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A memoir for the people who raised us
Give them the gift of their life story, bound in hardcover.
They reply, write, or talk. A year later, you're holding a book your family will keep.
Classic Edition $90 or AI Edition $115. One-time purchase. Free US shipping.
Excellent4.5 on Trustpilot
Four steps to a lifetime of stories.
Tell us a little about them
Their name, who they are to you, the kind of stories you hope for. Two minutes, and you don't need their email yet.
They share, their way
Over the year, a thoughtful prompt arrives each week. They reply by email or in our editor, and with the AI Edition, by talking with Ali. Every answer becomes a chapter, in their own words.
The family can join in
Photos placed where they belong. Family members can be invited to help with the writing, or to add questions of their own.
A hardcover memoir arrives
Whenever they're ready, at a year or at three months, you approve the book. We print and ship a full-color hardcover, theirs to keep and to pass down.
See it in action
See how it works, in under 90 seconds.
A year of questions, answered their way, printed as a hardcover book.
Watch the film1:23: Turn Mom's Life Stories Into a Hardcover Book | Kindred Tales
Loading the videoPlays from YouTube. Example book. The name and story are illustrative.
Read the transcript
You know that story your mom tells? The one about how she met your dad. You've heard it, what, a dozen times? Could you tell it? All of it? Yeah. Me neither.
So here's how it works. You give her a year of questions. She answers them one at a time, whenever she feels like it, and every answer turns into a chapter of a real, hardcover book.
And she doesn't have to type a single word. She taps a button, starts talking, and it gets written down as she goes. If there's an old photo that belongs with the story, it goes right in there with it.
Now, if she's the type who says she doesn't have any stories worth telling, that's what Ali's for. Ali interviews her. Asks a question, actually listens, and then asks the one you'd never think to ask. That's usually where the good stuff is.
When she's done, it all gets printed and bound. A real book. The kind that sits on a shelf and gets pulled down every Thanksgiving.
There's no deadline, by the way. And no wrong way to do it. She goes at her own pace.
So, whose stories do you want to keep?
However they're most comfortable telling their story.
Your mom can start by typing and finish by talking. Nothing locks her in. Two ways come with every edition, three more with the AI Edition.
- 01
Reply to a weekly email
Each week a thoughtful prompt arrives in their inbox. They hit reply and answer. No apps, no passwords, no learning curve.
Zero tech skills required
- 02
Write with photos in context
Log in and write directly in our editor. Add photos between paragraphs, right where they belong in the story. Not dumped at the front or back.
Photos go with the story, not after it
- 03
Talk it through with Ali
AI EditionAli asks thoughtful follow-up questions that unlock forgotten memories. Like talking to a patient friend who genuinely wants the whole story.
Draws out stories they forgot they had
- 04
Just speak
AI EditionPress record and talk. We turn every word into text on the page. For the storytellers who'd rather talk than type, this changes everything.
Built for storytellers, not typists
- 05
Upload existing recordings
AI EditionAlready have recordings? Upload audio files and we'll turn them into chapters. You keep the originals. Their actual voice, not just the words.
Turn archives into book chapters
Worried they won't actually use it?
That's the question every gift-giver asks. Here's the honest answer.
Works on any phone. No app to learn.
The reply-to-email option works anywhere. Press reply, talk or type, hit send. We also offer passwordless magic-link login for anyone who struggles to remember passwords.
Gift now, start whenever the moment lands
Buy today and schedule the welcome email for their birthday, a holiday, or any day you choose. We'll send them a note that looks like a gift, not a receipt.
A full year of gentle, weekly prompts
One thoughtful question a week, for a year. No deadline, and no pressure to keep up. They can write as much or as little as they like, whenever they like.
Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
One-time purchase. No subscription. Change your mind within 30 days and we refund your purchase in full, as long as no book has been printed.
Meet Ali
A biographer who listens, then asks the next good question.
Ali asks one question at a time and follows up on the details in each answer. When they've said enough, Ali sets the conversation out as a chapter of their book.
One question at a time.
No chat window and nothing to figure out. Ali asks one question in large, easy-to-read type. They answer by typing or by tapping to speak, and the next question picks up on something they said.
- Type, or tap to speak. Whichever is easier.
- Follow-up questions built on their own words
- One thing on the screen at a time, in large type
- Nothing goes in the book until they choose
Example of choosing how a chapter reads. Three choices: Just my words, Lightly polished, A written draft. Pick one to hear that version of the chapter.
They choose how it reads.
When they've said enough, Ali sets the conversation out as a chapter. They can keep it word for word, take out the ums, or let Ali shape it into a written draft in their own voice.
- Three ways to read it. Switch any time.
