Frequently Asked Questions

It's pretty simple. Once you've reserved your Interview of a Lifetime, we'll reach out to start the interview process. (And don't worry: If you're ordering IOAL as a gift, we can send a certificate for your loved one and they can reach out to start the process.) 

Then comes the "Interview" part of Interview of a Lifetime — which is typically done in two or three sessions. It really feels more like a chat between old friends, and it's our favorite part of the experience. We get to learn about your life and hear your stories — and ask as many follow-up questions as necessary to make sure we get it right.

After the interviews, we get to work compiling and editing your stories into a single document with "chapters" focusing on different areas, and eras, of your life. If your Interview of a Lifetime is being delivered in book form, this is when our design team creates that masterpiece — combining your stories with your submitted digital photos.

Once your Interview of a Lifetime is completed, we'll review it with you and give it a good fact check before it's finalized. And then we'll deliver the final product so you can share it with your friends and family — and generations to come.

Because no two people are the same, no two interviews are the same. Still, there are some questions that work well. For instance, we do like to ask about someone's early years and childhood memories.

But, truly, the direction of the interview is determined by you. Before we start, we’ll ask about any areas of your life you especially want to talk about. And we'll be sure to get to those stories during our conversation.

If you're purchasing Interview of a Lifetime for a loved one, you'll also be given the opportunity to request certain interview topics. (We get it: If someone was interviewing our parents, we'd definitely want them to ask about that crazy motorhome story!)

They are.

If you have lived a life, you have stories to tell. And your loved ones want to read them.

Here's how we know this: Over the last 20 years, our founder, Jen, has interviewed hundreds of people for magazines and newspapers. And she has yet to meet a single one who didn't have fascinating stories.

The truth is, if we had a single diary entry from a great-grandparent, listing a single day’s activities — what they ate, where they went, what time they woke up and went to bed — we would think that document was pure gold. Just that one day's account would be a delicious glimpse into their life, allowing us to feel like we knew them a little better.

Imagine, then, how valuable – how significant – sharing entire life stories can be. You have them. Let's share them with your family ... and your family yet to come.

That’s OK. What you decide to share is 100% up to you. 

Interview of a Lifetime should be fun and rewarding for everyone involved. We will take your lead, and only ever ask you to share what you're comfortable sharing.

They can be, but it's not necessary. In fact, most Interview of a Lifetime sessions are held over the phone. We don't need to be in the same room to share stories.

For those who are interested in in-person interviews, we are able to meet you in person in or near Bemidji or Rochester, Minnesota. For other locations, we may be available to come to you for an additional travel fee.

They sure can. And it's a lot of fun!

Couple interviews are actually divided into three parts: Each couple is interviewed individually, and then are interviewed together so that their stories can play off one another's.

Because of the additional interview time and editing required for couple interviews, rates for these interviews are slightly higher. You can view Interview of a Lifetime rates here.

When you order an Interview of a Lifetime PDF (available as "Interview of a Lifetime Silver"), you are invited to submit a personal photograph to accompany the first page of the interview.

When you order an Interview of a Lifetime book (available as "Interview of a Lifetime Gold"), you are invited to submit personal and family photographs to accompany your interview. We add as many photos as appropriate to the interview's length — usually about 30 to 40 photos.

We'll send you the instructions for submitting those images digitally — and work with you to help determine the best pictures to send.

Yes! One book is included with the Interview of a Lifetime Gold option. You can order additional copies of your book at any time within 3 months of your original order.

The cost of additional copies varies depending on book length and quantity. However, they are offered at our supplier's printing and shipping costs, with no additional fees from Interview of a Lifetime.

That depends on which options you choose.  You can see all Interview of a Lifetime options and price points here. 

We'd love to show you.

Check out sample Interview of a Lifetime Silver pages here. (Interview of a Lifetime Silver includes our PDF options.) When you order a silver package, you have permission to do whatever you'd like with the manuscript, including creating your own book.

And see sample Interview of a Lifetime Gold pages here. (Interview of a Lifetime Gold includes our book options.)

We believe that family stories should be shared. That family history is important. And that we can all learn more about ourselves by understanding the people who came before us.

But, too often, these stories aren't shared. And once the storytellers are gone, we lose our chance to hear them. 

Our founder, Jen, often tells this story to illustrate this point:

"When I was in my 20s, I gave my grandpa a 'tell me about your life' notebook. It had 365 pages, each containing a question like, 'Where did you go to school?' and 'What is your earliest memory?'

After my grandpa died, I found the notebook in his nightstand. He had filled out 10, maybe 12 pages. One of the questions he answered was, 'Did you have a childhood nickname?' 

'Fotch,' he'd written.

I was thrilled to have this little piece of information about my grandfather — something I hadn't known before. At the same time, it was frustrating. I didn't know why my grandpa's nickname was Fotch. I don't know who called him that or where that name came from. 

If I would’ve interviewed him when he was alive, I could’ve asked these questions. In an hour's conversation, I could’ve filled pages of a notebook with his stories. I could’ve made copies to give to my family. I could’ve gotten to know my grandfather, his history — and myself — so much better."

This is why we're excited to provide Interview of a Lifetime to you. This is what we want you to have — life stories to pass down through lifetimes.

We'd love to hear your questions. Send them our way here. We'll get back to you with answers within 24 hours.