In the News
PODCAST EPISODE
Listen to company President Megan St. Marie and founder Kitty Axelson-Berry on the November 9, 2019 episode of the Western Mass Business Show, WHMP 101.5/107.5 FM with host Ira Bryck.
https://soundcloud.com/whmp/western-mass-business-show-november-9th-2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"HAVE A STORY TO TELL? YOUR PERSONAL MEMOIRIST IS HERE"
Kitty talks about the business of preserving personal history.
Written by Alina Tugend and published in The New York Times Business Section (page B4), September 1, 2016.
THE SACRAMENTO BEe
"WRITING DOWN FAMILY HISTORIES AS BABY BOOMERS LOOK BACK"
Kitty traveled to Sacramento, CA to speak at the Association of Personal Historians' annual conference, "Culture and Thrive." Written by Stephen Magagnini and published in The Sacramento Bee, October 25, 2015.
Press Release: Modern Memoirs, Inc. Under New Ownership, July 2019
More News Articles, Media Coverage, and Events
2024
Vol. 6 of the online literary journal Résonance includes a book review by Megan St. Marie of Denis Ledoux’s French Boy: A 1950s Franco American Childhood. (Lisbon Falls: Soleil Press, 2024).
Spring/Printemps/Summer/Été 2024 “A Painting as Portal to the Past” by Megan St. Marie, in Le Forum, Vol. 46 #1 & #2, a publication of the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono
Spring 4-part Genealogy Workshop series at the South County Senior Center, Sunderland, MA, led by Genealogist Liz Sonnenberg
2023
Sept./Oct. “Impromptu: The Horn Book Diary” in the Horn Book Magazine.
Vol. 5 of the online literary journal Résonance includes a book review by Megan St. Marie of Joan DeJean’s Mutinous Women: How French Convicts Became Founding Mothers on the Gulf Coast (New York: Basic Books, 2022).
Spring/Printemps/Summer/Été 2023 “Making ‘Sense’ of the Past” by Megan St. Marie in Le Forum Vol. 45 #1 & #2, a publication of the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono
June 8, 2023 “Dans Les Pas de Nos Ancêtres: A Father-Daughter Heritage Trip to France,” webinar hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono
March 22, 2023 “Books and Bonds: An Interview with Megan Dowd Lambert About Building Connections Through Family Reading” by Betsy Bird, A Fuse Number 8 Production, School Library Journal
March and April 2023 “Local Author Spotlight: Megan Dowd Lambert,” a profile of company president, Megan St. Marie, with a focus on her work in children’s literature, posted by the Jones Library, Amherst, MA
February 6, 2023 “What’s Your Story? Memoir Writing for Everyone,” writing workshop hosted by the Amherst Woman’s Club, Amherst, MA, and led by Megan St. Marie
January 27, 2023 “What’s Your Story? Memoir Writing for Everyone,” online writing workshop hosted by Lexington Community Education, Lexington, MA, and led by Megan St. Marie
2022
Autumn/Automne 2022 “Lives Stitched Together by Choices and Chance: Making Strange and Wondrous Connections Through Family History Work,” by Megan St. Marie in Le Forum, a publication of the Franco American Centre, UMaine-Orono, pp. 10-11.
Autumn/Automne 2022 “Guiding Writers in Reflecting on Good Times and Bad,” by Megan St. Marie in Le Forum, a publication of the Franco American Centre, UMaine-Orono, pp. 12-13, 15.
September 19 Featured business in the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce #MembershipMonday promotion
July 11 Featured business in the #MemberMonday promotion sponsored by the MALGBT Chamber of Commerce
May 18 Webinar hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono: “Les Filles à Marier en Notre Famille,” presented by Megan (Lambert) St. Marie and her father, Ray Lambert.
Vol. 4 of the online literary journal Résonance includes a book review by Megan St. Marie of Meg Muckenhoupt’s The Truth about Baked Beans: An Edible History of New England (NYU Press 2021).
February 9 Webinar hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono: “Pain at the Root: Le Grand Dérangement and Our Family History,” presented by Megan (Lambert) St. Marie and her father, Ray Lambert.
