Hoera! Door Nederlanders geleid biografie-platform StoryTerrace overtuigt investeerders bij Dragons’ Den op de BBC.Het was even spannend, maar de kogel is door de kerk. Twee van de vijf Britse juryleden van het populaire programma Dragons’ Den willen in zee gaan met Nederlandse start-up StoryTerrace. Het is daarmee de eerste succesvolle deelnemer die door Nederlanders wordt geleid. Uiteindelijke koos oprichter Rutger Bruining voor multimiljonair Tej Lalvani, CEO van Vitabiotics.StoryTerrace maakt het voor iedereen mogelijk om samen met een professionele schrijver een biografie te maken. Met een businessmodel dat om mensen draait onderscheidt het bedrijf zich van de vele tech start-ups. Steeds meer investeerders geven aan het menselijke aspect van een bedrijf een belangrijke overweging te vinden. Dit betekent niet dat groei minder belangrijk is, maar wel dat een bedrijf ook impact moet hebben. StoryTerrace past met een zeer persoonlijk product perfect in dit nieuwe besef.Schaalplannen2019 was een zeer succesvol jaar voor StoryTerrace. In de laatste twaalf maanden zijn de sales verdubbeld en het in-house team bestaat nu uit twintig mensen. Aan het einde van dit jaar, wil StoryTerrace haar huidige schrijverspoule hebben uitgebreid tot duizend biografie-schrijvers en ook nieuwe vaste mensen aannemen in Londen en Los Angeles - om de snelle groei te faciliteren.De unieke service van StoryTerrace is schaalbaar, vanwege het gestroomlijnde proces. StoryTerrace verdiept zich in de specifieke wensen van de klant en koppelt deze aan de meest geschikte schrijver voor het project, waardoor het klanttevredenheidspercentage erg hoog is.StoryTerrace heeft ook een online platform ontwikkeld. Hiermee kunnen klanten, schrijvers en editors naadloos samenwerken om ideeën uit te wisselen, documenten te delen en teksten te redigeren - totdat het hardcover boek, volledig in kleur, op de deurmat van de klant ligt.Voor vragen of interviewverzoeken met Rutger Bruining, oprichter & CEO van StoryTerrace, kunt u contact met ons opnemen.Rutger Bruining:“Na het bereiken van de mijlpaal van 1000 levensverhalen vorig jaar, kijken we met vertrouwen uit naar de toekomst. Onze ambitie is helder: de manier waarop mensen hun verhalen doorgeven moet voorgoed veranderen. Over tien jaar moet het de norm zijn om verhalen van je ouders en grootouders te kunnen lezen en door te geven aan de volgende generatie.”(Van links naar rechts) Theo Brainin en Rutger Bruining na hun succesvolle pitch bij Dragon's DenMocht u meer informatie willen over StoryTerrace of wilt u spreken met founder and CEO Rutger Bruining, aarzel niet en neem contact op via: press@storyterrace.comKom in contact met ons en leer meer over hoe u met onze hulp uw biografie kunt schrijven of meld u aan voor de nieuwsbrief voor meer spannende updates.

🚨 NEWSFLASH! 🚨

Met trots kunnen we eindelijk vertellen dat we aanstaande zondag ons TV-debuut maken op BBC 2 bij het programma Dragons’ Den. In Nederland kun je dit ook bekijken; om 22.00u NL tijd.

Onze CEO Rutger Bruining, zal samen met Marketing Director Theo Brainin uit de gevreesde liftdeuren stappen en belanden in het hol van de leeuw. Ze houden daar een ‘elevator pitch’ in het 18de seizoen van het populaire BBC-programma.

Het duo pitcht voor een investering voor StoryTerrace, dat momenteel al het grootste biografie-platform ter wereld is. Het doel is om de snelle groei van het bedrijf hiermee te ondersteunen.

Theo and Rutger staan tegenover de “Dragons” samen met een selectie van StoryTerrace boeken

"Ik verheug me op de uitzending. Wachten wordt beloond en het geheim kan eindelijk naar buiten!"

Betreed de Dragons' Den

Dragons’ Den is een bekend programma in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Het eerste seizoen werd in 2005 uitgezonden en geeft veelbelovende ondernemers de kans om hun idee binnen 3 minuten te pitchen voor 5 multimiljonairs die op zoek zijn naar projecten om in te investeren. Het doel is om ze te overtuigen van de enorme potentie van StoryTerrace.

Eerdere deelnemers waren Levi Roots, de oprichter van Reggae Reggae Sauce, die The Den betrad met een gitaar - en er na een investering in slaagde om meer producten te verkopen dan Heinz bruine bonen in de supermarkten.

Wie zijn de ‘Dragons'?

