About You By You Books

© Mel Smith

Anna Foster started You By You Books in 2003. She had worked previously as a journalist and had always enjoyed interviewing people and writing profiles. It seemed like a natural step to help people write their life stories. Anna placed an advertisement in her local paper, The Wealden Advertiser, asking the question, "Have you led an interesting life?" To her surprise and pleasure, she received several responses to her ad and You By You was born.

One of Anna's early customers was Joan who had for many years intended to write the story of her disabled son, David. The material was painful, but once Joan started to write, her experiences poured out onto paper. Anna would meet with Joan every two weeks and give her ideas about how to structure the story. Between meetings, Joan sent Anna material by email, which Anna would edit and return for approval. Together, they chose photographs, and within a few months Joan had produced her book, My Star... David. (Read more about My Star... David here.)

Since 2003, Anna has helped many people in the south-east and London to produce their life stories. As the business has grown she has brought in writers, proof readers and designers for specialist projects.

Every book is overseen by Anna. She meets with customers as often as they wish. Communication can be face-to-face, over the telephone or by email. In 2005 she wrote Your Life, An Introductory Guide to Writing Life Stories, which you can buy here. She is also available to give talks and run workshops.

Most of You By You's books are printed in Dorset, using digital printing technology. Our printers will produce books to any size and format, so you are not limited by pre-set measurements, paper or binding materials. Leather-bound and short-run hardbacks are all hand-bound by a specialist binder. You By You has worked with these firms since 2003. The printers also produce the FREE posters which all You By You customers are offered. For longer-run hardbacks and paperbacks You By You goes to another printer in Newcastle which offers machine-binding to a high specification. All these firms offer the individual service preferred by a small publisher like You By You Books.

If you would like to talk to Anna please contact her for an informal chat.