“Working with Chuck Radke was a pleasure. He interacted in a timely and empathetic manner with family members of all ages and backgrounds. Chuck did valuable research to supplement historical aspects of the book. His final product is a great read of our family history and of our family icon.” –Andy Casado Jr.
You have lived a remarkable life. Truly, a life worth writing about. Your friends, they tell you as much. So do your kids. Maybe yours is a rags-to-riches story; you built a widget empire out of nothing. Or maybe still, you have lived a simple life of honor and integrity, which manifests today in a happy family and a successful business. You’re not a millionaire, but who cares? Yours is a life to treasure and be treasured.
Or how about this: Your life didn’t go as planned, but you persevered through some very challenging times: the loss of a parent, a child, a spouse. You’ve come out on the other side of those challenges, and you are thriving again. It hasn’t been easy. But you’ve done it. You take pride in your grit and you want your inspirational story preserved for those who will follow you.
There are a million great stories to tell: sad stories, happy stories, success stories, love stories. Maybe all in one. Let me help you tell yours.
First and foremost, I am a writer. I have published a memoir that I’m very proud of (Stuccoville: Life Without a Net, ELM/WiDo, Salt Lake City, UT) and a bunch of other published writing, which perhaps you saw on my home page. (If you didn’t, what’s keeping you? Jump back there and give my stuff a look-see). I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UCLA in 1990; a Master of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Fresno State in 1994; and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Florida International University in 1996.
I am also a legacy biographer based in Fresno, California. I love writing other people’s stories. Through interviews, artifacts, and research, I will create a comprehensive account of your life that you can pass on to your loved ones. I will weave together facts, stories, reflections, and even photographs to create a compelling life narrative and meaningful keepsake that will be cherished by family and friends for years. My primary focus is the preservation of your memories in the form of a professionally designed book, personally crafted for you. Here’s three that I have done:
“Working with Mr. Radke was an incredible experience from beginning to end. […]The finished book is something our family will treasure for generations. We are deeply grateful for the time, heart, and talent he invested in preserving my dad’s legacy. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for an author who is not only exceptionally skilled, but also compassionate, dependable, and truly invested in telling your story.” –Emily Yang
How Does It Work?
I will write your story for you, just as you want it told. Simple. You can be as involved as much as you want. Or as little as you want. I get it. You have a lot going on. Just remember, I will need time for us to talk. I will need access to you, about once a week, for about an hour. Prior to meeting with me, I’ll send you prompts that will ensure our conversations are rich with detail. We can meet in person if you’re local to the Fresno area. If not, we will Zoom or FaceTime.
I will conduct interviews. Lots and lots of interviews. I will collect things: photos, articles, journals, yearbooks. Love letters bound in a pink ribbon. Flowers pressed into book pages. You get the idea. I love old photographs; they will adorn your cover and complement the narrative. Here’s one I did for my favorite summer camp:
Great pics, huh?
I will share drafts with you along the way. We’ll “collab,” as the kids these days say. But don’t worry: I’ll do all the researching, all the interviewing, all the writing, all the proofing, all the editing, all the designing. You’ll just give me your trust, and your stamps of approval as we progress.
Services and Pricing
| Service | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Personal Biography (25–30 pages) | Starting at $1,295 |
| Memoir (50–150 pages) | Starting at $7,500 |
| Family History | Starting at $3,500 |
| Editing an Existing Memoir | Starting at $75/hour |
Every life story is unique. After a complimentary consultation, I’ll provide a personalized quote based on the scope of your project. We’ll talk about my process and your goals and see where this takes us. Start by sending me an email (cradkewkc@gmail.com) and we’ll go from there.
Charles Lewis Radke 