From your first conversation to the moment the book arrives, every project follows the same rigorous workflow — refined through two completed volumes and built to protect both the quality of the research and the accuracy of the story.
Every project begins with DNA. If you've already tested on Ancestry or another platform, we begin immediately. If you haven't, we help you order a kit and use the 6-week processing window for background research.
You have results on AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, or another platform — or you have your raw DNA file. We request read-only access to your Ancestry account (or you share the raw file) and begin Stage II immediately.
→ Begin Week 1
You haven't tested yet. We recommend an AncestryDNA kit ($99 at intake), which processes in 4–6 weeks. While you wait, we begin background research on your surnames and ancestral regions.
→ Research begins during kit processing
A 60-minute discovery call to understand your family, your goals, and the occasion. We collect your intake questionnaire, gain read-only access to your Ancestry account or raw DNA file, and review your existing family tree.
We decode your AncestryDNA results in full historical and genetic context. Not a summary of the pie chart — a rigorous interpretation of what your molecular ancestry actually means, written as the opening chapter of your book.
The longest and most intensive stage. 20–40 hours of deep primary-source archival work, calibrated to your tier and heritage lines.
We write. Not summarize — write. Every ancestor becomes a fully realized character. Historical context is woven into the prose. The voice is warm, specific, and built to last across generations.
The manuscript is typeset, laid out, and sent to print. The stage where words become an object — a physical book that will sit on a shelf and be opened for the next hundred years.
Every project begins with a signed engagement agreement. This is not a formality — it is the document that defines your project clearly and protects both parties throughout.
The agreement covers: project scope and deliverables, payment terms (50% retainer / 50% on delivery), timeline, copyright ownership (you own the content), and DNA data handling. All DNA privacy protections are contractually binding — not just policy statements.
Explicit written consent required before accessing any DNA account or raw file
Read-only Ancestry access — we never modify your account or tree
Raw DNA files deleted from our systems upon project completion
No third-party sharing of genetic or personal data under any circumstances
All data handling provisions are contractually binding in every engagement agreement
Tell us your family name, your heritage community, and what occasion brought you here. We'll respond within two business days.