Dit jaar bestaat de jury van Dragons uit:

• Peter Jones, telecommagnaat, met een roestvaste plek op de Sunday Times Rich List. Jones heeft een geschat vermogen van £490 miljoen. Hij is de laatste investeerder dat sinds het eerste seizoen aan het programma meedoet.
• Tej Lalvani, scale-up expert en CEO van het multinationale vitamine-bedrijf, Vitabiotics, dat werd opgericht door zijn vader. Hij werkt regelmatig samen met onder andere Heidi Klum en Nicole Scherzinger.
• Deborah Meaden, all-round investeerder, richtte haar eerste bedrijf op toen ze 19 was en wist het amusement- en arcadebedrijf van haar familie voor 33 miljoen Britse pond te verkopen. Ze heeft al meer dan £3.7 million in the Den geïnvesteerd sinds 2006, het jaar dat ze bij het programma begon.
• Touker Suleyman, is een heuse mode- en retail-guru met meer dan veertig jaar ervaring. Hij nam herenmerk Hawes & Curtis over voor £1 in 2001, toen het bedrijf £500.000 in de schuld zat. 13 jaar later was het onder Suleymans leiding £30 miljoen waard. Suleyman wordt ook geprezen voor het nieuw leven inblazen van het Londense modemerk: Ghost.
• Nieuwkomer Sara Davies, is handwerk-koningin en de jongste Dragon die ooit op de investeerders stoel heeft gezeten. Ze richtte Crafter's Companion op, vanuit de slaapkamer in haar studentenhuis. Het bedrijf is nu £35 miljoen waard en heeft wereldwijd 200 werknemers.

"Hopelijk laat de media-aandacht voor StoryTerrace meer mensen inzien dat je de verhalen van geliefden niet hoeft te verliezen."

StoryTerrace Dream Team

Maak kennis met Rutger

Rutger Bruining, geboren in Rotterdam, liet een carrière in de Londense private equity wereld achter zich en nam een sprong in het diepe door StoryTerrace op te richten. Het was zijn droom om een toegankelijke service op te zetten waarmee iedereen op de wereld zijn of haar levensverhaal - of die van een dierbare - kan vastleggen in een boek.

"Ons doel is om ervoor te zorgen dat in de toekomst iedereen zijn of haar levensverhaal kan vastleggen in een boek. Zo kunnen generaties over elkaar leren op een manier die nu nog ondenkbaar is. Hopelijk zal de aandacht voor StoryTerrace meer mensen doen beseffen dat je de verhalen van geliefden niet hoeft te verliezen."

‍

Ontmoet Theo

Theo is een geboren en getogen Londenaar. Hij werkt inmiddels vier jaar bij StoryTerrace. Tot zijn spijt heeft Theo nooit de kans gehad om zijn Zuid-Afrikaanse opa te ontmoeten, maar hij kon wel over zijn opa lezen in een boek dat door de familie was samengesteld. Toen hij zag dat StoryTerrace het voor iedereen mogelijk wilde maken om meer over zijn/haar grootouders te leren, wist hij dat dit de baan voor hem was.

"Toen ik hoorde dat StoryTerrace misschien in de uitzending zou komen, vroeg ik nietsvermoedend of Rutger dan in zijn eentje zou gaan. Een paar weken later belde hij: “Je wilde toch zo graag op Dragons’ Den?” Ik had geen idee wat ik mezelf op de hals had gehaald: Door de mangel gehaald worden voor een miljoenenpubliek. Pas dus op wat je zegt...!"

Wanneer wordt het uitgezonden?

Dragons’ Den met StoryTerrace wordt aanstaande zondag 15 maart uitgezonden, op BBC 2 om 22.00u Nederlandse tijd. We zijn van plan om de Dragons omver te blazen! Of dat ons gaat lukken? Kijk zondag naar BBC2 en moedig ons aan!

Vertel ons wat je vindt!

We vinden het leuk om van je te horen via Social Media of email. Tweet @StoryTerrace, en gebruik de hashtag #DragonsDen. We hopen dat je het een leuke uitzending vindt!

Neem contact met ons op als je meer wilt weten over het schrijven van een biografie of levensverhaal bij StoryTerrace. Of meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief voor meer interessant nieuws en content.

We are excited to announce that StoryTerrace made an appearance on the BBC hit show Dragons’ Den on Sunday evening.

Our CEO & Founder Rutger Bruining, together with Marketing Director, Theo Brainin, entered through the Den’s iconic lift doors, featuring in the 17th series of the long-running BBC programme.

The duo pitched for investment in what is already the leading biography writing company in a bid to accelerate the speed at which the business is scaling.

The Dragons´ were intrigued by our story, with Sara Davies in particular being moved by Rutger´s reason for starting the company.

What impressed them even more was being gifted with their very own StoryTerrace biography. Touker exclaimed "Wow! There's my book" while Deborah excitedly said "I love a present!".

