Free US shipping30-day money-back guaranteeOne-time purchase, not a subscription
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.
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, Your Personal Biographer
Ali interviews your loved one through natural conversation, then turns their memories into beautifully written memoir chapters.
Ali AI Biographer
Chapter: Memories of Dad
- Ali: Tell me about your father. What's a moment with him that you find yourself thinking about even now?
- Their answer: He taught me to fish. Every Saturday morning, just the two of us out at the pond behind the old dirt factory. I didn't realize how much those mornings meant until he was gone.
- Ali: Those quiet moments often hold the most meaning. What did those Saturday mornings feel like? Was there a routine you two had?
- Their answer: We'd stop at the gas station for donuts. Always the powdered ones. He'd let me pick the spot. We barely talked, honestly. Just sat there together. That was enough.
- Ali: Sometimes the silence says more than words. Do you remember the last time you went fishing together?
Conversations That Unlock Memories
Ali asks thoughtful follow-up questions that help your loved ones recall details they might have forgotten. No more staring at a blank page, just natural conversation that flows into beautiful stories.
- Natural, conversational interview style
- Progress tracking shows topics covered
- Voice recording or typing, their choice
- Works perfectly for seniors
Ali AI Biographer
Choose Your Writing Style
Your Story, Your Way
After the interview, choose how your memories become chapters. Keep every word exactly as spoken, let Ali clean up the rough edges, or have a polished narrative written for you.
- Three options from raw to refined
- Choose first or third person narration
- Preserves authentic voice and details
- Edit anything after generation
Ali AI Biographer
Smart Title Suggestions
Tell me about your father
Suggest title
AI-suggested titles based on your content
- Powdered Donuts at Dawn
- The Pond Behind the Old Factory
- What the Silence Taught Me
He taught me to fish. Every Saturday morning, just the two of us out at the pond behind the old dirt factory. We'd stop for powdered donuts. We barely talked. Just sat there together. That was enough...
The Perfect Title, Instantly
Don't let chapter titles slow you down. Ali reads the content and suggests evocative, personal titles that capture the essence of each memory.
- AI analyzes your content automatically
- Get 3 title suggestions instantly
- Keep the prompt or pick a poetic title
- Makes every chapter feel polished
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 with code GET20 at checkout
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 with code GET20 at checkout
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.
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