Vertel my – tell me your story
Your parents' stories, written down before they're lost
I sit with your mother, father, Ouma or Oupa at home and listen. They talk in Afrikaans or English, whichever comes naturally. I turn their stories into a book in their own voice. You get printed copies, a digital copy or both, for the whole family to keep.
For families in South Africa and abroad. Interviews take place in person in the Western Cape.
You've heard the stories a hundred times. Nobody has written them down.
The farm in the Karoo. How Oupa proposed. The year the river flooded.
If you live abroad, the distance makes it harder. Phone calls are short and there's never a quiet afternoon to ask properly. Your children may not read Afrikaans well enough to follow their grandparents' stories on their own.
Vertel My exists to catch those stories while there is still time, and to put them in a form your family can hold, read and pass on.
How it works
You arrange it, I do the work and your parent does the talking. Nobody has to write a word.
We talk first
You tell me about your parent, what matters to the family and what you hope the book will hold. I answer every question before you commit.
I visit and listen
I sit with your parent at home for relaxed conversations of about 90 minutes. I record each one and gently follow the threads that matter. What they share stays between us until they decide what goes in the book.
I write, you review
I shape the stories into chapters in their voice and add the family photos. You and your parent read the draft and ask for changes.
The book arrives
Printed or digital copies go to your parent and to you, wherever you live. With the full memoir, you also get recordings of the best stories in their own voice, if everyone is comfortable with that.
In die taal waarin hulle dink
In the language they think in
People tell their best stories in their home language. A story told in Afrikaans keeps its humour, its expressions and its rhythm. Translated too early, it loses the things that make it theirs.
I write the book in the language your parent speaks. If the grandchildren in London, Perth or Auckland need it in English, I add a full English translation alongside the original, so nobody in the family is left out.
"Ons het kaalvoet skool toe geloop, twee myl soontoe en twee myl terug, en in die winter was die gras wit van die ryp."Example of an Afrikaans original
"We walked to school barefoot, two miles each way, and in winter the grass was white with frost."And its English translation
Packages
Two ways to tell the story. Both include in-person interviews, writing, editing, layout, printed copies and a digital copy.
Lewe in Stories
Life in Stories
Ask for a quote
A short, warm book of their favourite stories. A good choice for a milestone birthday.
- 3 interviews at home
- 10 to 12 stories, about 8,000 words
- Up to 20 photos
- One family review round
- 2 softcover copies
- Print-ready digital copy (PDF)
- Ready in 6 to 8 weeks
Die Volle Storie
The Full Memoir
Ask for a quote
Their whole life, from childhood to now, told in chapters. The book the family will keep for generations.
- 6 to 8 interviews at home
- About 25,000 words in life chapters
- Up to 60 photos
- Two family review rounds
- 3 hardcover copies
- Print-ready digital copy (PDF)
- Audio clips of their best stories
- Ready in 4 to 5 months
Wondering if it's within your budget? Ask anyway.
Every family's story is different, and so is every budget. Tell me what you have in mind and what you can spend, and I'll suggest an option that fits. That might mean fewer interviews, a shorter book or paying in instalments. Let's talk.
Let's talk about what would workAdd to either package
- Bilingual edition: Afrikaans original with English translation
- Extra printed copies for siblings and grandchildren
- A family video call, so relatives abroad can join one interview
Living abroad? I can quote in pounds, euros or Australian dollars.
A gift they open twice
Give the certificate this Christmas or for a birthday. Your parent opens it now, and again when their finished book arrives.
Certificates are printed on card and posted to your parent, or sent to you as a PDF to hand over yourself. They're valid for 12 months, so the interviews can start whenever suits them.
Order a gift certificate
Who will be listening
I'm Elanza, lovely to meet you
I've spent my career writing and editing, and what I enjoy most is helping people find the right words for what they want to say. My master's degree in research psychology taught me how to ask questions and listen properly to the answers. People tend to relax around me, which matters when someone is sharing their life story.
I grew up speaking Afrikaans and English. Bonnievale is my home town, and these days I live in Somerset West. When I come to your parents' home, I come as one person who will interview, write and edit their book from start to finish.
Questions families ask
How much does a book cost?
It depends on how many interviews, how long the book is and how many copies you need. Tell me what you have in mind and I'll send you a clear quote, with no obligation. If the first option doesn't fit your budget, we'll find one that does.
My father is shy. Will he talk?
Most people who say they have nothing to tell end up talking for hours. I start with easy, everyday questions and let the conversation find its own way.
I live overseas. Do I need to be there?
No. You arrange it and I handle the visits. You read the draft online and can join one interview by video call if you'd like to.
What if my mother's health changes during the project?
If she can't continue, you receive everything written up to that point as a bound keepsake. Her stories won't be lost.
What about the difficult parts of their life?
Your parent decides what goes in the book. Nothing is printed without their approval and yours.
How does payment work?
A 50% deposit books the first interview. The balance is due when you approve the final manuscript, before printing.
Are the recordings kept private?
Yes. Recordings and notes are stored securely, used only for your book and handled in line with POPIA.
Start with a conversation
Tell me a little about your parent and I'll get back to you within two working days. There's no obligation, and no question about budget is too small to ask.
Email: elanza15@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 081 525 1326
Somerset West, Western Cape