- Nothing gets added that they didn't say
- Their exact words are always kept
- Change anything once it's in the chapter
A book of stories about someone you love.
For a wedding, a milestone birthday, a retirement, or in memory of someone special, invite family and friends to contribute their stories about one person. We weave them into a single keepsake.
Explore Celebration Books- Weddings
- Memorials
- Milestone birthdays
- Retirements
One-time purchase. No subscription.
Pick the gift that fits them.
Both editions ship hardcover. Both include a year of weekly prompts. The AI Edition adds Ali, our AI biographer, for the people who'd rather talk than write.
AI Edition
Everything in Classic, plus Ali, your AI biographer.
Save $20 today
Gift AI Edition · $115Gift the AI Edition for $115- Everything in Classic, plus:
- Ali, the AI biographer, for interviews and follow-ups
- Speak or type: spoken words become text on the page
- A first draft written up from their own answers. They approve every word.
- Chapter title suggestions
Classic Edition
Weekly prompts, hardcover, color photos.
Save $20 today
Gift Classic · $90Gift the Classic Edition for $90- 1 year of weekly story prompts
- Full question library
- One hardcover book, matte casewrap binding
- 400 pages included, 80# coated paper, color throughout
- Free PDF copy
Already purchased? Create a printable gift note to slip in a card for the moment that matters.
You don't need their email to buy. Set the gift up after checkout and pick the day it arrives.
Rated Excellent (4.5) on Trustpilot.
Add the eBook or AI podcast credits at checkout, with either edition.
What it actually feels like.
“I found Kindred Tales when I was looking for a special gift for my grandma's 80th birthday. It lets me help her write and transcribe her recordings into stories, making the whole process really simple for her.”
- Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
“This was the best gift I've ever received. I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on moments I'd almost forgotten…”
- Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
“I was thinking it would be nice to write and publish a book on my life, but this product is way more than I expected. Even the pictures were in color.”
What arrives.
The kind of book that earns a spot on the shelf, not in a drawer.
Photos go with the story
Printed between the paragraphs where they belong, not dumped at the back.
Hardcover casewrap, matte finish
Doesn't pick up fingerprints. Doesn't wear at the edges. Stays sharp on the shelf.
80# coated paper, color throughout
Every photo, every chapter, every page.
We're real people
Frequently asked questions.
If your question isn't below, write to us. We'll write back.
How does gifting work?
After completing your purchase, you'll get an opportunity to set up your gift, where you can choose to invite them immediately or at a later time. If at a later time, you can schedule it from your home page. Regardless of timing, we'll send them a beautiful email at the time of your choosing, informing them of your gift.
Can I gift it now and have them start later?
Yes. Buy now, send the welcome email when you're ready: Mother's Day, their birthday, whenever the moment lands.
What if my parent doesn't know how to use a computer?
They don't need to. The Reply-to-Email option works on any phone or tablet. Press reply, answer the email, and hit send. Zero tech skills required. For loved ones who struggle with remembering passwords, we also offer passwordless logins through our magic link.
Do you edit the stories?
Only if they want us to. They choose how each story reads: just their words, lightly polished, or a written draft Ali shapes from what they said. Polishing and drafts come with the AI Edition.
Can I complete my book in less than a year?
Absolutely. We will send you weekly prompts for one whole year, but you are free to log in and write as many stories as you like.
Can couples share a book?
Yes. One of them adds the other as a co-author from the book's Members page, and each writes their own chapters in their own voice. Both names can appear as the book's authors, and every story comes together in one hardcover.
What size are your books?
Our hardcover memoirs are a traditional U.S. Trade Journal size of 6x9, made from hardcover casewrap binding, premium 80# white coated paper, full-color interior.
How many pages are included?
400 pages are included with each book. If their stories run longer, additional pages are 10¢ each. Most memoirs end up well under the included page count.
Do you limit the number of images?
No limit. Add a photo to every chapter, or save photos for specific moments. They'll appear between text blocks mid-chapter, where you want them, not stacked at the front or back.
Can I invite others to contribute?
Yes. You can add up to 20 family members as co-administrators to help with authoring the book or simply to contribute new topics for your loved one to respond to.
Can I create my own topics?
Yes. We want you to have a truly personal experience authoring your book and give you full control to create your own topics, invite family members to suggest their own, or modify our pre-existing prompts.
How much are extra books?
$49 at time of purchase, or you can wait until your book is complete to order additional copies and we'll prorate the price based on the number of pages below 400.
The questions you keep meaning to ask. Ask them this year.
One purchase. A year of weekly prompts. One hardcover book with their stories, in their voice. The kind of gift that gets passed down.
Start their story from $90Gift a memoirOne-time purchase
Gift from $90Start their story from $90