? If you want a face-to-face interview, do you live in one of our service areas where we currently have an interviewer available, or will one of our interviewers have to travel to meet with you?) After we have the necessary facts, we will quote you our lowest possible price for the project you want.

9. How long does it take to complete a project?

The only variables are the time you want to spend reviewing your approval copy of the text and your delivery to us of the photographs you want included in the book. If you return the approval copy of the text to us within two weeks of receipt, and we have your photos on schedule, we can usually deliver your books within three months of the date of the interview. If a special deadline looms, we may be able to get the books to you even faster, as long as your approvals and photos are submitted to us on time.

10. Why have an outside interviewer?

See question six above.

11. How do I get copies of my book?

You receive either ten paperback copies or five hardback copies as part of the basic project fee. You can order additional copies to be delivered at the same time. If, in the future, you decide you want additional copies, it's easy to order them through our web site or by phone or mail.

12. If I want additional copies in the future, is there a minimum number of copies that I have to order?

No, you can order however many you want, from a single copy to thousands of copies. Paperback copies of a book from a completed project can usually be published and shipped to you within two weeks; hardback and leather-bound editions may take slighly longer.

13. Who owns the copyright to my book?

You do. The book's copyright page will contain a copyright notice in your name.

14. What if I want to sell copies of my book?

That's fine! In fact, for a small extra fee, we can obtain a registered ISBN number for your book. This number and a corresponding barcode (both are almost essential if you want to try to have a bookstore sell your book) will appear on each copy of your book.

15. I have a friend or relative whose story I would like to preserve. Can I give him/her an Interview You memoir project as a gift?

Yes. And if you sign up soon enough before the gift date, we will even send you a custom-designed personalized bookmark that you can use to announce your gift.

16. I didn't see my question in this list. How can I get more information?

It's easy to contact us. Please ask your question today!