After receiving a thorough grilling, with Deborah Meaden pushing for more stats and Peter Jones flashing his rainbow socks, Tej Lalvani finally shook on an investment deal after some tense negotiations!

This time tomorrow there’ll be pitching and possibly, er, riching! Dragons’ Den is at 9pm on Sunday on @BBCTwo…and here’s a sneak peek at the forthcoming action! pic.twitter.com/zNFriusmYz— BBC Dragons' Den (@BBCDragonsDen) March 14, 2020

"Little did I know that I had signed myself up to be grilled on British national TV!"

Enter Dragons' Den

Dragons’ Den first aired in the UK in 2005 and invites promising entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to five multimillionaire investors in under 3 minutes, in the hope of striking an investment agreement in the Den.

Notable contestants include Levi Roots, inventor of Reggae Reggae Sauce, who came into the Den singing with a guitar - and went on to outsell Heinz beans - the UK's leading baked beans brand - on the supermarket shelves!

Watch a teaser from the current series of Dragons' Den

Meet The Dragons

On the line-up this year are:

Peter Jones

Telecoms magnate who consistently makes the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £490 million in 2018. He is also the last remaining original Dragon from the series.

Tej Lalvani

Scale-up master and CEO of the multinational vitamin company, Vitabiotics, which was set up by his father and works with the likes of Heidi Klum and Nicole Scherzinger.

Deborah Meaden

All-rounder investor who launched her first company at aged 19, and went on to sell her family's amusement arcade business - Weststar Holidays - for £33 million. She has invested more than £3.7 million in the Den since she joined in 2006.

Touker Suleyman

Fashion and retail guru, with over 40 years' industry experience. He acquired menswear brand Hawes & Curtis for £1 in 2001, when the company was £500,000 in debt and grew it to £30 million just 13 years on. He is also credited with reviving London fashion label, Ghost.

Newcomer Sara Davies

Crafting queen and the youngest ever Dragon to sit in the investor chairs. She launched Crafter's Companion from her university bedroom. The business is now worth £35 million and employs 200 people worldwide.

"Hopefully the exposure will help more people to realize that they don't need to lose the stories of the people they love."

StoryTerrace Dream Team

Meet Rutger

Dutch-born Rutger, built the company from scratch, leaving behind a career in private equity to build a service that allows everyone to turn their life story - or those of their loved ones - into a book:

“The process Theo and I went through with the support of the entire team has been long and nerve-wracking but above all incredibly exciting. I was looking forward to finally being on air. Some say patience is a virtue but it was about time the secret came OUT! Our goal is to make sure in the future every life story is captured so people can learn about their grandparents in a way that seems unimaginable now. Hopefully the exposure will help more people to realize that they don't need to lose the stories of the people they love."

Meet Theo

Theo, a born and bred Londoner, joined StoryTerrace four years ago. He never had the chance to meet his South African grandfather, but he did get to read about him in a booklet put together by the family. When he saw that StoryTerrace was making it possible for everyone to read about their parents and grandparents, he knew he had to join the company:

"When I heard we might be on the show, I idly asked Rutger if he was going to do it by himself. A few weeks later I got a call - "remember you said you wanted to go on Dragons' Den?". Little did I know that I had signed myself up to be grilled on national TV. Be careful what you wish for!"

"After waiting in anticipation for several hours we were surprisingly calm and ready to go - finally the prep was over! This was the real deal"

Behind the Scenes

When Rutger got the call inviting him to apply for the show, this proved to be only the first chapter in his Dragons' Den journey! An extensive process ensued - auditions, interviews, due diligence checks, display preparations, script run-throughs - culminating in their televised pitch in the Den. Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes?

Theo remembered a lot of frantic chasing in order to secure all of the props for the display table and bookshelf: "we drove all the way across London to source an antique typewriter we could use on the set, we scoured plant shops to add some greenery and I asked my girlfriend if I could use her clock radio - every little detail of what you see on TV took some thought, and I was agonizing back and forth over what it should look like!"

Once the props were in place, did he have any other reservations about entering the Dragons' lair? "At first, I was a little nervous that our valuation would put off the Dragons," as the duo initially asked for £90,000 investment in return for 5% of the business. "I knew that we were further along in our startup journey than some of the other contestants but usually it seems that, if the Dragons believe in your concept, they'll make an offer."

Rutger had a slightly different approach to getting ready for the Den: "I knew we had a lot to prepare before the show, including securing permissions to display books from customers as far away as Switzerland and Kuwait."

But he decided he wasn't going to sweat the small stuff: "I was trying to remember all the numbers for the business. As contestants, we didn't know the order of when we would be entering the Den but after waiting in anticipation for several hours we were surprisingly calm and ready to go - finally the prep was over! This was the real deal now."

