Write your biography or memoir with YouByYou Books

About YouByYou Books

Anna Foster, founder of YouByYou Books

Hello. I started YouByYou Books in 2003 and since then have brought together a team of writers, editors and designers to produce our range of life stories and local history books.

Before YouByYou I worked as a writer and editor for 20 years. I always enjoyed interviewing people so it seemed a natural step to go into life-story writing.

I also have an MA in Publishing, so can offer experience in editing and publishing.

The Team

Alan Copps has over 40 years' experience as a journalist and editor on The Times, The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. He edits The Good University Guide and, in 2020, edited The Times Great Events: 200 Years of History as it Happened. He edits and proofreads YouByYou titles.

Stephanie Boucher looks after the website and also wrote one of our life stories, Susan Leney, A Lifetime, the story of a young woman who lost her life to a rare disease. Stephanie's science background was invaluable in providing the necessary medical expertise for this book.

Alison Renno has a background in magazine design and has designed a number of our titles, including Forty years a potter, Dorothy Watson and The Bridge Pottery, 1921-1961.

Laetitia Barnes has designed a number of our local history titles, including From Ships to Sheep, the Story of Smallhythe (2016), Tenterden Then and Now (2013) and Battle in Pictures (2012). She also drew illustrative maps for From Ships to Sheep, Rolvenden Recollections and Battle in Pictures.

Kate Chitham, artist and graphics designer, drew the illustrative map and designed the cover for Biddenden in Pictures, published in 2010.

We also bring in copyright specialists, photographers and other experts for individual projects.

Our printers work to all formats and sizes, and are very flexible. They also print on beautiful Regency Satin paper and offer a specialist leather-binding service for bespoke projects.

I hope that you will feel confident bringing your life story to YouByYou. Please call or email me for an informal chat or to ask any questions.

Anna Foster
Founder,
YouByYou Books

Battle Abbey School cover

'A Celebration of Battle Abbey School 1912-2012 was a wonderful project to work on, reading through old school magazines and receiving reminiscences from former pupils.

Anna's organisational skills and help with editorial decisions have been invaluable, gently steering the project in the right direction. Alison Renno, the designer, has given the book a contemporary look with subtle changes through the decades. Everyone at Battle Abbey School is very pleased with the result.'

Uta Acuna