Memoir Writing & Family History Books
At Plantain, we turn a life, a family or a lifetime of letters into a bespoke book written with care, designed by hand, and made to be passed down generations.
Whether you are looking for a memoir writer, a ghostwriter who truly listens, or for a helping hand to shape a family history you have already begun, this is where your story finds its pages.
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Two ways to work with us
Every book begins with a conversation. After that, you choose the path that suits you.
We write it with you. Our writers interview you and your relatives, our researchers search the archives, and the story is written in your voice. This is our full service: interviews, writing, research, and design.
You bring the words. Hand us your own text, and/or photographs and memorabilia, and we will edit, shape and design them into an heirloom that reflects you.
Already started? We are often asked to step in midway, for editing, book design or printing.
How it works
1. Your vision.
We begin with a personal consultation to understand your goals, the style of the person at the heart of the book, and the feeling you want it to carry.
2. Content curation.
We interview, research and write, or we work from your own text and archive. Everything is handled with care and strict confidentiality.
3. Bespoke design.
Our designers weave your narrative together with restored photographs, letters and documents, then choose the typography, colours and illustrations that best speak to you. You review both the narrative and the design in rounds of revisions.
4. The perfect gift.
Once you approve the final book, we manage the high-end printing and deliver a one-of-a-kind heirloom to your door, anywhere in the world.
Memoir ghostwriting, led by conversation
Not everyone wants to write. Our writers work as ghostwriters in the truest sense: we interview, research and write in your voice, so the book reads like you at your best.
Interviews can take place online, wherever you are. Our directors trained in psychology, anthropology and global health research, which is why we know which questions open a story up, and how to ask them with respect.
What you receive
Your finished book, printed in the materials you choose, from cloth and linen to foil and custom illustration
A print-ready PDF of the final book
The written text in an editable file
Digital copies of the photographs and archival material we sourced for you
Investment and timeline
Our books are bespoke, and each one is tailored to your requirements. Scopes depend on the number of hours of interviewing, writing, research, and design, and projects are typically an investment ranging from £8,000 to £65,000. Full-service packages cover the whole journey. Design-and-production packages, for those who bring their own text and images, are priced by the complexity of the design and the materials.
Most books take 6 to 12 months, and design-only projects move faster. Payment is usually made in instalments.
Every quote is tailored to you, and it begins with a free conversation.
Recent books
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My Way
We don't always write your content...
Sometimes, families and companies have already written their story, but need help crossing the finish line: fine-tuning or editing the narrative, typesetting the design, or taking the book to print.
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The Poet Speaks
The curated portfolio of Ruby Waithe, a poet whose full body of work came to light only after her passing, when family members uncovered a box filled with her writings.
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The Ladder We Ascend
Chronicling the ascent of the Waldron clan, a family dominated by strong women who overcame tremendous obstacles to become a family of successful entrepreneurs, professionals and academics.
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The Ferreira Family Book
A "living museum" of 65,000 words and 437 images, including Granny's famous garlic pork recipe, bound into a 356-page heirloom.
Why Plantain
Plantain was founded in 2012 and has helped families in 28 countries preserve what matters most. We are a design-led studio where writers, editorial designers, illustrators and researchers work side by side, so your book is as beautiful to hold as it is rich to read.
Where story-collection apps gather the words, we make a very personal book made to last for generations. We have shared our thinking in talks and events at TEDx, Harvard, Cornell, Johns Hopkins and Tribeca.
“Plantain’s passion fuels their ability to listen deeply to the many facets of a story, and their sheer determination and unwavering integrity bring these stories to life in a way that they can be accessed by all.”
Read more client testimonials, or meet the team on our About page.
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Yes. Many clients bring their own text, and we shape it around their voice.
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Yes. We conduct interviews over Google Meet or Zoom.
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The books we craft are private, so we share short samples. Email letstalk@plantain.me to ask.
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That is very common, and the first conversation is free.
More answers, including our process in full, are on our FAQ page.