“Dear Dragon Diary…got up, breathed fire, made life-changing investments, slept.” #dragonsden pic.twitter.com/dQjE6FcA3L— BBC Dragons' Den (@BBCDragonsDen) March 15, 2020

Theo was surprised at the level of due diligence that was needed to be carried out by the BBC team: "I was even asked to provide proof that my grandpa was in fact my grandpa - because I'd talked about him being a lawyer for Nelson Mandela. But it shows that they take it seriously!"

Commenting on the outcome of the result, Rutger said: "we were delighted to receive offers from both Touker and Tej, which showed their belief in our mission for the business. We were slightly torn over our ultimate decision, but Tej was my favourite investor going in. When it came to the deal itself, it got so complicated that no one could recite it! Peter even jokingly asked Tej if he knew exactly what the deal he had agreed on was!"

That @BBCDragonsDen winning feeling 🙌🏾 @rutgernow @theobrainin #DragonsDen pic.twitter.com/tf8ervSO2r— StoryTerrace (@StoryTerrace) March 15, 2020

And what happened straight after? Theo shared: "It's hard to know how you celebrate an offer of investment when you have to keep the outcome a secret from everyone! So we kept it low key - and decided to head to a fast food place at the motorway services on our long drive back to London!"

Reflecting on life after the show, Rutger added: "it's strange to look back after so long. Since filming wrapped, the business has been doing really well and we managed to raise more money at a higher valuation than in the Den. We're excited to enter a new chapter and to create more awareness about a business we are so passionate about."

How can I watch it?

You can catch up with the Dragons´ Den episode we featured in on iPlayer.

(Series 17 Episode 10, first broadcast on Sunday March 15th at 9pm on BBC 2)

For more information on our appearance, check out our official press release.

Tell us what you thought! We’d love to hear your comments via (social media or email). Tweet using @StoryTerrace and the hashtag #DragonsDen. We hope you enjoyed watching!

Get in touch with us to find out how you can write your memoirs with our help and sign up for our newsletter for more exciting news and content.

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that explores the study of how to live a good and fulfilling life. From cultivating a positive mindset to building emotional strength and self-control when times get tough, the Stoics’ wisdom is still remarkably relevant today.

The leading Stoic philosophers were Marcus Aurelius, the Emperor of the Roman Empire; Seneca, a statesman and leading intellectual figure; and Epictetus, a Turkish slave whose master allowed him to study. Upon his release, Epictetus fled to Rome, where he began teaching philosophy and spreading Stoic wisdom.

Over the course of their lives, the Stoics produced numerous reflections that we can still learn from. Here are some of our favorite pieces of advice from the ancients.

1. Adopt the Right Perspective

A key teaching of Stoicism is to be willing to adjust your perspective. Life is full of ups and downs — that's the inevitable way of it. As Epictetus said in The Enchiridion, "We should always be asking ourselves: Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?"

When you are not in control, it’s wise to remind yourself that you can still control how you think about a situation. Seneca echoed this sentiment when he wrote in his thirteenth letter On Groundless Fears, "We suffer more in imagination than in reality" — words that remind us that people often create their own unnecessary suffering.

Marcus Aurelius clearly felt the same, writing in Meditations: "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." If you can adjust your perspective, you can choose to embrace the positive in life, no matter what it throws at you.


Bust of Marcus Aurelius (reign 161–180 CE)

2. Enjoy the Present Moment

Even in ancient Greece, with no distractions from the internet and smartphones, people still struggled to calm busy minds that raced with fears of the future and ruminations on the past. Seneca’s remedy for this in his Epistle was to "Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life."

We particularly love this saying here at StoryTerrace as it resonates with our mission to celebrate each amazing, separate life by telling people’s unique life stories.

Seneca also reminds us of this mindful approach to life in On The Shortness of Life, writing that: "The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately." You can never know what the future may bring; you can only focus on what is in front of you, right here and right now.


Modern statue of Seneca in Córdoba, Spain

3. Count Your Blessings

If it was good enough for a Roman emperor, it's good enough for us! In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius advised, "Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours."

This means adopting a positive attitude of appreciation of the simplest pleasures, such as reading a great book, enjoying your daily coffee, or talking with friends. It means bringing the mind back to focusing on the good, again and again. Epictetus shared this view of celebrating what you do have instead of making yourself miserable over what you don't: "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."

4. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

The Stoics reminded their students that much of what people concern themselves with is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. By putting your life into a larger context, you can help to ease anxiety and stress. Seneca told his audiences that "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."

Challenge is an inevitable part of life, yet when put into perspective, those challenges help you to grow as a person. And another beautiful benefit of going through hard times is that you can pass all those inevitable lessons on to others!

5. Keep an Open Mind

As Epictetus said in his Discourses, "It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." This means keeping an open mind and heart, knowing that there is always more to discover.

He further advised that there are always different approaches to learning: "Don’t just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person. Books are the training weights of the mind."

