Fond Memories gift books
Tell their story while they're here to hear it.
A hardcover book of their life, written from the family's memories and filled with their photos. The gift for the person who says they don't need anything.
We write it for you. No need to interview them or ask awkward questions. You and the family share what you remember, and we turn it into chapters, so it can stay a complete surprise.
$200 for the first book, extra copies $125 each. You see the whole book before you pay.
Made for big moments
70th, 80th and 90th birthdays
Hand it over at the party, or have the family read out a chapter.
Wedding anniversaries
Their love story for a 40th, 50th or 60th, from the first date to the grandkids.
Christmas
For Mum, Dad, Nan or Pop, with a copy for every branch of the family.
Retirement and Mother's or Father's Day
A thank-you for a lifetime of work, or for everything they've done for you.
See inside
A sample gift book
This is a sample we made for “Peggy” for her 80th birthday. Every book is designed around one person, so yours will look and read like them.
Sample design. Peggy and her story are fictional, and the photos are stock images from Unsplash. Shown: 15 of the book's 20 pages.
What's included
Everything, done for you
- 15 to 20 pages, hardcover, 28 × 20 cm landscape
- Up to 40 photos, cleaned up and arranged for you
- Their life story written in chapters, from your memories, dot points or a voice memo
- A page of birthday wishes or messages from the family, and their favourite things
- Your own gift message printed on the first page
- No Fond Farewell branding anywhere in or on the book
- A full proof of every page, with two rounds of changes
- Posted to you, or straight to them, usually 7–12 business days after you approve it
How it works
Four steps, mostly ours
Share what you know
Fill in the form below with memories, dot points or a voice memo, and a link to their photos. Ask the rest of the family to add theirs.
We write and design
We write their story in chapters and lay out every page, usually within 3–5 days.
You check every page
You see the whole book and can ask for changes. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
Pay and give
We send a secure PayPal invoice. Once it's paid, the books are printed and posted to you, or straight to them.
Christmas: order by 28 November for delivery before Christmas. For a birthday, allow about 3 weeks from when you send us everything.
Start a gift book
Tell us about them
Share as much or as little as you have now. We'll reply within a few hours to talk it through. Nothing is charged until you've approved the finished book.