January 19, 2022 “Local Woman Pens Book” by Glenn Battishill in the Delaware Gazette.
Winter/Hiver 2021/2022 “Evangeline and Anne, L’Acadie and Me,” by Megan St. Marie in Le Forum, a publication of the Franco American Centre, UMaine-Orono, pp. 31-32.
2021
June 8 Webinar presentation hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono: “Nous et Vous et les Filles du Roi,” presented by Megan (Lambert) St. Marie and her father, Ray Lambert.
April 24 Webinar presentation hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono during its annual Rassemblement: “The Franco American Presence in Highgate, Vermont Beginning in the 1830s” presented by Megan (Lambert) St. Marie and her father, Ray Lambert
2020
Dec. 18 “A Memoir to Record your Life Story: Engaging with a company that will write your life story could be a lasting gift to yourself or a family member.” by Alina Tugend, Kiplinger.
Feb. “Alumni Notes” entry on Sean St. Marie, Westfield State Alumni Focus magazine.
Feb. 20. “How Bookflow Has Helped My Multifaceted Writing (and Editing) Life” guest post by Megan St. Marie on the Bookflow blog.
2019
Winter 2019. “Smithies Create: So You Want to Write a Memoir?” by Christina Barber-Just in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.
Winter 2019. “Alumnae Lives Update: Class of 1996” in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.
Nov./Dec. “Impromptu: The Horn Book Diary” in the Horn Book Magazine.
Nov. 19. Simmons University Alumnae/i Feature “Linking History, Archives, Family and a Love of Books.”
Nov. 9. The Western MA Business Show podcast interview with Megan St. Marie, Kitty Axelson-Berry, and host Ira Byrck, WHMP 101.5 & 107.5 FM
August 1. Bennington Banner, “Amherst, Mass: MAU alumna, spouse buy Modern Memoirs,” by Betty McEnaney
August 1. Daily Hampshire Gazette, Arts & Culture, “New Owners for Modern Memoirs.”
July 26. Amherst Bulletin, “The Lehrer Report,” by Phyllis Lehrer
2016
September 1. The New York Times, “Have a Story to Tell? Your Personal Memoirist Is Here,” Alina Tugend, photo by Damon Winter
2015
October 25. The Sacramento Bee, "Culture and Thrive," Stephen Magagnini, photo by Owen Brenner
2005
February. Rob Report/WORTH, “Your Past as Prologue: Writing a memoir not only preserves a family’s history, but it can also serve as a guidebook for future generations,” Ian Keown, illustration by Tony Fox
2004
November 12. The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Help for the memoir-impaired,” Dianna Marder
2003
March 10. Montreal Gazette, “Family Stories: Boomers Put Parents on Record,” Susan Schwartz
March 9. The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Lights! Camera! You!, Personal Biographies are less glitz and more aww,” Kristen A. Graham, photo by Scott S. Hamrick
March. Ladies’ Home Journal, “Making Memories Last,” Irene S. Levine
2002
August 29. USA Today, “FDNY families put their love in books,” Bob Minzesheimer, photos by Jennifer S. Altman
August 28. New York Post, “9/11: The Aftermath—Book Project Preserves WTC Victims’ Life Stories,” William J. Gorta, photos by G.N. Miller
August 28. The New York Times, “Memoirs Commemorate Lives Lost on 9/11,” Mel Gussow
May 4. The Seattle Times, “Family stories kept alive,” Erik Derr
March. Business West, “Stepping Out,” George O’Brien
January 27. Amarillo Globe-News, “History Project; Many Ways Available to Capture Life Story,” Marlene Feduris
January 18. The Boston Phoenix, “Ordinary People: Memoirs used to be the territory of the famous, the intrepid, or the afflicted. Today, everyone’s getting into the act,” Chris Wright
2001
November 4. Tampa Tribune, “These People Want to Hear Old Family Ties,” Susan H. Thompson