We think it's wonderful that such ancient wisdom can still be applied to modern life. It's rather comforting to be reminded that some things never change. By applying these simple concepts, it’s possible to soothe an anxious mind, to focus on what truly matters, and to live a full and enjoyable life along the way.


Illustration of Epictetus in Edward Ivie’s 1715 Latin translation of the book Enchiridion*

If you’ve been inspired by the Stoics to share your own life lessons, StoryTerrace is here to help.

Get in touch with us to find out how you can write your memoirs, or sign up for our newsletter for more words of wisdom from the greats.

Main blog image courtesy of: Stoic Insights

Powerful, wise, fun and loving — Oprah Winfrey is a figure who has undoubtedly shaped the world for good. Whether rising from an impoverished upbringing in rural Mississippi or making history by becoming the USA's first African-American billionaire, Oprah has built her career on telling captivating stories about herself and others.

As perhaps the world’s best-known champion of living a full and inspiring life, it's safe to say that Oprah knows a thing or two about what it means to be human. From overcoming adversity to mastering a positive outlook and achieving inner peace, this queen of media has compassionate words for all occasions. Here are some of our favorites.

Oprah Winfrey Video

“There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction."

On Overcoming Failure

Oprah proves that no one is immune from setbacks and disappointments, no matter what level of success, fame, or wealth they’ve achieved — a theme she shared in her graduation speech at Harvard University in 2013. Early in her career, she was fired by her first boss and told she was "unfit for television news," later saying, "It shook me to my very core ... I had no idea what I was in for or that this was going to be the greatest growing period of my adult life.”

Years later, she had to deal with the fallout from her box office flop Beloved. In this difficult moment, Oprah revealed her tenacity and resilient approach to life:

"It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point, you are bound to stumble. If you're constantly pushing yourself higher and higher, the law of averages predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do, I want you to remember this: There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction."

On Creating Your Own Life

"You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script."

Here Oprah speaks about living life on your own terms, rather than succumbing to pressure from those around you to live a certain way. These words resonate with us here at StoryTerrace, as we are on a mission to help one million people write their own life stories. We also believe that everyone has a unique story to tell, and that each one is worth writing down.

On Learning From Your Hardships

It’s easy to see why Oprah is such a sought-after commencement speaker. In an address to the 1997 graduating class of Wellesley College, she gave this priceless piece of advice:

"Turn your wounds into wisdom."

A beacon of overcoming terrible circumstances and rising to brilliance, Oprah was born in rural Mississippi to a teenage mother in the 1950s. She suffered abuse at the age of nine, ran away from home at 13, became pregnant at 14, and then lost her child, who was born prematurely.

Oprah was able to change her fate when she moved to Nashville to live with her father. There she excelled at school, holding down a part-time job at a local radio station. Through hard work, she eventually created her own empire. Oprah is a champion of turning personal pain into fuel for growth, and her life is a great example of refusing to succumb to adversity.

“If you pull the lever of gratitude every day, you'll be amazed at the results.”

On Aging

"I refuse to let a system, a culture, a distorted view of reality tell me I don't matter," Oprah writes on her website.

Always challenging the norm, Oprah's sentiments on defying social pressure about aging are inspiring. She also says that "Getting older is the best thing that ever happened to me. I wake up every morning rejoicing that I’m still here with an opportunity to begin again and be better."

Here at StoryTerrace, we also take an optimistic approach towards aging, so we find this attitude particularly inspiring.

“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.”

On Gratitude

"If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough."

In her book What I Know For Sure, Oprah extols the virtues of gratitude. The simple act of giving thanks can have a profound effect on your happiness and experience of life. Oprah makes gratitude a daily priority by writing in her gratitude journal and says: "I've learned from experience that if you pull the lever of gratitude every day, you'll be amazed at the results."

On Forgiving

After interviewing more than 37,000 people on her show over the course of 25 years, Oprah said that one guest on her show in 1990 changed her life with his definition of forgiveness: “It really means letting go of the past we thought we wanted.”

Of this moment, Oprah said: "that was a transcendent moment for me — bigger, even, than an aha. He said forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.”

These words dramatically changed her outlook for the better.

What We Know for Sure

Oprah's incredible life story and her dedication to telling the stories of others has made a phenomenal impact on the world. She lives her life as an open book, sharing her wisdom and wealth with the world. To borrow the words of Oprah's mentor Maya Angelou, she really is a "phenomenal woman."

If you’ve been inspired by Oprah to share your own life lessons, StoryTerrace is here to help! Get in touch with us to find out how you can write your memoirs, or sign up for our newsletter for more words of wisdom from the greats.

Premium Writer

Diana Holquist is an award-winning writer who has written and published six books. Her work has been translated into five languages and received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly. Diana won the New York Book Festival award for Best Novel and has been a Golden Heart, RITA, and Reader’s Choice Award finalist.

