Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are based in Napa, California and offer in-person interviews in the Napa Valley and greater San Francisco Bay Area. Virtual interviews and travel to other geographic locations may be arranged upon request.

  • Offering a loved one the opportunity to tell their story is a wonderful gift or group-gift idea. However, be sure to confirm that your loved one is interested in embarking on a storytelling journey.

  • Yes! Customizations can include more or less interviews, adding video recordings, couples interviews, and many other variations. Contact us to discuss the specifics of your project.

  • We generally work on a two-month production schedule for our Spotlight Package, and a four-month production schedule for our Feature Package, beginning with the first interview. These timelines rely on the storyteller providing us with edits and photos in a timely manner. The timeline for Folio custom projects will be dependent on your project specifications. Please contact us for up-to-date information on current timelines, or to discuss an expedited schedule for an urgent project.

  • You can certainly record yourself or loved ones telling their favorite stories, and write them down. In fact, we encourage everyone to do this, so no story is ever lost! However, we have found that most people have trouble prioritizing this type of project and following it through to completion. Working with us ensures that the storyteller’s stories will be captured and preserved — in a beautiful book, with recordings in the storyteller’s own voice and searchable transcripts. We are happy to direct you to do-it-yourself resources, and if you find in six months or a year that you have not progressed on your project, please be in touch and we will get you to the finish line!

  • Unlike many businesses offering legacy story services, Inkwell Story Studio is a full service story studio and not a do-it-yourself app. Our in-person customized interviews are enjoyable and empowering experiences for our clients. The written products that we draft after synthesizing your words into beautiful narratives are enjoyable and evocative reads. Our heirloom books are beautifully designed, interweaving photos throughout the text to illustrate the stories being told (many other companies do not include photos or simply group them at the end of each chapter). We find that our books are enjoyed by people of all ages, from small children flipping through them to look at the photos, to young adults learning about their family heritage, to retirees revisiting cherished moments. Our books are hand-delivered upon completion.

  • Our primary products are intended for personal use and not for publishing to the general public. However, we do offer customized services for those interested in publication. Please contact us to discuss the specifics of your project.

  • We currently offer interviews in English and French. All written products are in English.

  • Our pricing brochure is available upon request.