October 14. Sunday World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), “Life Stories. Professionals help bind family memories,” Kristi Wright
July 22. Sunday Republican, “Ordinary People. Unique stories emerge in oral, visual histories,” Ronni Gordon, photos by Matthew Cavanaugh
July 20. Union News, “Ethical Wills Gaining in Popularity,” Pat Cahill
June 13. Boston Globe, “Candid Cameras. Average folks pay to put life’s memories on videotape,” Ellen Barry
2000
August 3. “From Memories to ‘Modern Memoirs’: Amherst personal history business,” Melody Wilensky
Marketing for Dummies, Alexander Hiam. John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey
1999
December. Money Magazine, “A Biographer of One’s Own”
August 27. Daily Hampshire Gazette/Hampshire Life, “The Business of Lives: Why People Are Turning to Professionals to Preserve their Life Stories,” David Maloof, photos by Gordon Daniels
August 1. Franklin Magazine/Union News, “Modern Memoirs: Creating Family Histories,” Maria Trombly, photos by Matthew Cavanaugh
June. The Women’s Times, “Focus: Kitty Axelson-Berry,” Rachel Barenblat, photo by Tara Conant
June. Business West, The Business Journal of Western Massachusetts, “Making Business History: Author Builds a Profitable Business Out of Writing Memoirs,” David Simons, photo by Paul Shoul
May 5. Nikkei Ryutsu, “New Wave,” Kaede Seville, photo by David Oxton
April 4. Chicago Sun Times, “Committed to Memories: Through specially created books and video documentaries... businesswomen are helping families reconnect with their past,” Dave Hoekstra
January 24. Boston Sunday Herald, “History Gets Personal Touch: Biographers capture lives of everyday men, women” Scott Farmelant, photo by David Oxton
1998
December 29. The Wall Street Journal, “Historians-for-Hire Chronicle Lives of Ordinary Folks,” Hilary Stout, in-house image
September. Springfield Republican, “Recharging the Soul: Retreats for women designed to nurture the spiritual side,” Pat Cahill, photo by Charles Abel
March/April. Elder Vision, “Memories and Memoirs,” Ruth Cohen, photo by Terese Legere
November 8. Sunday Republican, “Survivors Find Solace in Bereavement Books,” Pat Cahill, photo by Don Treeger
February 17. CNN Interactive, “Personal historians put family sagas on CD”
February 16. Das Moderne Nachrichtenmagazin, FOCUS, “Family Albums Digitized,” David Oxton
1997
Best Home Businesses for the ’90s
Date unknown. Daily Hampshire Gazette, “Memories Become Memoirs: Putting pen to paper for posterity’s sake,” Ali Crolius, photo by Kevin Gutting
May 9. Amherst Bulletin, “Local Women Get Down to Business,” Christine Ryerson
November. AARP Bulletin, “I Remember Back When... Memoir fever proves infectious, sweeps the country,” Susan L. Crowley
July 30. Daily Hampshire Gazette, “Behind Great Writers: Editors,” Daniel Grant
June 27. Daily Hampshire Gazette, “Remembrance of Things Past. Memoirs are a hot literary ticket these days,” Steve Pfarrer
1995
June 21. Daily Hampshire Gazette, “Memories into Memoirs: Kitty Axelson-Berry now a free-lance editor,” Marietta Pritchard
1994
October 28. Amherst Bulletin, “Thanks for the Memories. Kitty Axelson-Berry, former Valley Advocate editor, starts Modern Memoirs,” Marilea Polk Fried, photo by Connie Gould
Some of our Radio and Television Interviews
2001
December 11. Iyanla (television talk show), interviewed by Iyanla Vanzant, New York, N.Y.
July 26. The Round Table with Susan Arbetter, interviewed by Joe Donahue. WAMC, WAMK, WOSR, WCEL, WCAN, WANC, WAMQ, W205AJ, W226AC, W299AG public radio stations, New York/Berkshires/Southern Vermont
July 6. NBC News with Tom Brokaw, interviewed by Sylvie Oberlander, Washington D.C.
2000
November. Amherst Cable TV, John Coul
November. Morning News, CNBC
1998
Future Watch, CNN