A graduate of Columbia University and a former advertising copywriter, today Diana lives in Philadelphia with her husband, the left-behind belongings of two children, and one elderly cat.

Diana and her brother Peter in 1973, showing an early and abiding love for cats.

“I’ve had the privilege to tell amazing stories involving famous people and heroic deeds, but the most memorable stories are often those of people living what might be considered prosaic lives.”

ST: Whose biography would you most like to write?

Yours! Really. I mean it. People get scared away from writing their stories for so many trivial reasons. If I can convince even one person to stop listening to those negative voices and listen to their own voice, then my work here is done.

ST: Why do you enjoy writing for StoryTerrace?

With StoryTerrace, there is tremendous variety. No project is anything like the last. It’s constantly fascinating and challenging.

ST: If you were writing a StoryTerrace book of your life, what would be the title and why?

And Then What Happened?

Preserving the Extraordinary Tales of “Ordinary” People

ST: What is the most memorable story you've told as a writer?

I’ve had the privilege to tell amazing stories involving famous people and heroic deeds, but the most memorable stories are often those of people living what might be considered prosaic lives. One of my favorites was about a woman growing up in Brooklyn: catching the A-train every morning for school, Friday-night Shabbat dinners with her extended family, and dating boys at the JFK airport lounge. It was a hilarious, touching, and unforgettable snapshot of a “regular” family in a place and time that no longer exists.

ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A purring cat. A roaring fire. A bag of M&Ms: regular, not peanut. And a novel that a friend has slipped into my purse while whispering, this will change your life.

ST: What is your biggest fear?

Computer crashes.

ST: Consider your life story. What's the name of the chapter you're in right now?

“Waiting for Grandchildren”

ST: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

When I’m not writing on a computer, I write with a pointed copperplate pen dipped in ink. My mother is a professional calligrapher, and so I’ve studied calligraphy all my life. When other kids were babysitting or slinging burgers, I was addressing wedding invitations and writing place cards. Also, I can juggle.

ST: What is your most treasured possession?

I don’t have treasured possessions. Last year, my husband and I got rid of most of our belongings, rented out our house, and traveled around Europe for a year. I had one suitcase and it was mostly full of books that I left behind wherever I was when I finished them. It was glorious.

Diana in 1972, engrossed in her favorite pastime

ST: Who are your favorite writers?

Today: Charles Dickens for his character portraits; Kazuo Ishiguro for his narrative elegance; and Jesmyn Ward for everything.

Tomorrow: Ask me again. The list will be completely different.

ST: What fictional character do you most identify with?

Max, the little boy in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.

ST: Who is your hero?

My kids. Man, it’s hard out there.

Lightning Round!

ST: Salty or sweet?

Chocolate with sea salt. Yum!

ST: Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.

ST: Paperback or e-reader?

I don’t go anywhere without my Kindle.

ST: Summer or winter?

I just lived for a few months in Helsinki, Finland and it was heaven on earth.

ST: X-ray vision or time travel?

I’m a writer. Watching is what I do.

If Diana's passion for telling people’s unique stories has inspired you to get to work on your own biography, get in touch to schedule a free consultation, or sign up for our newsletter to hear more from our growing pool of writers.

Most books have something special tucked away in the first few pages: a dedication. This is a short note from the author, honouring someone (or something) of special importance to them.

It’s a pretty big deal to have a book dedicated to you, and it’s something that only a small number of people ever get to enjoy. Indeed, dedications are usually reserved for the close friends and family of authors. JK Rowling, for example, dedicated her first novel to her daughter, her mother, and her sister.

When it comes to your book, it’s completely up to you to decide whether or not to include a dedication, and who to honour with it if you do. Here are a few of our favourite dedications from books old and new.

Our Favourite Book Dedications

CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

My dear Lucy. I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realised that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather, CS Lewis.

This touching dedication was written by CS Lewis for his godchild Lucy Barfield. It’s a great idea to dedicate a memoir to a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew — even if they might be too young to fully appreciate it right now. A dedication lasts forever, after all.

Jack Kerouac’s Visions of Cody

Dedicated to America, whatever that is.

You don’t have to dedicate your book to a person at all. Jack Kerouac’s dedication for his cult novel Visions of Cody goes to show that it’s just as viable to recognise a meaningful place instead.

Kiera Kass’s The Selection

Hi, Dad! Waves*

Dedications can be simple, and you don’t have to take them seriously. Remember, you can do whatever you want to with your book. If something sincere and serious doesn’t suit your memoir, pick something fun that your friends and family will recognise as uniquely you!

Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys

You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not to you. Not this time. Because we haven’t yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven’t seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other! This one’s for you. With you know what, and you probably know why.

