Write My LifeBook made it easy to capture a lifetime of memories.
When Erin Callahan first sat down with her grandmother, Maureen McDermott, to document her life story, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She had always known her grandmother’s past was rich with history—tales of growing up in a small Irish village, the journey across the Atlantic to start fresh in America, and the resilience it took to build a life in a new country. But like many of us, she had only heard these stories in bits and pieces, scattered over family gatherings and late-night cups of tea.
Determined to preserve her grandmother’s legacy, Erin decided to use the Write My LifeBook platform to turn these stories into something lasting—a book that could be shared with their entire family for generations. What she didn’t expect was how much the process would deepen their relationship and bring them both so much joy.
The Journey Begins
The first evening they sat together, Maureen laughed as Erin pulled out her laptop. “You know, when I was your age, we didn’t have these gadgets,” she teased. “We just had our memories and a good storyteller.”
With Write My LifeBook’s structured prompts, Erin gently guided their conversations. At first, Maureen was hesitant, saying, “Oh, I don’t know what’s important enough to include.” But once they started, the memories poured out.
She spoke of growing up in County Clare, where she and her five siblings would run barefoot through the fields, collecting wildflowers and playing along the rocky coastline. She described the scent of her mother’s soda bread filling their small cottage and the Sunday ceilidh dances where she first locked eyes with the young man who would later become her husband. Erin, enthralled, found herself picturing every detail as if she had lived it herself.
A Shared Experience
Each week, Erin and Maureen set aside time to work on the book together. Sometimes, Maureen would pull out old photos and letters, their edges worn and fragile, to jog her memory. Other times, a single question—like “Tell me about a time you felt truly brave”—would lead to an hour-long story about Maureen’s journey to America, clutching a single suitcase and a heart full of dreams.
The Write My LifeBook platform made the process easy and enjoyable. With built-in templates and the ability to upload photos, Erin could organize everything seamlessly. “I never considered myself much of a writer,” she admitted, “but the prompts helped shape the narrative in a way that felt natural and heartfelt.”
More Than Just a Book
As they neared completion, Erin realized that this project wasn’t just about preserving family history—it was about connection. She had learned things about her grandmother she had never known before, like how Maureen had secretly wanted to be a teacher but had to leave school early to help her family. Or how she used to sneak letters back home to her sister, folded inside the pages of newspapers to avoid costly international postage fees.
For Maureen, reliving these memories was a gift. “I feel like I’m seeing my life through fresh eyes,” she told Erin. “It’s funny, I always thought these stories were just small moments, but looking back, they were the pieces that made up my whole life.”
A Treasure for Generations
When the book was finally finished, Erin printed copies for the whole family. They surprised Maureen with a small celebration, where she read aloud a passage about the night she arrived in New York City—dazzled by the skyline, uncertain but hopeful.
Tears welled in her eyes as she held the book in her hands. “I never thought my life would be in a book,” she whispered. “Now, even when I’m gone, my stories will still be here.”
For Erin, that was the greatest gift of all.
If you’ve ever thought about documenting a loved one’s story, don’t wait. The process is easier and more rewarding than you think. With Write My LifeBook, you’re not just writing a biography—you’re preserving a legacy, one story at a time.
