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Testimonials

Summer Solstice Greetings!

This year we were pleased to feature a photograph by former client Lydia Cartwright Rosen on our summer solstice card (pictured above in a flowerbed outside our offices). We are very grateful to Lydia for granting us permission to use this beautiful, sunny image, which is just one example of the great talent and creativity that the writers and artists who work with us bring to their projects.

We still have a few cards left and would be happy to send you one if you weren’t already on our mailing list, or if you’d like extras to pass along to others who might be interested in working with us. After all, books by repeat clients and by those whom former clients refer to us make up a large percentage of the titles we publish. Such projects are especially gratifying because their very beginnings are rooted in a vote of confidence in our staff’s skills, professionalism, and sensitivity.

Recently, the daughter of a late client who published a Commissioned Memoir with us over a decade ago inquired about a reprint and added:

“I have told countless folks about your wonderful company and what joy the books you produce or cultivate bring!”

We deeply appreciate such goodwill, and we are always moved to hear from clients and families whose books continue to be sources of pleasure, connection, and comfort many years after publication.

Do you or a loved one have a project you’ve been mulling over? Perhaps a piece of writing or research you’ve been working on during the pandemic? We'd love to hear about it and to help you create the beautiful book you envision.

—Megan St. Marie

President

A recent article in The New Yorker by Maya Jasanoff entitled “Our Obsession with Ancestry Has Some Twisted Roots” discusses the history of genealogy and focuses on its use as an instrument of power and exclusion. We were pleased to learn about the response to the article by the Association of Professional Genealogists and wanted to share a portion of the organization’s letter to the editor with our readers:

“Although some people do use genealogy to promote established and desired levels of status, today’s genealogists strive to do the opposite: We seek to bring the real struggles and joys of everyday people to light. Genealogists, both professionals and hobbyists, provide a voice for the voiceless, those both living and departed…. From our experiences working with countless clients, we know that the quest for ancestral identity is rarely rooted in a yearning for superiority but is most commonly a bid for a deeper understanding of the struggles and sacrifices that were made by the people who came before us, no matter who they were. From those people, we have inherited something far more important than whatever money or power they may have held.”

Read the APG’s full letter here.

Welcome to Our New Intern, Emma Solis!

We are delighted to welcome to our new intern, Emma Solis, who joins Modern Memoirs this summer with support from the Praxis Program at Smith College. In the bio she wrote to introduce herself on our website, Emma reflected on a course she took at Smith in which she was tasked with writing a memoir piece:

“Writing my memoir piece was more challenging—and more rewarding—than I ever imagined. As I poured my heart into my own writing, it occurred to me that each memoir reading I had done over the course of the semester represented an immense labor of love. Moreover, I learned how strong the connection between a reader and author is when the reader experiences the author’s life along with them. Now I am thrilled to bring my interest in publishing and passion for creative nonfiction to this role, where I can assist Modern Memoirs in helping clients to preserve their memories and family histories while creating lasting connections with their readers.”

Read more about Emma and the rest of our creative, talented staff below:

Meet the Staff

Featured Blog Posts by Our Staff

Reflections from Modern Memoirs Founder Kitty Axelson-Berry, Part 2

Interview by Genealogist Liz Sonnenberg

Read Here

Lives Stitched Together by Choices and Chance: Making Strange and Wondrous Connections Through Family History Work

By Megan St. Marie

Read Here

Client’s original photo of mug given to her by a grandson, artwork entitled Colors of Illusion. (See below for Client’s actual book cover adapted from this photo.)

Designer Magic

by Book Designer Nicole Miller

What does a good designer do? When I design the cover of a book, I work closely with our clients to create what they envision. I might not always do exactly what they say, but hopefully they trust me to improve on a good idea.

One client sent me a photo of a coffee mug she’d received as a gift from her grandson (age 11), the kind of mug that has a photograph or drawing imprinted on it. “Can you put my grandson’s artwork from this mug on the book cover?” she asked.

The piece was compelling and very modern, but somewhat blurry and off-center, as the picture wrapped around the mug in a skewed manner. I did my best to create a flattering adaptation of the image on the book cover, incorporating the title and, more importantly, the author’s tone. In the words of the author:

“Voilà! Magic happened! Nicole was able to sharpen up the colors and get the whole effect just right! I remember seeing the cover design for the first time. I was thrilled! I might add that there isn’t a single person with a copy of the book now who hasn’t remarked about how wonderful its cover is.”

Book cover below:

Suddenly Upside Down: Recollections from Pandemic Years 2020 and 2021 by Margaret Marcus (publ. 2022)

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June Question:

What is your favorite flower and why?

Write Your Response Here

Staff responses

Megan St. Marie: Lilacs, because the backyard of my childhood home was bordered with lilac bushes.

Sean St. Marie: Lupine, because they remind me of a trip to see the redwoods, and of another time hiking in the White Mountains.

Ali de Groot: Besides my daughters (who all have flower names), I’d choose lilies of the valley, because my mother loved them.

Liz Sonnenberg: Coltsfoot, because it’s the first wildflower to bloom in spring.

Nicole Miller: I love our late spring blooming bleeding hearts. Goodbye Old Man Winter, hello hummingbirds.

Emma Solis: I think my favorite flower is the sunflower. I love how big and cheerful they are, and they really look gorgeous in fields. Plus, I can relate to them always wanting to be in the sunshine!

Image by Dani Géza from Pixabay

Memory Lane Stroll

We’d love to hear your brief personal reflections on the question of the month (at left). Write your response for a chance to be featured in the next edition of our e-newsletter!

***

Response to our May question: What is one trait handed down to you from your father or grandfather?

“The desire to have long conversations with new friends.”

—Lauryn Small

Stop by to see us in person or online:

495 West Street, Suite 1C

Amherst, MA 01002

www.modernmemoirs.com

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