Neil Gaiman took the unusual step of dedicating his novel Anansi Boys to none other than you, the reader. We love the tone of this dedication, too. It shows that you can speak directly to a specific reader (or many readers) in your dedication if you want, just as you would in a personal letter.

Three Tips for a Great Dedication

Feeling inspired? Now it’s time to decide on the dedication for your memoir. Here are some different approaches you might take.

Pick Just One Person

You’ll almost certainly have more than one person you want to acknowledge in your memoir. After all, lots of different people contribute to any life story. But how can you include them all without your dedication taking up multiple pages?

When choosing your dedication, you might want to focus on just one important person, place, or idea. Don’t forget that you also have an afterword to play with. An afterword comes at the end of a book, and it's a great place to include a note of thanks to everyone who helped make your life story happen.

How Did They Help?

Now that you know who you’re dedicating your memoir to, what should you actually write? A good guideline is to thank the person by name, and then let everyone know how they’ve helped you. Did they help collate the notes for your memoir? Did they encourage you to go ahead and tell your story? Or were they simply there for you with a cup of tea, ready to listen when you needed to talk?

Whatever they did to help you out, this is your chance to tell the world. A dedication is certainly something that will last longer (and look even better on a shelf) than a thank you card!

Consider an Epigraph

An epigraph is a short quote from another book or a piece of poetry, selected by the author and printed in place of (or in addition to) a dedication. If you’re having a hard time settling on a dedication for your life story, perhaps you could include an epigraph instead.

Some of the most famous books of all time have included epigraphs, from Frankenstein to The Godfather and To Kill a Mockingbird. Adding one to your memoir will allow you to set the tone without having to pen a single word yourself.

Ask for Help

Sometimes a conversation with the person you wish to dedicate your book to can help kickstart your creative flow. Take them out for coffee or sit down with them over dinner and have a chat. You may soon find that you have plenty of ideas about what to write.

You can also ask your StoryTerrace ghostwriter for a hand when it comes to picking a dedication. Having interviewed you, they’ll know your story well and can help put together the perfect message to dedicate your book to that special someone.

Before Dedicating Your Memoir

Before crafting a dedication for your memoir there’s one important step you must take: actually writing it. That’s no small task, but with a little help from StoryTerrace, you can get it done quickly and to a professional standard. Our talented writers listen to your story in your own words and turn it into a beautiful, bound book that you can share with friends, family, and the world.

With that in mind, there’s one more person to thank. Your story could never have been written without you. You lived it, and you told it. So perhaps you might want to do what Connor Franta did in his book Note to Self, and dedicate your memoir to a very important person:

To me.

Need a hand getting your memoirs down on paper? StoryTerrace is here to help. Get in touch to schedule a quick chat about how you can turn your story into a beautifully bound book that anyone would be proud to have dedicated to them.

You can also sign up for our mailing list for more updates about memoir writing.

Imagine stepping back in time to explore the town where you grew up, experiencing it as it was years ago.

Imagine not only walking the streets and corridors of important places in your life but also experiencing the stories of the people who lived and worked there. This might soon be possible, thanks to the Amsterdam Time Machine project and other similar initiatives.

Supported by organizations including the University of Amsterdam, Creative Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam Centre for Cultural Heritage & Identity, the project aims to create a "Google Earth for the past." According to Professor Claartje Rasterhoff, this is a perfect description of their work. “The Time Machine is the perfect vehicle to connect different efforts towards better research, but also to present local history and make it relevant to the present and the future,” she says.

In the future, users will be able to navigate a virtual map of Amsterdam that’s more detailed than any that has ever existed. They’ll explore streets, stroll into public buildings, and even peek into houses with details as specific as what pictures were mounted on the walls.

Design: Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA)

The project includes various 3D models, interfaces, and databases, all drawn from the extensive datasets in Amsterdam’s libraries, museums, universities, and archives. Transforming these paper-based records into parts of the time machine is a huge job, much like finding out about the past.

The Amsterdam Time Machine (and other projects like it) will simplify this process. Instead of poring over maps and documents, you’ll step into a 3D visualization of a space and explore as you see fit.

For a glimpse of what this might be like, check out the Cinema Parisien. This 3D model recreates one of Amsterdam's first purpose-built cinemas, down to the gilding around ticket windows and the carpets on the stairs.

Exploring this visualization brings the place to life, allowing you to step through the doors as a patron in 1910. Tools like this could revolutionize how we understand our life stories, enabling us to visit our old schools, streets, and other significant places.

When asked about the future of memoir research, Professor Rasterhoff hopes physical archives will remain but become more accessible. Projects like the Amsterdam Time Machine use data from various sources to reconstruct historical spaces and stories. Personal stories are crucial, as they offer insights into what a place was like beyond maps and census data.

Design: Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA)

Recording your memories for future generations is essential. Diaries, letters, journals, and writings help us build time machines. Your story matters and could be important to future generations and researchers. One day, the Amsterdam Time Machine project will offer an unparalleled look at Amsterdam's history, and similar projects worldwide aim to do the same for other places. Your stories might one day help future generations travel back in time and experience the past.

Ready to start writing your memoirs? Get in touch with our team or join our mailing list for updates on researching your past and writing your memoirs.

Main image courtesy of: Madelon Simons and Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA) - 3D model of a 16th-century painter’s shop in Warmoesstraat 138.

Parenting is said to be the hardest job in the world and those of us who have children ourselves know all too well that it’s often a thankless task.

Growing up, we are dependent on our parents to look after us and make us feel loved. Yet when we leave the nest, it can be easy to forget to let our parents know our appreciation for all the sacrifices they’ve made and the times they’ve been there for us. Many parents can be left feeling a little empty and neglected as their adult children go about living their busy lives.

Do you remember the last time you showed your parents how much you care about them? Here are our suggestions for meaningful gifts for parents to show them how much they mean to you.

1. Plan a special outing

Plan a special outing just for your parents - if your budget allows, make them feel truly wonderful by planning a vacation dedicated to them. Perhaps there is a city or country they’ve always wanted to visit but have never gotten around to it; make their dream come true by taking them there.

If you can’t stretch to a holiday, even a day dedicated to them will likely have the same effect: factor in their favourite foods and activities as a surprise (taking care of every detail), or get them involved in the process so that they can get excited leading up to it.

Spend time with them on their agenda, not yours. In our fast-paced world, it can be easy to get caught up in the demands of work, technology, and our social lives. Scheduling in some quality face-to-face time with your parents communicates to them that they are valuable in your life and will help to deepen your bond. Don’t just save this for special occasions - create your own special day.

2. Ask them for advice

Asking your parents for advice shows that you value their opinion and count on them to continue to support you. Just because you are an adult now doesn’t mean you can handle everything life throws at you - it’s likely your parents will be able to draw on their experiences to offer some wise and comforting words. Likely your parents will welcome the opportunity to advise you and will feel honoured that you have asked them - whether it’s a major life decision or an everyday issue, help them to feel that their opinion counts. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts for parents extend beyond material objects - a simple call can make the world of difference.

3. Present them with the story of their life

Give your parents the precious opportunity to reflect back on their lives with a beautifully bound biography of their very own. A meaningful gift for parents that can be passed down through the family to enjoy - a StoryTerrace biography will keep their memory alive, allow them to pass on their wisdom to future generations and help to strengthen family bonds and relationships. Just think how delighted they will be to receive the honor of an entire book dedicated to telling their unique story in all its glory!

StoryTerrace makes the whole process easy by pairing your mum or dad with one of our carefully selected professional ghostwriters who will dedicate themselves to telling your parent’s story. Consider gifting parents a biography for a 70th, 75th or 80th birthday (you could even pool together with your siblings).

This is also the perfect time if you want to have a book to present for Christmas! How many times will your parents have the experience of sharing their meaningful stories in a comprehensive way?

The ideal meaningful gift for parents, many people who’ve been gifted a StoryTerrace book report feeling immense joy about being given the opportunity to sit with a professional writer in their own home who can tell their life story and capture a person’s essence:

"The entire experience of working with StoryTerrace was flawless. The fellow who interviewed me for many hours truly captured my ‘voice’, and the finished product seemed to know me better than I know myself! The photos were beautifully reproduced, the binding was truly professional."

4. Be sure to share your good news

When something great happens in your life, include your parents in your celebrations so they can revel in your achievements as well. New job? Let them know as soon as you can. Baby on the way? Give them the beautiful surprise of telling them they’ll soon be a grandparent.

Just because you are an adult now doesn’t mean you can’t revel in your parents showering you with praise - give them the opportunity of feeling proud of you (they gave you life after all).

5. Give them an embossed gift

Thoughtful gifts elegantly engraved with your mum or dad’s initials are a wonderful way to honour them and a charming way to say ‘thank you’. Creating something that’s been made especially for them communicates your love and appreciation for them, and if it’s something practical like a keyring, diary or handbag - they’ll be reminded of this every time they use it.

Depending on their taste, you could also consider gifting them with a beautiful set of pajamas, some stunning jewellery, luxury handkerchiefs or bottle of wine bearing their name or initials for that personal touch and ‘wow’ factor.

6. Make peace with them (and the past)

Inevitably family relationships can be fraught with challenges. Yet we have the gift of the present moment to be able to smooth things over and make peace. As your parents get older and enjoy their ‘golden years’, it’s likely that they will be reviewing their life, experiences and memories. If there’s any tension or grudges between you, give them the gift of forgiveness and adopt a compassionate attitude with them wherever possible.

For more details on StoryTerrace books, sign up for our newsletter or contact us today to talk about how we can help to capture your life story.